Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-26
ALEXANDRIA, I'd. CO.
THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL 9e, 1852

The Washington letter writers are beginning 10
trouble themselves about our District matters -
We find the following "!etter from WASHING.
TOM in the last Charleston Courier, and COW !,
to show what others think concerning our affairs.
s.The House Of Representatives have been IN.
gagged, during the last t~odays. in the consider.
atom of bills concerning the District Of Colun.
bia, and it would amuse a locker on, to see n,
delegates from the corporations Of the three 81.
ties, with anxiety and dignity struggling in their
countenances for the mastery. watching every
member as he rises. and listening to every word
which falls from privileged lips. Why, Sir, We.
the people of this District, are the most accom-.
pished, and the most pertinacious mendcants in
the habitable Globe. We have been placed in
this attitude by the conduct of the General Ga.
vernment, which. TO speak of II in the midss,
terms, has abounded only IN generosit, to them.
selves. They hold large property in the Dis.
trict in lots and public grounds, in which thev
have interdicted the imposition of any tax, Will,
the citizen who owns his twenty feet front BY
some fifty or sixty deep, and who cannot for hi,
soul raise tenement on it, is constrained to TAX,
portion from his miserable income to preyeD,
the Collector from setting it up at public auction
TO the highest bidder. Yet Congress are awav,
Boosting of what they have done for the district;
and there is not tyro from the North or the
West, who. whenever dollar IL asked for some
expenditure in the ten miles square, does not Cd.
pose it as extraordinary and partial, and unjust
to the modicum Of wilderness which he ren,e.
sents. With the exception OF the Capitol, which
] 10 8 l.,
the Penltentiary, which was equally necessary
for the reception of law breakers, what has Con.
gress done for the district? | believe the GaoI
was whitewashed, an Engine and Engine House
were given to the city, some money was subscrib.
ed to rebuild the City of Alexandria. and when
a severe winter occurs, few cords of fire VOID
are given to the poor, out of the superhuous stock
! in the vaults Of the Capitol And here the ca.
reer of charity ends, and the career Of Justice
also. But now, there seems to be some dlspos.
ton to make something like present to the dis.
trict, in the shape of such of the lots as the Pre-.
sident may not thing worth retaining, p,oridd
the city will apply large portion, or thu whole
Of the proceeds, to such purposes as Congress
may direct. | suspect this very offer has eIct.
( ed more jealousy between the Corporations Of
the district, and individuals who are interested
in the different sections Of the ten miles square,
than any thing which has taken place in Congress,
since the location Of the public buildings was
fixed When any member makes proposition
favorable to Washington, the muscles Of the
Georgetown and Alexandra delegations begin TO
work, and their Indignation to rise; and so when
benefits seem to be migrating to the two latter
cities. the milk in the bosoms Of the Washington
cts becomes suddenly transformed into vinegar
Something may probably be done for all, il the
selfish rivalry and jealousy which the cities eIh.
biz. in their relationship to each other, should not
defeat the intentions Of those who deem that the
district has strong claims"