Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-05-10
ALEXANDRIA.
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1866.
i:LEykNDRIA--ITs PROPOSED TRANSFER TO
"a THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ~

recently Introduced into the Senate Of the Uni
led States to repeal the act retroceding the
county Of Alexandria to the State Of Virginia.
Hhe proposed measure rests mainly on the
ground that the legislation, by which retroces-
SION was accomplished, is in violation Of the in
tent and meaning of the Constitution Of the
United States. Without going into an argu-
ment on this subject, we propose now, chiefly,
20 refer to the authority b. which the constitu-
:ionality Of these laws is sustained They have
oeen acquiesced in, and sanctioned, by the Su-
2reme Court OF the United States; by the di.
Hect and positive enactments Of Congress, pass
ed July 9th, 1916, and July 9TH, lS4S; by
sne legislation of Congress ever since: now near
" 20 years, in various respects, recognizing the
County Of Washington, o. the territory North of
tie Potomac Rtrer, as tie District Of Columbia.
t. majority probably Of the present Congress
ere committed to such legislation. The orders
md proclamations, civil and military, Of every
President of the United States, since 1916, as
sumo that the County of Alexandria is part OF
he State of Virginia. In the establishment,
~ the Federal Government, OF Circuit and Dis
:rict Courts, OF mail routes, post-offices, coec-
lion districts OF direct taxes, and in every other
possible respect, the Heads of the several De-
,.oartments have admitted the constitutionality
Of these laws The Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary Departments, have corcurred in an
unbroken series Of acts, to like effect. The
unanimous vote of the Legislature, the decis-
io of her Supreme Court Of Appeals directly
Oh the question, without dissenting voice, the
occurring action of all her public officers, and
he large subscriptions and appropriations by
Virginia, Of public money, rest en- the validity
of this legislation, and leave 10 room for doubt
IS to the universal opinion Of her people on
this subject. The Governors and Legislatures
81 many of the other States, in making demands
Tor fugtives from justice, and other acts con-
ceGeG the validity Of the laws now called in
question and proposed to be declared void. Ii
fu:,.Eey authority were needed, the names OF
some of the most distinguished jurists known
20 E.merlc&, might be mentioned. Such men
IS Rcverjy Johnson, Thos H. Benton, Jno. j.
~'ritteaden, Joseph 4. 1ngersoll, Thomas Cor
wiz, anG many others OF eQua! Distinction
t.Titn such an array Of authority, even a Mar
snail or Mansfield might well hesitate before
Dronouncing these acts Of Congress uneonstitu-
tiouaI This, it is proposed, to be done, not
Dy tie judgment Of the highest courts Of the
country, but by mere act If Congress. The
Supreme Court of the United States, in the
leading case Of Fletcher vs. Peck, 6 Cranch,
page 81 declared that before i law can be pro-
louDccd unconstitutional it's incompatibiity
With the Constitution must be clear How can
congress, in their action on Mr.. Wade's BILL
SC announce, in view Of the authorities above
deferred to? But what are 10 be the effects of
repeating these laws The county OF Alexan-
..r;a mas been represented both IN Congress, IN
the State Legislature, and in the Convention
which formed the present State Constitution
The ground now taken is that the laws which
rave authority to these Delegates are unconstl-
trtional Ii this be true, thea their votes must
:eint anG. violate every act done by these bodies
lot only so, but the very Convention which
formed the present Constitution Of Virginia,
held its session in the city OF Alexandria,
pert Of the District Of Columbia, forsooth, &C
sording 10 Mr. Wade's BILL The Legislature
OF Virginia, too, held its sessions and passed
iI1portaut laws, in what is sought to be estab-
i3heG as foreign territory; as jorelgu, IN legal
point Of view, according to this bill, as Massa-
To, ,nt
;het falls within the jurisdiction Of State Gov
eminent, has been performed by Virginia towards
he city and county Of Alexandria, as part of her
territory, without question till the present
JJur property and titles rest on the laws cf
Iirginia, and the decisions of her courts and
I'll our interests are interviewer and bound up
With hers Are these to be up-rooted and an
aulled? are marriages to be avoided, and chill
1ran born ct them declared lilies climate? Tn
der these laws men have suffered the penalty of
death. They cannot be brought to life, It's true,
but it is to be established that they were erro-
rcously convicted under unconstitutional laws
anG what is to he done with those now
under sentence Of coaviclion-are they to
be tried again? We do not propose 10 extend
:hese vices further. The evils and mischiets
TO our people, by the consunmation of this
measure would be ircalculalle. But probably
the very worst feature, and greatest wrong
'2ould be the gross violation of faith toward
the State of Virginia. She has expended her
money by millions, directly and Indirectly to
build up and promote the interests of Alexan-
drie, relying on the declaration in TIE act Of
) uly eth, 1916, that the territory of Aexan-
;!rs was torecer rellnquished to the State of
Virginia How can that grant now be with
drawn by the very power by whom it was con-
ceded? Is not Congress estoppcd, both in
fairness and law from such an act? How will
the Courts OF the country on ordinary principles
Of jurisprudence, regard such proceeding?
;Ye cannot believe that CONGRESS- will mass such