Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-12


MIR. II. said the bill before the Committee pro-
posed TO reuOcede the County OF Alexandra 10
the State Of Virginia, with the assent OF The Ge-
neral Government, and OF Virginia, and OF The
people of Alexandria The assent OF Virginia
had already been given by the unanimous vote oil
her Legislature, and he had no doubt that Inc as
sent OF the people Of Alexandria would De most
cheerfuy given, il Congress would give theirs.
Mr. H. said the proposed measure was one OF
advantage to The Government and Of vital i'm
portance tot the people Of Alexandra.
Mr. Fl. said that The clause in The Constitution
authorizing The Government 10 accept the Terri
tory coded by Maryland and Virginia, was Tor
the purpose OF receiving a sufficient space CT
ground for the seat Of the General Government,
free from tic embarrassment and influence Of
State legislation. This clause limited The extent
OF territory 10 ten miles square. The Government
could not keep more, il more had been coded 10,
bu, might have accepted less
Mr. h. said This bill would save money 10 The
government in us annua! appropriations, bIl he
had higher object, and that was 10 deprive no
more OF oar citizens of their rights 10 dislran-
chse no more than was absolutely necessary for
the purposes OF seat OF government II was
our duty not ONLY Ia prize the rights OF treemen
ourselves bu. 10 encourage the same feeling in
others. 1t was our duty TO deprive no more Of
our 1ellow-citizens OF their rights than was ALSO
u.ely necessary.
Mr. Fl. said that Congress was elected 10 rep
resent The people Of the States, aud when they
came to legislate Tor the District, they exercised
an anomalous power, conflicting with The objects
for which lhey were elected. Many entertain
the opinion, that though Congress has no power
10 establish n National Bank in the States, it
may exercise that power here. So in reference
nd
Mr.. H. said tina. jurisdiction should be eIer-
cised over no more territory and no more people
than was absolutely necessary.
Mr.. Fl. said that i. was intended by the benefits
OF The disbursements OF public money 10 compcn-
sale Tor The loss OF political rights, but the infin-
ence which was exercised BY the people OF ,hs
seat Of government upon the National Leglsa-
ture would be purified If they had The rights Of
the rest of their fellow- citiZens-if they shared
equally in the evils and blessings OF The Govern
men,. As now situated their syTnpaIhles were
with The General Government against The rights
Of the States. Their interest was always IN Ia
vor Of large appropriations. They were on the
side of the Government against the States. On
the side oflarse appropriations against economy.
On tbe side ofa5ridsed privileges OF disiranchise-
msnt, against The rights of freemeE. Deprived Of
those rights themselves, they naturally would wish
,aid il beloved Congress TO diminish such an in
fluence as much as possible, retaining only 50
much Of the territory cedel as was absolutely ne.
cessary FOR The purposes intended.
MIR. Il. said, that in making these remarks ne
intended nothing tisparaging 10 the people OF The
District. On the contrary, they would compare
well with the same number OF people elsewhere
-bu, time and other lapses might work great
changes in this respect.
Mr.. Fl. said that in the District on this side q
the river, ample scope would be left Tor all The
purposes necessary 10 the Seat OF Government
There were 30 square miles on the Virginia side,
which il was proposed 10 retrocede, and il would
leave 20 square miles, which would ne ample
for every necessary purpose, and enable Congress
10 legisla.e more easily, and prevent The conlu-
sion arising from having two codes OF laws
that OF Maryland on one side OF the river, and OF
Virginia on the ether
Mr. II. alluded 10 the able report OF MIR. Pow
I'll, in 1880, showing that retrocesson was more
important 10 The people Of Alexandria, than 10
those OF other poriiohs OF The District for ihey
had nothing 10 compensate them for the loss Of
their pryileses-no benefit from the appIopria-
lions expended in The district.
Since 1920 the population OF Alexandria had
remained stationary. Since 1916 her tonEage |
her imports AMI exports had been steadily de-
clining. She had been treated BY Congress like |
a child BY q nurse, child separated iIom its ma
tural paTen, and under The charge Of a foster
mother.
The people cfAlexandria, said Mr.. H, ask 10
go back. They ASK 10 leave YOU IN one charac-
Ter, and return 10 you 10 another. They ask TO
leave you dependant and return 10 you indepen-
dent-to leave you as subjects and return to you
as freemen. Bu, sir, We are told in Ibis case
| he fbp
last man 10 sanction the slightest violation of the
Constitution, but have never been aolc 10 dis
.oyer any real Constitutional objection 10 the pro-
posed measure.
The objection urged, was that the power con-
erred by The Constitution had been exercised |
and exhausted. Exhausted, Why2 The Con-
,ti,u,on does not say so in terms. II there was
any reason Tor exercising this power once, there
may be reason for exercising Il again. Suppose |
he seat Of Governments had turned ont sickly-
would any man say that Congress could moi re-
move it Suppose that by some mistake il had !
been placed where it was open 10 foreign inva-
lion, would il not be in the power Of Congress 10
remove ii 10 place Of safeiy2
But supposins the seat Of government TO be per-
nanenr We had power 10 receive no more than !
en miles square. but We might receive less |
suppose we had taken but one mile square and |
ound il insuffcent-coud we not have incIcas- |
ed i'll And il we could increase il from one 10
en-. could we not diminish il from ten 10 one, I'M
der The same authority?
MIR. Hunter then proceeded to make power
fu, argument in favor Of the conSlitu,ionaliy OF
The measure, and said that Congress owed ito con-
,idcraticns OF freling-aye, OF American feeling |
to restore 10 the people q! Alexandra the rights
which heJ had been deprived Of, and 10 Pcrmi;
hem To return 10 the Stale i.om which III an evil
lour they were separated.
The first, second and Third sections OF he bill |
were then read and agreed 10.
The 9TH section being under consideration, MIR. /
Culver moved 10 strike out The word "whi.e" as /
applied TO the class Of citizens who were 10 yoe .
Ipon The question The motion was rejected |
nearly unanimously.
MIR. G. W. Jones moved an amendment giving
he privilege OF voting npon The acceptance o. re-
rction oil the ACT to "cvery white male citizea OF
he L. s., who shall have resided in The town or
county Tor six months. except insane PERSONS and
II was agreed TO.
Mr. Payne Of Ala. moved an amendment pro.
riding that the assent of majority ofibe people
of Inc whole District should be obts ined before
he act should go into effect
Mr.. p linen made violent speech against the
bill, and said thai contest was now going oE in
he State Of Virginia, in which The western conn
les were struggling Tor ar extension oi Tie right
If suffrage, and The proposed rercccssion would
add strength 10 tho Eastern counties, who were
opposed to il.
Mr.. Bayly Of Va. replied and denounced in no
measured terms the interference 81 the gentleman |
from Alabama, in III domestic concerns Of fir-
giuia, and Indignantly denied lila, The Eas'ern
were opposed 10 the extension q the |
riph, Of suffrage, or that the question was sec |
lional one.
At,er some further remarks from Mcssrs
Payne, Bayiy, Johnson Of Va, McCIeand and |
others,
Mr.. Sims OF Sonth Carolina moved that the
Committee rise, Tor The purpose Of enabling him
10 stfer resolution 10 terminate the debate, but
withdrew the motion al the requcs, Of
Mr.. Mcdowell Of Va, who enchanted the
House for half an hour ir one OF the most beau
,iul and feeling speeches we have ever listened
10. He spoke for retfocession.
Tie question was then taken on Mr.. Payne's
and il was rejected by large ins]o-
rity.
Mr.. Ralhbun OF New York moved TO strike
out the 4ih section. Lost.