Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-07

Such policy, long continued coud not lali
to eventuate in the ruin of this city. Hence, we
wonld respectfully suggest that it does seem to
comport with the rights and the duties of Con-
oress. to whom the Constitution has conflded the
care and guardianship Of this District, by invest
ing it with exclusive legislation In all cases
whatsoever" to rescue their young and enter
prising charge from premature decay and I'M
pending calamity 1t surely will not be ques-
toned that it is proper and necessary occa-
sion for legislative action, when the capital. the
industry, the prosperity the whole fortunes OF
community, may be preserved by the suspicious
interpostion of its guardian power; ana the sea"
sonable exercise of a public spirited munlhcence
Considerations are not wanting to enforce these
positions, derived from the peculiar relations OF
this people to the Federal Government. Ihey
have none other to watch over and to advance
their local prosperity. They are peculiarly the
wards of the Federal Legislature. NO State au-
thority can give them its fostering care, or sus-
tain them in the great march OF phySlcal, moral
and intellectual Improvement, whlcn Is rapidly
developing the resources and genius OF our
country and concentrating its high destlnles
This District stands insulated and alone, amidst
a brilliant cluster of free States, without one
high attribute Of sovereign power reserved 10
the exercise and enjoyment of its people. De-
pendent upon Congress for every boon, without
the privilege of participating in its dellberauons
and resolves, and without representative, re-
sponsible to its WILL on the floor Of either House;
subject TO all the burdens and duties OF other cl-
tizens in peace and in war; without any of those
| high privileges which dignity and endear their
public relations. community so clrcumstan-
! ced. in the opinion Of this Committee, may well
| look to Congress for relief from embarrassments
mainly incurred by too generous eXeruons 10
keep pace with the spirit OF the age, ana the
1 animating example of surrounding States press
| mo boldly onward in career of Improvement.
! There is one other aspect in which this Com
mittee feel it due to the memoraistS TO present
their claims upon Congress for aid, under eXls-
| ting eXigencies. The donations OF lands With
in the city to the United States at the period Of
| the designation of the seat Of the Federal Co
vernment, have, by sales, brought into the pub
| lie Treasury the sum of 732, III dollars and the
portions now subject to the disposition of the
| Government are estimated TO be worth 35l, ia
dollars; to which, when added the reservations,
amounting to five hundred and forty. two acres,
! estimated at the gross sum of 100000 dollars,
and wharves, water lots, &C. computed at a
worth As 900 dollars the aggregate value OF
! these donations is at once exhibited to the eye
of Congress. This vast amount Of public do
main has never contributed one dollar TO the
revenue of the city, whilst it has derived all the
benefit of accumulated value acCrung from
the extensive and costly Improvements made
within its limits The public property has ever
! been exempt from taxation, whilst that OF prl-
the cost of dwelling hills, filling up of valleys,
graduating and paving streets, and the whole
! ct ccetera Of expense necessarily incident to the
| execution of the plan Of large city. This the
| Committee cannot but regard as good and
sufficient consideration, apart from all others,
! TO recommend TO the favorable consideration OF
! Congress the pray OF the memorlahsts so Tar
! as it is accorded at least by the acCOmpa-
J nying bill. 1t never could be the intention of
! the Government, in accepting these private
! gratuities, TO appropriate them otherwise than
! in advancing the growth, stabtating the pros
| perty, and embellishing the beauty Of a city,
| destined not only to be the metropolis OF the
greatest and only well balanced and well or
! ganiZed republic, but the honOred memorial of
name associated with all that is great and
good in human character and dear to freedom
in every quarter of the globe. To regard them
| as sources of revenue applicable TO Federal
purposes, is to pOIlute our public policy with
stain of meanness The relief proposed 10 be
extended to the citizens Of Washington IS to
continue only to period when the public works
now in progress are reasonably expected TO
prove sources ofincome. This has, as respects
the principal one, the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, been destroyed by the unfortunate con
trOversy with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
| Company, now happily adjusted. rational
hope is INDUCED that the completion Of this
work to the base of the Allegheny and of the
Tiber Canal, will enable this city to emerge
from the embarrassments which now darken
its prospects, and to sustain itself by lis oWnre-
sources.
The Committee would, therefore most respect
fully recommend the passage of the accompa-
nying bill:
A BILL for the benefit Of the City of Wash
ngtOn.
Be it enacted, &c. That the Secretary of the
Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to
pay, out Of any unappropriated money in the
Treasury, sum not exceeding sixty thousand
dollars annually, in quarterly instruments, for
this act, to the Mayor of the city Of Washing
ton, to be applied under the direction of the au-
thority ofthe Boards Of Adermen and Common
Council, to eXtinguish so much OF the interest
annually acCruing on their public debt.