The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-08

Mr. uNlEh submitted whether that mouon
was in order.
The SPEAKER said the question must first be
taken on the motion to go into committee.
After an inquiry by Mr., HENLEY, not heard
by the reporter,
The question on the motion of Mr.. HUNTER
was taken, and decided in the affrmative-syes 81
noes not counted
RETROcEssIoE OF ALEXANDRIA.
SO the House resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole on the state of the Union, mir. DoUo.
LASS of Illinois in the chair) and on motion Of Mr..
HUNTER, proceeded TO the consideration of the
bill to retrocede the county OF Alexandra, in the
District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia.
The bill was read as follows
Whereas no more territory ought to be held under the
exclusive legislation given to Congress over the district
which the seat OF the general government than may be
whereas experience hath shown that the P,Ion Of the
District OF Columbia ceded 10 the United states BY the STATE
for that purpose and whereas the State Of Virginia by
act passed on the third day Of February eighteen hundred
Virginia the county Of Alexandra, the District Of Co.
umDs when the shall be Teceded by the Congress OF
The United States hath 'ignihed her willingness to take
BE enacted BY the Senate and Hoass Of RPTsSsniatiesS 81
he United STATES Of f@sreG in Congress ai'sbi'd That
with the assent OF the people Of the county and town Of
Ale xandrs to be ssceained hereinafter prescribed all
Of that portion Of the DtT ct Of Columbia coded to the
Uued States by the state Of Virginia and all the rights
and jurisdiction theTew it'll ceded the he and the
same hereby ceded and forever relnqushsd to the
State OF Virginia In full and absolute right and jurisdiction
we'll Of soil as Of persons residing TO reside thereon
SIC, q Ind BE- further enacted That nothing herein
contained shall be construed TO vest In the State OF Virginia
any right Of property in the customhouse and post once
Of the United states within the town OF Alexandra or In
the soil Of the territory hereby receded affect the
rights OF individuals corporations therein otherwise
than as the sam" hall or may be transferred BY such midi
yidusls OF corporations 10 the State Of Virginia
Sac. 3. .4ad be Il JthT enacted That the jurisdiction
aud laws existing ia the said territory coded 20 the
United states BY the State Of Egn as aforesaid over
fh0 auln in
shall not detamine until the state OF Virginia shall
ton and Judicial system the said territory hereby
SIC fnd BE- further enacted That this act shall not he
force until after the Of the people Of the county
and town Of Alexandra shall be given to Il in the mode
mater provided Immediately after the close OF the
present session Of Congress the President Of the United
states shall appoint Ave commissioners, (any thee oil
whom may act) citizens OF the said town or county
shall be sworn before some justice OF the peace In
aud for the said town County to discharge the duties
the best OF their ability These commissioners, any
three OF them shall proceed Within days amer hsy
place and Of taking the vote within the
county Of Alexandria and shall give notice Of the by
the day and at the place so appointed every white male
citizen Of the county and town Of Alexandria OF twenty
years Of or more, and who shall have been
resident therein for two years or more neat preceding the
time when he offers TO vote and who shall not be insane
ing or rejecting the provisions Of th. act The said comm
sione shall preside when this vote 10 TAKEN and decide all
relation to the right oil under
this act Within three days after this vote is taken
aforesaid the said commissioners shall make out three
statements Of the result Of this poll upon OATH and under
their seals OF these, shall be transmitted to the Pres
dent Of the United States to the governor oil the Com
nonweath OF Virginia and one shall be deposited In the
clerks office Of the county court Of Alexandra II
ory Of the votes given shall be against accepting
the provisions Of this act then 1t shall be void and OF
effect but majority OF the said votes should be Ia favor
Of accepting the provisions of this act then this shall
he in full force and 1t shall be the duty of the President
the United states to inform the governor Of Virginia that
this act In full force and effect and to make proclamation
Of the fact
SIC. find b. further ,nactsd That in such case the
right Of property in the half square in Alexandria
which stands the court. house, bounded by Columbus
Queen ard Princess streets and the half square on which
stands the jail bounded by Princess, St Asaph and Pitt
streets shall be conveyed to the governor Of Virginia and
his ,ors for the county and cofpoI alton
Of Alexandria forever; and the Solicitor OF the Treasury
the United States hereby authorized and required in the
and on the behalf Of the United States TO make all the
proper necessary convey ances Tor that purpose
SEC Ind Be further enacted That the United States
retain right OF property and jurisdiction over the Long
Bridge the Potomac river, and much land
the southern side Of the river be necessary for the
ahument Of the said bridge.
Mr.. HUNTER addressed the committee Tin q
speech, Of which full report will be given here
after) He explained generally the object of the
BILL and urgently advocated its passage He ad-
| verted to the many high considerations Of public
policy which justified and sanctioned the measure
He examined the constitutional objections which
had been urged against it, answering and refuting
them. He spoke of the importance of the retroces
SION to the people of Alexandra; and depicted in
glowing colors, the blight that had fallen that
city by reason or her dependence on the general
government; her declining commerce; her premature
decay; the desolaton which had come upon her. not
by the scourge of God but by the hand Of man
He believed that il the boon Contemplated by this
bill were granted the blessing ofthe people Of Alex
andra, and Of their posterty, would fall upon Con-
gress. If this opportunity was neglected, Congress
would be responsible for whatever evils might re-
suit.
IL. G., r 4
read, and no amendment having been offered
Mr.. CULVER moved to amend the 4th section
in the l7th line by striking out the word "whte."
Mr.. Z. said he wanted every male citizen should
enjoy the right of the elective franchise. He spoke
of great variety Of shades of complexion, with SC
slight distinctions, that it would be difficult, under
the bill which conferred this privilege only on white
male citizens, to tell who were voters.
He wished the honorable gentleman who reported
this bill would state in its preamble the whole truth
concerning the causes which had tended to bring il
forward, or that the preamble might be stricken GU,
entirely. One which operated upon that
gentleman might be that under the constitution
and laws, fugitive slayesfugitive slaves from this
District-coud not be captured and retained. II
so, this would be no very strong reason for voting
for this bill.
He argued that Mr. HUNTER, by taking the posi-
ton that in case of the retrocession, Virginia could
manumt the slaves in Alexandria, had virtually ad-
mltted the power of Congress to manumt them there
and in the whole District. For Congress now ex-
ercised exclusive jurisdiction over the District and
It the surrender Of her power to the State author
lied that State to abolish livery, certainly Con-
gress itself possessed that power while she retained
| this exclusive jurisdiction.
II the bill and preamble were 40 modified as TO
strike out the word "white," as much as lie was op
posed to putting back 900 or l,500 slaves under
the jurisdiction Of Virginia. he should not be very
much opposed to the bill.
The question being taken, the amendment was
rejected.
Mr. MORRIS rose to move an amendment; but
after some conversation, he yielded to
Mr. G. w. JONES, who moved an amendmen,
to strike out from the word "every," in the 18th
llne to "paupcrs," in the Goth line, and insert in
lieu thereof every white male citizen of the United
States who shall have resided in the said county OF
| Alexandria six months preceding the time when he
offers his vote, insane persons and poupers ex-
copied"
After some conversation in which Messrs TIB-
BATS, HUNTER, WENTWORTH, and 9TH
ers participated