The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-11-17

The District of Columbia,
There is movement going on having for itsl
purpose the rerocession of the District-ol Column
bia to the-Slate Of Maryland. The town Of Alex
andria has, it will be remembered, been reannexed
I to Virginia and it is well known how anxious the
apeople Of that town were to return to their Virgil
MIA allegiance, aud how well pleased they are with
the change which has been wrought in their coudi-
ton and prospects, by the net Of rctrocesslon No
wonder that this example should inspire the re-
mainder Of the District with the desire and deter
limitation to return, if possible, to the State from
which it was taken, Indeed, the condition Of the
people Of the District of Columbia has been. ever
since the grant was made by Maryland and Vir-
giaiai strange and excepdonal-their rights and
privileges have been so different from those Of their
other American felow-citizens-that it is rather
surprising they should have remained so long CON
tent underline laws of Legislators not created by
themselves,
In order, however, that the people of the Dis
triot may return to their Maryland allegiance. il
will be necessary for them to obtain the consent Of
the United States and of the State Of MARYLAND
The latter will not, we presume, be difficult: and
&it is possible that the Congress of the United
States will be disposed to listen to the requests Of
the people of the District. in fact, it is only III,
great willingness shown by Congress to shape it.
Legislation for the District according to the will o.
#the people residing there that has rendered it.
ssovereignty enduabo. Other circumstances will
concur to induce Congress to lend favorable eaI
to the proposal of retrocediug the District. Til,
laws regulating property in the Dstrict-especjalk
those regulating property in slayes-have been S,
fruitful in difficulties, and may hereafter prove th
source OF so many woes that Congress will be ola,
to get rid of the whole matter by once more plac
ing the District under the jurisdiction Of MARYLAND
II the territory passes from the possession of til,
United States all Congressional discussion ia
regard to the existence of slavery within its limit
ceases. Were there then, no other reason for tn,
retrocession Of the DsNct, the disposal which +
+ makes of grave and difficult question would b,
sufficient to prevent Congress- from passing tn,
matter by slightinglyor without consideration.
The idea OF a community controlled by Con
gress, in whose election il has no voice, is so con
trary 70 the entire spirit Of our Institutions that
IS only the plea Of necessity which makes our ter
ritoral governments permissible. As to our terri
tories Of recent acquisition there exists always the
prospect Of time when they viii pass from what
has been well called the pupage of territorial
government into the manhood of State rights and
privileges. The most thinly settled of our terrific
ries, looks forward to the period when it shall have
|the privilege of making its laws without subject
ling them to the revision of Congress one or two
thousand miles distant from the territory ii under
takes to legislate for. But the District of Colum-
bia has no such hope. There is no period fixed for
its parasitic existence say parasitic, for it cam
only be compared to those plants which twine
around the oak and make part ofthe towering tree
Nor isit on the District of Columbia alone tlatI
The evil influences of its anomalous existence are
The fact that the seat of the Federal
Government is locatedin District whose citizens
10 not enjoy political franchises, has deprived
Washington Of many of the refining and metropo-
Titan influences it might otherwise have exercised
on our federal Legislators. Men of aspiring views
and lofty ambition will not voluntarily reside in
District where they are forever debared from oper-
ating on the hte OF people by influencing theirh
legislation Nor is it possible in countr,,-goy-
erned as ours is, for men of ability and worth &
resldmg near the seat of government, to exercise
great control over the administration of pubicairs
IN the United States man must be the represen-
|tahye OF a mass of men, or else he is. poitic,u,
speaking nothing. Hence Washington has nevers
attracted towards it the high order of TALENT obsery
aoe ID other capitals. Hence il as that the capiislA
II. 'he United States has never become the ceutres
.ot American civilization.
Political and sociaf'reasons conspire, then, az
make The reiroeession of the District of Columbia,
"a desirable thing. The matter will from AN an.
.PeaTances be brought before the next Congress- +
and it is to be hoped the subject will receive me
careful consideration il 50 well deserves.