The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-25


| ask, are these easy and successive gradatlons FOL
usuTpatIoH, whether we look 10 the general govern
ment or TO the executive alone, readily 10 be
found as in the abuses Of this very power over this
District II there be these dangers IN the right Of
the exclusive Jurisdiction here, do not It To
high public considerations To diminish them, ny eX-
erelsing it few people and interests as may
| he Indispensable TO the ends for which the power
was granted
MIR. Chairman, there is yet another consideration
which should induce TO restrict this District with
IN the smallest limits compatible with the ends for
which il was given To One of the great objects
in giving us our power over the District in which
the government Is located, was TO secure Congress
against violence, and any attempts to oyeraS It's
deliberations. But there may be question vheth-
er we have not been subjected 10 a far more dan
gerous bias from the nature Of the influence likely
TO he exercised over Us here, when this District
shall have been increased as much in wealth
and population as may reasonably be expected
When regrets have been expressed at the
denial Of political rights 10 this District the answer
has hoen, that II they had political rights hey
would have much political influence. But what
Mr. Chairman is likely 10 be the nature Of that in
aueueel Will it be salutsry to us'-or may il not
when it extends, prove TO be most conupung and
dangerous TO the purity Of our legislation The IN
aueDoe Of the people of metropolis upon the gov
eminent has always been felt and recognised. Ia
despour governments the public opinion Of the me
or known by the rulers In all old countries. whore
the seat Of government has been long established
the influence OF It's metropolitan pOpuatlon--re-
lined, wealthy, intelligent, and voluptuous-has al
ways been DEEPLY and dangerously felt in the con
duct Of the government. Organized from position,
and skilled from long training in all the arts OF per
sudsIOn, seduction, and Establishment, the influence
| Of such population has always proved to be eX-
eedIngly dangerous 10 the, purity OF government,
and often 1t is almost irresistible Ii has been fire.
luently said that Paris was France; and for long
time, so far as the government was concerned, Paris
gas France, for its public opinion was all that was
| known or felt by the ruling powers. We all know
| he influence which is exercised here at home by
he people at the seat Of government in the States
Il il true this influence is much less in the States
| han that Of which have been speaking; but il has
dways been a subject Of jealousy, even IN the small
er degree in which II has been exercised there
And yet how much purer must that influence be in
population trained to the exercise Of political pow
sr, accompanied by responsibility, than with such a
'eople as mast be gathered here IN this District
when Il shall number one, two, or three hundred
thousand sOuls--as may not be mposslble-wthou
political power or privilege, and dependent upon sc.
ret Influence alone for the means Of being felt in
he government by Which they are ruled' | know
otnothlng more purifying or elevaung TO human char
lcter than the exercise OF political power and due
sense OF responsibility. mean that sort OF respoD
sbIlty which is enforced by the necessity ofsharing
HIMSELF IN just proportion in all the consequences,
good or III, of his own political action. Ii begets
feeling of Independence and sef-Tespect, which is
he more cherished the longer it is enjoyed and it
tends TO elevate public sentiment above the OF
ow arts or secret influences On the other hand
Mr. Chairman, | know Of nothing better calculated
20 debase public character than to train people To
believe that they must depend upon secret ars and
indirect influences for all the political weight they
DO enjoy, unless, indeed, 1t might be The stIll
degrading idea that a greater share of the incidental
benefits flowing from public disbursements could
compensate them for the oss of political rights and
privileges. And yet these are the circumstances
under which the public sentiment of this District
o be formed; these the views to which its peo-
ole TO be trained Ii this District shoald be
kept togstas % who bese esS as popalous as
cnt of these dc bao.~s .Ye" ,: 9
IT who estimate the probable Ills OF the sort OF
influence which they will exercise over the govern
menu Every one must perceive that the influence
Eil be great, of a people numerous, wealthy, and
intelligent refined and skilled, too, as they will be
IN all the arts of persuasion and Establishment. Nu
| n erous and wealthy and refined they must become,
100, not only from their natural advantages, but
from the government disbursements, and that dis
position natural to every people to adorn, embel-
| tsh and aggrandZe their metropolis. This dIspo-
son is as common all nations is the desire to
| improve and adorn the homestead TO individuals.
There would he yet another temptation toIncrease
| the public expenditures upon them. The power to
do so is ample and there is belief that they ought
to have in appropriations for their benefit some
compensation inadequate as It may be, for the loss
| Of political privileges. As grow more wealthy
and powerful, and they become numerous,
and perhaps corrupt there is every reason to fear
| hat they NAV habitualy consider themselves as
dependent upon the public bounty, and pensioners
upon the treasury. What must be the public opin'
| ion and the standard of public morals, of people
thus reared under influences so debasing that
he moi If rp-
| SYST their depressing tendencies What too
will be the nature Of the influence of public opinion
so formed upon the government itself! Will 1t not
We exered in favor Of large appropriations and
against economy? They have direct interest II
arge public expenditures; for the proportion which
they contribute towards them, must always fal
short far short of the greater share Of the benefits
which they will derive from them.
In contests between the general and State govern
ments will not this influence be exerted in favor Of
the general government and against the States' j
is the government here which they know and non,
other. They have no other government to claim
their affections. This government will engros'
their respect and affections and to increase It's pow
ers its functions, its revenues and expenditures
would be the best mode Of aggrandizing and enrich
M themselves, if they we're to view the matter IN
selfish sense, and look to their own separate in
: terest alone.
In what direction is it probable that this infuenc
will be exercised when questions arise in relation Il
popular rights and privileged Is it not altogethr
probable that it would be hostile to the people in al
such eontess' Enjoying none Of these rights an'
privileges themselves they will either envy thei
I possession by Others else place no value upo
E hem Education, habit, and interest, would all in
, duce them to take sides with this government, a
z against the States and the people. As you csncen
trate power in this government you increase thei
= control over public affairs, and you remove
e from the subsection to popular will in the States
h on place it more and more under their influence
If am right as to the direction which this influence
may hereafter take, is it not manifest that II will
b hostile to the great ends of institutions Mus
. It not become large enough to be formidable whe
n this district is crowded with population great /
i wealth and numbers, and il SO, do we not owe it t
ourselves and to them TO diminish It as far as 1t ca
safely be done. | can conceive Of nothing worse
d than to increase unnecessarily the influence of
public opinion which is alien to the spirit OF our II
i ,uuuons; to enlarge beyond necessity the bounds
res of its abiding place; to increase without reaso
Il the numbers who entertain il; and te strengthen
. whilst you isolate it, would, as ii seems to me, b
folly in the extreme If the career of usurpf
e ZION should be commenced, whether by one or a
1t of the departments Of this government, 1t is here