The native American., 1839-03-09
EASTERN pR ANcH BRIDGE.


of the Potomac river, for the special benefit OF
the citizens of The District and those of CONT
gious portion Of Maryland, placing the latter ON
footing with the neighboring inhabitants of Yir-
glnia, to whom a similar favor has been granted
in making the Long Bridge over the other branch
Of this river free, was los, by motion made by
a Mr.. Gjddngs, member from Ohio, who moved
to strike out the eRactng clause. This member
said he was not nimcal to the District, but OPP
posed the appropriation proposed for this object,
on the ground that the seat Of Government would
probably be removed to a"free State"
Mr.. Giddngs may cal. the State he refers. TO
free, while others might consider it bound, as
with iron letters, in the worst of slavery that Of
fana,ics.n: and his mode Of proceeding will GER
tainly not have the effect of obviating such a
conclusion. Does he refer to. Ohio! What
State in this Union has exerted its popular power
to exile the colored population from within its
limits :? The answer TO this question is--None
but Ohio This, then, is orr apology for sug-
ges,ing.to members from that State the proprie,y
and consistency of exercising their high-.oned
philanthropy first a. home before they need ex-
pect to gain confidence or make any favorable
impression abroad THERE'S condition Of mind
on which all argument and reason is lost. We
hope the case before us does not furnish an exam
pie.
Whatever may be Mr.. Giddings' pteteasions
we mustsay that his futile objections to the Free
Bridge Bill would better characterize the needless
school-boy than the grave legislator.
They amount to this, that, because the seat of
Government may be removed, therefore those in
terested in the measure, do not need,or deserve
any favor. Fit were the general opinion that the
seat of Government. win eventually be removed
though one hundred years hence-this COM
munity might no longer look to their constitu-
tional legislature to protect them or foster their
interests! Are we to be regarded as unworthy
those advantages while the Government remains
here?
Asa member Of the local legislature of this
District, Mr.. Giddings was, we think, bound tot
do for it precisely what il would be his duty TO do
for Ohio, were he Ipember of her Legislatures:
and did he hold the place he now occupies by
the vote Of this District, motives of popularity
the great governing principle of action--would
have prompted him to pursue a very different.
course no doubt But being irresponsible to this
People, he could and he did trife will, their in
terests, and, as we conceive, with their rights,
with impunity.
AS citizen, OF the District Of Columbia it is
our duty to defend her interests, otherwise we
should not be guilty of the folly to argue this
point as it can only require simple statement of
the case to convince any one that this community
has been treated with injustice and suffered inju-
nv at the hands of the member from Ohio. tits
against his power, not his argument we direct
our remarks the one is efficient for evil, and we
have leltit-the other is too absurd to deserve
notice. ...
If he possessed neither understanding, to know,
nor honesty to perform, the duties devolved upon
him as our legislator we must regret that his con-
stituents ever imposed him upon US. If he did
know his duty, and yet acted regardless Of the OBJ
legations that duty imposed on him, then he is OBJ
noxious to the charge ofrecklessness for having
manifested an indifference which, reversing condi-
tons, he would have censured in us, if shown to
himself. In either case it is no wonder that the
interests of this District and the country at large
should suffer when the business of legislation is
committed to such incompetent hands,. We re-
specially request the citizens of Ohio so far to
feel for us, who are unrepresentcd in Congress.
as to recall this gentleman, and send us one that
LII .o.no,y ,,,r ;,ct ri
The linking Of this question, ofremovng the
seat Of Government, with that of abolition, SO far
from putting the permanently of this Metropolis
in jeopardy, settles it where il is irmer than
special act Of legislation. For so long as South
ern interests and feelings predominant, as the two
subjects of abolition and removal are made insep-
arabic by this Mr.. Giadings, the City Of Wash
ington will continue, as its founder, its: topo-
graphical position and its natural advantages de-
signed it to be, the unalterable political centre of
this indissoluble confederacy.
I'll, Legislature of Mississippi has passed a
Bill providing for the construction of railroad