Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-24

ing great and growing empire
free aud intelligent millions; aud mindful at that
intercourse with your constituents which IN
clination and duty prompt you To observe;-hnds
but little time for listening to the wants and de-
mands Of dependant community. which can ap-
peal to your compassion only. Already has this
inevitable apathy toward our affairs infused into
them the severest grievances: Already have our
judicial institutions that cherished gift OF our
parent state, lost much of their force and SWINE
try by law limiting the right OF appeal to one
thousand dollars, standard too high for that
Freedom and that justice to which the poor are
entitled equally with the rich;-and by sys.
tenn which in identifyingiour judges OF law and OF
equity is fast progressing to abolish practically
the principles of chancery Jnrisprudence;-Al-
ready has the Supreme Court Of the Union con-
sdered itself constrained to decide that an inha-
bitant of this district cannot sue citizen OF a
state in federal court, though every citizen OF
court for the District of Col lmbia: Already have
state courts. highly respectable for integrity and
wisdom, refused to yield to the records of the
circuit court of the District of Columbia the re-
spect required by the Constitution for the records
of ever, state in said court, and for the records
of every state in the courts Of every other state
and of the United SATISFACTORILY subjecting
many Inhabitants of this District to the aterna-
tive of abandoning either theI residences or their
rights And long have they suffered the multi
piled inconvenience resulting from two uncon-
genial andoften conAictingcodes Jurisprudence,
replete with provisions unified to their present
circumstances, and to the advanced state of CT.
Witty and knowledge in the general mind.
OF these and other evils, many are inveterate
as thew are grievous. The remedies promised
by Congress have been delayed and ultimately
withheld, through its engrossed attention to the
weightier and daily ramifying concerns of the
empire. These momentous interests have, for
manv years. prevented Congress from noticing
system Of laws for this District. prepared by its
order, nor can your memoriaIists foresee the time
when the operation Of these causes will be so long
suspended as to make practicable the considera-
ton of the numerous and vital enactments which
constitute that system.
While your memorialists thus participate in
the political humiliation, and the civil disorders
of the whole District, they suggest not to the
wisdom of Congress remedy more extensive
than are the grievances appropriate to themselves.
In the contemplated establishment of local Lee
sisIa,ure, they see only the exchange of an as.
semblase Of evils for one comprehensive, absorb
ing, aud to them obviously fatal. Without ad-
ver,ing to the details of the projected law, they
beg leave to state that so far from Directing to,
they must in candor approve, the principle which
apportions the number Of delegates to that of
constituents. This is republican axiom of the
first dignty;-Dut such is the peculiar i'll fortune
of your memorialists. that the application of such
principle TO them would precipitate crisis now
approachiny;-a crisis when the prosperity Of this
smaller and weaker section OF the District must
be merged in the growing grandeur of the metro
polls. faen'aIning at this time 1900 people;
rapidly Undressing in population; inviting wealth
bv its affections; ripening under the sunshine OF
Legislative patronage.into confirmed and decisive
control over this County; and will she not, must
she not nay. ought she not, if governed by the
ordinary principles of human nature, to exert this
control to an extent which will render your me-
moralists tributaries to her treasury, and vassas
to her powerl Conditioned as is the District Of
Columbia, can even the wisdom Of Congress de.
wise any modification Of deputed authority, which
will not practically subject this county to its stron-
ger and more populous neighbor? In the expe-
dent Of receiving on the floor OF Congress de-
legate from the District, the inconvenience as to
the nation, and the uselessness as to US. are too
manifest to he mentioned. And even were they
imaginary, Your memorialists could find little
consolation in a measure. which would again
recognise their disfranchisement with all the en-
phasl, Of legislative forms. The other terrific.
ries of the union have inchoate rights, which are
respected in their delegates,-but the admission
into your venerable hall of delegate from the
District vonld be only new badge of a hopeless
and srismaizing destitution of political liberty.
The menace of legislative council has wax
ened all the fears Of your memorlalsts. because
though i, sl,pu,d now be merely speculative, its
enforcement on some future and perhaps not dis
tant day. seems to them probable, nay certain
In proportion as this vast confederacy increases
in numbers and in population. must the abors Of
its legislators become aggravated, the relative in
significance of this District be developed, and
the care of its interests be relaxed Some sys-
ten must then be devised to protect the national
councils from The interruption of vexatlous sup
plicants and only one, Is believed can be adopt
ed without ruin is your memorialists.
Underthese circumstances, reluctant to obtrude
on time valuable to America, and III the present
state of the civilized world. to mankind at large
impatient zoo of the necessity which Obliges
men born under the shade of liberty to beseech
from sovereign. what the citizens Of these free