The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-01-16

nal Government. regardful Of their righls,
mindful Of their wants, and solicitous for
their prosperity. Il was evidently contem-
plated that all local questions would be left
10 their decision, at least to an extent that
would not be Incompatible with the object
lor which Congress was granted exclusive
legislation over the seat Of goxecament.
When the Constitution was yet under con-
slderation, il was assumed. by Mr.. Mad
isoD, that its inhabitants would be allowed
"a municipal legislature, Tor local pur-
poses, derived troM their own suRrages." !"
When, for the first time. Congress, in the
year 1900. assembled at Washington, Pres
ident Adams, in bis speech at its opening,
reminded the two Hous. % that il was Tor
them to consider whether the local powers
over the District Of Columbia, vested by
the Constitution in the Congress Of the Un-
tied States, should be imme1istely exercis-
ed, and he asked them to a consider i,as the
capital Of a great nation, advancing with
unexampIed rapidly in arts. in commerce,
in wealth. and in populaton, and possessing
within itself those resources which, If not
thrown away or lamentably misdirected.
would secure to il q long course Of pros
perity and self.governmeut." Three years
had not elapsed when Congress was called
upon to determine the propriety of retroced-
ing to Maryland and Yirgiaia the jurisdic-
tim Of the territory which they had res
pectwely relinquished TO the Government
of the United States. 1t was urged, on the
one hand. that exclusive jurisdiction was
no, necessary or useful to the Governments !
that it deprived the inhabitants of the Dis
trict Of their political rights that much Of
tie time OF Congress was consumed in leg
Islation pertaining to it j; that IFS govern
ment wss expensive; that Congress was not
competent to legislate for the District, be-
cause the members were strangers 10 its
local concerns aud that il was an exam
pie OF q government without representation
--an experiment dangerous TO the liberties
Of the States On the other hand, II was
held, among other reasons, and successfully,
that the Constitution, the acts oi cession OF
Virginia and Maryland, and the act Of Cnn-
gress accepting the giant, all contemplated
iie exercise of exclusive Legislation by Con-
gress, and that its usefulness, II not its
necessity, was inferred from the inconyen-
irnee which was felt for want of il by the
Congress OF the Confederation that the
people themselves, who il was said had been
deprived Of their political rights, had not
complained and did not desire retr0ces-
sion that the evil might be remedied by
giving them representation in Congress
when the District should become sufficient.
ly populous. and in the meantime local
legislature that if the Inhabitants had moi
political rights, they had great political In
fiuence that the trouble and expense oil
legislating for the District would not be
great. but would diminish, and might in a
great measure be avoided by local legis.
lature /; and that Congress could not retrs'
cede The inhabitants without their censent
Continuing to 1--we substantially under the
laws that existed at the time OF the cession
and such changes only having been made
as were suggested by themselves. the pco.
pie Of The District have not sought, by .
local legislature, that which has generally
been willingly conceded by the Cong'es'
of the nation.
As general rule, sound policy requires
that the Legislature should yield 10 th,
wishesof o people. when not Inconsistent
sith the Constitution and the laws. The
measures suited 20 one community nigh
not be well adapted 10 the condition ofan
other, and the persons best qualified TO de
termine such questions ore those whose In.
terests are 10 be directly affected by any
proposed law. In Massachusetts,, for in
stance. male persons are allowed TO vot,
~i,hout resa,d d to color. provided they pos
cess certain degree Of intelligence. In
population in that State Of ,23l .o66. ther,
were, BY the census Of 1860, only 9,6oi
persons OF color, and bf the males ove
twenty years Of age there we're sse.os,
white to 3 .6O2 colored. By the same off
cisl soumerstion, there we're. 10 the Dis.ric