Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-22

citing that the future seat ot OoSct ueu' '"'e"s
he established on the banks OF the Delaware and
proposed cession 0f tract oil land Of ten miles
souare. The Legislature Of Pennsylvania Of
isred IN cede portion Of that State to the Unit.
al States for the seat Of Government, and
daft of ten miles square was presented to Con.
cress. including the borough Of Lancaster. ALI
these offers show that the permanent location OF
the seat Of the General Government, was consl.
d,red as desirable national establishments; and
that the Government thereof. with the necessary
institutions connected with It. whether ieglsla-
tive, executive or judicial, must be national, and
not local or foreign, as to any OF the States Tor
whose general benefit it was to be established
ON the 10th Of April. 1900. Henry Lee. OF Va;
WIN. Craik, Of Md; John Evans, OF Va; John
Dennis, of Md; aud John Marshall, OF Va,
were appointed Committee on the part OF the
House Of Representatives to prepare and report
system of rules and regulations, respecting 'he
| Territory Of Columbia. On this Committee
were three members Of Congress from Virginia.
| Why should Virginia, through her representa-
lives, be preparing rules and regulations Tor the
government of a territory which was to become
Srsiy TO that State On the 22d of November
1900. Mr.. Adams, the then President oil the
limited States, in his speech at the opening OF
Congress. congratulated .the people OF the
limited States on the assembling OF Congress at
the permanent seat of their government. The
House of Representatives, in their answer to the
so.ech, saw: " The final establishment OF the seat
! of the National Government, which has now
taken place in the District OF Columbia, Is an
event of no small Importance to the poilticai
transactions Of the country. A consideration Of
those powers which have been vested in Congress
over the District Of Columbia will not escape our
attention; nor shall we forget that in exercising
these powers regard must be bad To those events
which will necessarily attend the Cdp'tol % .1me'
ricao On the Slst OF December $500, on
motion to re commit the bill concerning the DIS
t,ict. of Columbia, Mr. Robert G. Harper lin
reply to an observation that the people OF the
District had continued to live happily under
their respective State Governments, and there.
fore il was not necessary for Congress to legis.
late at all on the subject.l said " The provision
=. Of the Constitution OH this subject had not
:, been made with this view, THAT is, as to the
:. wishes and interest Of the people OF the Dis
- trict onIy,)-it was made TO bestow dignity
:, aud Independence on the Government OF the
:. Vn,on. Il was TO protect from such outrages
a., as had occurred when it was differently stu
E. ated-when it was without competent les,slat-
i've, executive and Judicial power to ensure
..tespect While the Government was under
=. the guardianship Of State ia,es, those laws
might be inadequate to its protection, or there
- might exist a spirit hostile to the General TO-
yernment," (which, unfortunately, has for ma
nv wears been, aud still is, too much the case. }
This" he said, .was one reason, among
others, for the provisions Of the Constitution,
confirmed and carried into effect by the acts Of
MARYLAND and Virginia" This debate termi
mated in the recommitment of the bill to com
mttee consisting of Henry Lee and John Evans
Of Virginia; VIM. Craik and John Dennis, o.
MARYLAND; Mr. Bird, Of Pennsylvania; Sila'
Lee, Of Massachusetts; and Chauncey Good
rich, Of Connecticut 1t was finally passed, ant
received the assent Of the President on the 27tf
of February, 1901.
Thus it appears that the President and the
1. House of Representatives considered the District
of Columbia as a national, and not as foreign,
territory.
The act concerning the District establishes the
Court which is called by the respondent and his
counsel ga foreign tribunal" BY this act it i:
declared, "t that there shall be Court in the
said District, which shall be called the Circuit
Court of the District of Columbia; and the SAID
Court, and the Judges thereof, shall have all
the powers by law vested in the Circuit Courts,
and the Judges Of the Circuit Courts, Of the
United Sfaies.' The fifth section Of the act de
clares that the said Court shall have cOgnizance
Of all crimes and offences committed within the
said District, and OF all cases, 10 law or equity,
between parties, both or either of which shall be
residents o. be found within said District, and
also of all actions or suits OF a civil nature, al
common law or equity, in which the United
States shall be plaintiffs or compliments, and OF
all seizures on land or water, and all penalties
and furfeitures, made, arising or accruing under
the ia,cs Of the United States" The 9TH section
Of this act provides for the appointment of a
Marshal for the District, who is to hold his office
during the same term, take the same oath, give
bond with security in the same manner, possess
and exercise the same powers, and perform the
same duties, as are by law directed in the case
Of Marshals Of the u. States. The 9th section
provides, that an Attorney Of the United States
for said District be appointed, who is to take the
same oath and perform all the duties required Of
3 the District Attorneys Of the United States
| The 10th section directs the salaries of the
Judges Of the Court to be paid quarterly at the