Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-11
The Proposed Retrocession Of Alexandria.


In the Senate, yesterday, on motion of Mr..
Wade, the bill to repeal an act entitled IAN
act to rctrocedo the county of Alexandria in
the Distric. of Columbia, to the State of Vir-
GINA, and for other purposes was taken up.
Mr. Henderson said be could not vote Tor
the bill, as he thought twould only complcate
matters. 1t was q matter for adjudication BY
the Supreme Court, and no legislation OF Con
gross could be CT effect except BY the consent Of
the Legislature OF Virginia.
Mr.. Howard thought the best way to bring
The matter before the Supreme Court was tor
Congress to pass this bill. He entertained no
doubt that the act OF retrocesslon was unconstl-
tut!onal. The tract was ceded for one partlcu-
lar purpose-tor permanent seat Of govern
ment. One word aS to the removal OF the cap
ital, which may be anticipated IN the future,
when the West becomes more denseIy popula-
ted He Mr.. Il. held that Congress could
not remove the seat of government except by
an alteration of the Constitution: giving them
this whole ten miles square The Inconvenience
to which it was subjected at the beginning, Of
the war by not having jurisdiction over this
county was well known. He believed that the
schemers who originated this bill contemplated
territory, when in their possession.
Mr. Harris was of the opinion that the act OF
retrocession was null and void.
Mr. johnson said he was Il member Of the
Senate in 1916, when this bill was passed, and
had no doubt Of its constitulionality then, and
knew Of nothing since to change his opinion.
Mr. Fessenden asked if Congress had the
power to cede the rest of the District back to
Maryland and thus leave the country without
any seat of Government.
Mr. Observation-Disclosures
The discussion was further continued by
MesSrs johnson, Stewart, Wade. and Sauls-
bury.
On motion of Mr.. CONFESS, the bill was post
poned and made the special order for to-day, at
! clock.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. The Senate,
yesterday, passed the bill to fix the number Of
the judges Of the L. S. Supreme Court. 1t
provides that no vacancy in the Office Of asso-
ciate justice shall be filled until the num5er of
said justices shall be reduced to six, and also
makes certain changes ia the places of holding
United States Circuit Courts. The bill to en-
large the capitol grounds wos also passed, after
which the bill to repeal the act retroccding
H4'S NoduS ~ 'iSiuid hbS thhch w
and discussed until the adjournment
The House occupied the entire day in the
consideration OF the tariff BILL After stirring
debate, the duty on pig iron was fixed at 50
instead of $40 PER ton, as haa been agreed upon
ID committee OF the whole. The amendment
making the duty On coal 81 80 per ton was
agreed to- as were also the amendments rcduc
Ing the duty on coffee and tea. The duty on
railroad iron was fixed at seventy cents per one
hundred pounds. The other amendments of
the committee having been agreed to, various
motions looking to the defeat or rostponement
Of the bill, were made and voted down. The
bill was then passed by yeas 95, nays 50.
Rev DR.. Robert Scott OF the Virginia Meth
odist Conference, was accidentally thrown from
a wagon, in Caroline county, few days ago,
and killed.
Bishop Early, Of Va, has SO far recovered
from his injuries by the lato railroad accident
as to be able to return TO Lynchburg.
James Gibbs was killed in Gloucester county
Va, on the 9Th, in an alteration with bis
brother.ln.law, VIM Ioyett