Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-01-16
TUT nc EItNK'tT.
TO J. ~. s YME, ESQ, EDITOR OF Il PETERS

BUKG IN~rELLIGENCER.
Ny Gear cir | have JUS! read an article, taken from I've In
t1liacnccr, on Tie su5Iec. o! the snail notes 81 inc pist''c'
OF C1iIn6iL. with which lie STATE IL snandutcn, ana reGreI
tia, you, whom | have always taken Ia be Il good States
rights man, should appeal 10 Congress TO put down 0iis
nuisance.
Sir, dI yol ever read tho clause, said 10 give Congress
exclusive control over Inc district | am certain thai you
have read il. but was it not through the borrowed spectacle:
OF received op.nion7 Bat, sE, do you think you nave read
it and expounded its purport b. the pure iountain of y0u'
own intellect, tree and aEhiasssd BY thn opinion h"iJ oy
Others, that ill high places 10 the republic, Which Is 50 HHt'u
lead us astray in our Judgment, rtic's "e are most ViI'iih'
over IN. laying the Cornerstone, the first germ oil thought Oh
which we erect the 6upersIruc,ure OF our best dig=sici con
illusions! Sir, do you not perceive lhhi II you give ION
sress The sovereign power 10 coGtfpl Inc currency VI Inc
District of ColumolI, you have already surrendered IL
il the power 10 abolish slavery In the DIst!lcl! Eur, lhe
thing Is sci. evident, that you havs fallen into the popular
error, thar Congress has the right Of exclusive legislation III
all cases whatsoever, over The said District, which, permit
me 10 say, wilhoul the least Difference !Dt the opinions OF
Others, il not 10 be found written In the book Of the su2:en
law ui the lard, and is no where 10 be found, save In the lnt-
gination of man. But. sir, read the cllast conceitdhg Tie
powers conferred On Congress over The D!stTict, thit SidlI
oy ces.ion OF particular States and ucccptsnce OF E"ngfe--
bcconic III. seat ot Inc government 81 HE I6itci States
and you will observe 1T 4 glance ina; yot, good cts: 5nn!
nave taken il into your pata,taat u" Dlsir!ct uf C"lnHoIa
has become the seat oil the federal g"Tern'nehl. LEI, sr. II
YOU will examine the deed, you will find That the District,
purchased mi ret1ined by Uncle Sa"', on w"!sli ne las
erected his country seat, is but n s'nl'i part OF the land
known Ia the good people ot this republic ~ the DISTINCT 81
Columbia. ST, i! was from the frsehnii estate, on walc1 the
feIeral government should sea! its buliIlrg-, that Il Siaie
has th. power 10 cede and Congress ~ accept tts sover'
cign control 0i any portion vi The territory OF sa!G S"lls'
and the State Of Maryland never was em7o"errd ny I'VE
federal constitution 20 sell the rights and liberties Oh any
p,r,ion nC her ri,izrns 10 The I>hnt"l!ies. No, -lr, no. nat
portion o.! the District OF Columbia mat has not hec"'nd the
scat ui government. but Is the scat al ciiiZehs .! 'hc
place, i. ;lwiuiiy within tie jurisdiction ot Al'ryi"nJ' ai'
lis inhabitants are Justly entitled, unGer IN" leti"f, no less
than the spirit Of the constitution, |" all al IN" rlEhis tnn
liocr,le. VI the citizens OF The sovereign Stiic 81 hlrylhnd;
and lnat portion and that only that has Iruly orc"'ni ''e
u,ycrnr.nr srat its freehold estate On which the govern-
ment buildings are seated, or that when may have bsen Ph'-
chased in the several Stlles. tor The purpose oil erecting
thereon !u;is, arsenals, and other needIul bulldogs, Is hndeF
the sovereign control OF Congress, and beyond ;tHai!an IN
The State in which the same may b.. But, nv dear sir, Il"
Civ. certain limits, round nrt about thc District INA; "t- 0c-
com, IN. seat OF government, the ian:iiul narue al the Dis
trict .! Columbia, and then proclaim that Congress mas ca
elusive and dc-pUlIc control over suc!. District, l., To your
humble servant, one of the must absurd things that wise nnd
reverend statesmen ever put their feet into.
Yours, truly, r PLCkibCS CNeA.