Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-30
LOCAL NEWS.

ANNEXATION. We stated day or two since
that Mr.. Wade's bill, annexing the County Ct
Alexandra to the District Of Columbia, had
been reported back, to the Senate, without
amendment. We can but hope that no such
measure will receive the sanction Of the Con-
gress of the United States. 1t rests mainly for
success on the ground that the several laws, by
which the retrocesson Of Alexandria to Viz
GINA was accomplished, are unconstitutional.
If this assn mption be sustained, and carried
into practical effect, who can calculate the ex-
tent of the mischiefs and evils to the people OF
Alexandria. Every act, legislative, judicial,
and executive, set aside and overthroWn, con
tracts repudiated and disayowed, criminals, I'm
der sentence of conviction for heinous offences,
turned loose upon the community, and actions
for false Imprisonment against those who
thought they were acting under lawful au-
thority. We trust that Congress will pause
and consider before they open this Pandora S
Boz on the heads Of an unfortunate people,
who have no representative allowed to defend
their interests. There are men Of talents of the
majority in both branches of Congrcss-Trum-
bull, Stevens and other-whom, we trust, will
prevent this great injustice. 1t is worse than
idle, the provision in the bill, which declares
that it shall not have the effect to interfere with
private rights of property. IF the retroces:ion
laws be unconstitutional, no such reservation as
this can prevent the results which will flow
therehrom.
But in looking at the practical effects Of the
bill, we think that it should contain some such
section as this, to show its real nature aud ten
dency:
BE iJuthcr enacted, That all acts and pro-
''ceedings, civil Or criminal, and all contracts
made by, or under authority of any law Of the
Legislature Of Virginia, pretending to assume
control and jurisdiction over the territory and
'people of the said County Of Alexandria, are
thereby declared to be, and from their incep-
"tion to have been, void and Of none effect. "
The Fredericksburg Herald, omnenting on
the scheme to seize and take possession by the
general government, of that portion of Virgin
ia comprising the city and county Of Alexan-
dria, says:
"a more deliberate and high handed pro-
cedure was never attempted in this country
TO say that Congress can, by simple repeal OF
the retrocessioa act, force people, against
their will, from State into territorial position,
is monstrocity upon the Constitution The
people Of Alexandria are unwilling, tho State
of Virginia is unwilling, and Congress may as
well attempt to divorce man and wife, against
the will Of both parties, as to divorce and an
nul the marital bond that binds Alexandria to
the State Of Virginia. The pigmy Legislature
that once met in Alexandria passed an act
giving its assent to the partitionins Of the State
of Virginia. 1twas maintained that the Legs-
lature Of the State, IN Richmond, could not re-
consider and annul that action; but Congress
here assumes most infamous stretch Of aut hor-
ity, attempting to do by the simple repeal OF
an eDacment, what has been acquesced in, aud
recognized as q fixed fact for nearly twenty
years. Virginia has spent millions for the
benefit Of Alexandria, which size could not, and
would not have DONE had it not been an i'm
mutable fact, as Persian edict, that no subse
quent Congressional enactment could ever effect
her large minded liberality towards her return
ing daughter.