Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-06
Tho Proposed Retrocsssiou Of Alexandria.

Tho Proposed Retrocession of Alexandria.
N the Senate, yesterday, on motion OF Mr..
i9ade, the bill repeating the act retroceding
:ho county Of Alexandra TO the State of Viz
2ioie was taken up.
blr. Wade took the floor and proceeded to
give history Of the cession Of the District Of
Columbia to the General Government for the
purpose Of establishing the national capital, and
maintained that the ccsSiou was permanent;
that the act Of 1916 retroceding Alexandria
county to tie State Of Virginia was null and
void, 10 constitutional power existing in Con-
gress to pass the said act He had no doubt
from what he had heard that majority of the
people Of Alexandria were bow anxious to come
back, although VIXEN the subject was first agi-
Gated they were opposed to it. l. was neces
sary Tor the purposes OF the Government that
it should have the whole ten miles square un-
der it's jurisdiction.
Mr.. Davis said he was member Of the
House when Alexandria rctroceded, and had
voted agalnstit, not believing that it was COM
nctent Tor Cong cSs TO pass the act. lie be-
heved 50 still, but was Of the opinion that the
question was purely judiciary one and was
therefore not disposed to vote Tor the pending
bill. Ii he was citizen Of Alexandria, why,
in Gods name, he would never want to come
under the rule of Congress- lie had voted
against the joint resolution providing for the
annexation Of Texas as be was satisfied that
Congress. whose powers are Of legislative
nature only, had no authority to pass such
resolution Still, he would not vote for re-
peal of that joint resolution. lie was convin-
ced that the State of West Virginia had no
legal Or constitutional existence, but as he
thought the matter was one entirely for the
courts, he should not vote to repeal the act
;!mittlng it as a State.
hlr Salisbury suggested 10 the Senator
rom Ohio Mr.: Wade to POSTPONE the further
consideration of the bill, as Senators had not
M opportunity to be informed of the merits of
re case.
Ir Wade said he had no objection, and
'"ould therefore move that it be POSTPONED
Intil tomorrow.
.1:r Cowan said it was purely judicial cues
ion, IS had bccn stated. He thought the
>GC2t proper course to take would be to refer
ne subject to the Committee 90 the Judiciary.
tir Howard had never heard any opinion
)ut that tEc act OF retrocession was null and
90. Congress had no power whatever to give
:tE any portion Of the District it was contrary
C The wishes and feelings Of the people of the
Jn:ted States.
En- Salisbury asked if Congress should de-
t2Elnlne to remove the seat Of Government,
yhat then would become OF the District and Of
ne public buildings here. Could Congress re- e.
.rocede this territory in that case to the State
u NIaryland?
Ilr. Howard said that had nothing to do
nth the subject now under discussion and as
i was not material to the subject he did not
mink 1t necessary to answer the question
Mi. Cowan said if the act CT retrocession
.'as nudity, then it would be a nulity to re-
peal that act. What was the use of repeating
nat which had never been done? The subject
should be referred to the Judiciary Committee,
end the Attorney General be requested to give
ais opinion as to the constitutionality of the
ut.
The further consideration of tie bill was
hen postponed until to-day.
he national cemetery at Seven Pines, Vir.
gnia, has been completed, and now contains
1856 bodies. The Government has selected
SITES for Two new cemeteries The Glendale
cemetery, situated near Richmond, contains
;Eo acres and will receive the remains Of those
2rEled at Harrison's Landing, Frazier's Farm,
I'D Malvern Hill. The Point of Rocks GENE
cry is located on bluff on the banks of the
t-ppomattox, short distance from Petersburg,
:.ild will receive those bodies buried between
ne James and AppOmattOy rivers.