Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-22
COMMUNICATIONS
TO THE HON. JOHN G C1,,,o

."' 'eoei' upon SUBJECT vitality interestinr,a
the people ofthis town, and one on which," 4"
Is but little diversity of opinion. The exrr." e'e
alluded to was "You ought to go back to "; SOa
MIA" The question Of Retrocession h,. s'
agitated in this town and county twice. III. 'sea
timents of the people were taken in tho MI.
Of 1884, upon the application of the lamo"."'
Doddridge, and the people, by an uneou;r"
majority, decided not to retrocede tho c,,N
this decision will be briefly stated and ,bi0L,
am fully competent to do it, being one of,As ~.
jority and active in producing that resu, W
are incumbered with debt, including ,h,,a.
to Holland, of nearly $4,000 the nter.s, S
this debt, with the disbursements for muDcn.,
affairs, with the most rigid economy brinos pu.
annual expenditures to upwards of $40 ~.
annum-about four dollars per head IN :,
whole population which falls heavily uoo.
small community, with declining commsro.,
and it was considered madness 10 increase ,b...
burthens by the additional one which wop,d f,n
upon US in the State taxation. We wbo
posed retrocession, were then of opinion ,b,,
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal would -
completed in two or three years, and vouIS
thereupon, soon relieve US of part ofthe n,eres,
Of the Holland debt, and, eventually, Of n.
whole Of that burthen, if it did not leave Us en-,
plus. Our town had engaged in the construc.
ton of our own work from Georgetown, and W.
had confidence that Congress, as our locslTs
gislature, would assuredly aid US, iberaIv n
complete our canal. Having these burth.n,
pressing upon us, and these benefits to apc.
pate from Congress, We deemed it unxise n
add to the one. and, at the same time reiaouisb
the hope Of the other. Since that period W.
have continued to struggle, with less and Ies
prospect Of relief. The Chesapeake and Ohlo
Canal has expended all its means, is still in debt
and embarrassed and has not reached more
than two thirds oflhe distance to the Coal banks
whence much Of the expected profits are to be
derived. One session of this Congress h,,
passed without further aid to t-a bill for a sub
scription to our Canal has been postponed
and, in addition to the agony Of hope deferred
is the unwelcome truth, that our prospects ale
becoming more and more gloomy with each
succeeding year. Under these dsccuragng
circumstances, We have naturally turned our
attention as to where we should look for relief
The attention of Congress Cat least the liberal
| and enlightened portion ofiD being engossed
by the great affairs of the country, and the mem.
bers having the particular interests of their in.
dvidual sections of country to attend TO- but liz
tie time can be allowed for the consideration Of
the affairs Of the District In addition TO this,
the necessary expenditures for the City Of Wash.
ington, for government purposes, and the con-
slant demand upon the liberality of Congress BY
the City, for its own purposes and relief have
very naturally wearied Congress, and incline
them to receive, with distrust all applications
from the District for appropriations OF money.
This operates almost to our entire exclusion
from the notice of Congress; and yet We can
shew strong claims upon, not their Iberalltya'
lone, but upon their justice. To say nothlngoi
the indirect tax We pay, in common with inc
whole people, We paid in the direct tax, during
the years 1913 and 1914, large Sum-beslaes
the internal revenue, the amount OF which, iun'
derstand, cannot be obtained even from the
Treasury of the United States, fIom delecs ID
the returns of the colleCIOrs-taxes, IN the OPT
MON of many enlightened men, wholly improper,
unconstitutional and unjust. The State Of 'T'
ginia, after the cession ofpart of her territory
to Congress, passed an act (December2', l'sl)
approprlatlng Sl2O,0C0 to the general govern
ment, to aid it in the construction oil puOi'
buildings "at the Seat Of the General Govern
ment, O.. the banks of the Potomac" Weha'e
laid claim to the merit of this act, on the pan
of our parent State;-and why! when VIZ
GINA coded us, and made this grant, she ou "
because she believed it would subscrVe her own
interests, and the interests OF the people Sl'
ceded, to have the seat Of the General uo'el"'
ment on her borders and among theh' ha'
this anticipation been reallzedl As to Inc o'a'''
no one can point out, it is believed 0.'
solitary advantage she has galhe'
to the people coded, nothing but disaster "a'
followed the cesson; and, it Is firmly oele'e''
disasters arising from the very act sei-u'' o.
ton of Congress, or the want OF proper a'"''
on the part of that body in behalf OF Inc Pe'r,'
The want Of the proper action is seen III ".
barbarous and uncertain code OF laws un'''
whose influence We live; while our ne'ghOo''
Of Virginia have theirs amellorateo anu 49, .,.