Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-03
TcoMMUNIcATEp.I

".
States, in his recent Message, has called the at
tention of Congress TO the situation OF the Dis
trlct Of Columbia. The interest he man'iests
for our condition entities him to the thanks OF the
people-and he certainly has mine.
He states that, independently Of the difficulty
of inducing the representatives Of distant States
to turn their attention to the project Of laws which
are not Of the highest interest to their consfstu-
EMS, they are not individually, nor collectively
in Congress, well qualified to egislate upon the
local concerns of this District. As to the apo
iosy which is here made for Congress not having
heretofore formed a code Of laws upon general
matters for the District, 1t is with due Difference
to the high source from which it comes) not suffi-
Gent for neglect Of obvious duties. The 9Th
section of the first article of the Constitution
contains grant of legislative powers to Congress,
among which is that Of exercising exclusive le-
gslation over the ten miles square which should
become the Seat Of the General Governments
With as much propriety may the same indisposi-
tion to Iegislate on subjects which Congress are
bound to lesislate on for the exclusive benefit Of
particular State, be urged as an apology for
emitting that duy. The members of Congress,
when they take their seats, take an oath to dts
charge the duties which the constitution devolves
upon them. One of those duties is, to legislae
discreetiy upon any subjec, in which the District
is interested. How, then, can any honorable and
high mined member refuse TO act on, or pass over
lightly, any such subject, when brought before
Congress, aud excuse himself by saying that the
people Of the District Of Columbia are not his
constituents am happy in the belief that Con-
gress has never yet done this. know, from my
own observation, that it has never refused to pass
any law, where the people themselves were agreed
upon it; and the want Of this argument upon any
system is the reason why no general code OF laws
has yet been passed. There have always been
some lanciful persons among US, who cannot be
brought to yield their own notions about old usag
es and laws, and thus have uniformly embarrass-
ed the Committee of the District in their deli
beratious.
The remedy suggested BY the President for
what he considers wrong done to the people Of
this District, is, either delegate on the floor Of
the House, or local legislature, to make laws
for the District, subject to approval rejection
by Congress. will submit few remarks upon
the expectancy Of both these substitutes.
With regard to the Delegate, he can only be a
speaking member. He cannot lessen the labors
of Congress. There will be as much, if not more,
business cut out by him for the attention Of the
District Committee. All he could do, would be
to present memorials, and to make explanations
on the floor OF the House; which are done now
BY the Committee for the District. Our memo
rails are always presented, and referred to the
appropriate Committee, before whom any person
who is Interested, either personally or as a oiti-
zen Of the District, is allowed to appear and
state his views at length. Ths writer of these
remarks has often been before the District Com
mittee, aud tesi6es in favor of the courteous and
attentive manner in which lie and others have
been heard by them. Suppose we have Dele
gate in the HOuse-what is TO be done with the
Senate? There can be no Delegate there; and
we will, after all, be left to continue the course
which is now pursued. that OF appearing By our
agents before the Committee of the Senate. which
we must continue to do before the Committee Of
the House.
Independently Of the utter inutiity Of De-
legate, it would be the cause Of bringing into &C.
ton a spirit Of party in the three towns in the
District in the choice Of the delegate. 1t would
create discontents and warmth among friends and
ne,ghbors, for which no good to be obtained by
having delegate would compensate. The peo-
pie of Alexandria would be sure never to- have
the delegate from their side Of the river. The
other section of the District would out-vote them
In no view of this subject can the citizens Of
Alexandria consent to au arrangement Of this
kind.
As to the local legislature, this remedy is both
iuexpedient and unconstitutional. 1t would have
the effect Of giving the other side Of the river the
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