The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-09

p1eSsly excluded from the r1Snl oI SUI
frage. 1t hardly seems consistent with
the principles of right and justice that
Representatives Of States where suffrage
Is either denied the colored man, or
granted to him on qualifications requlr-
ing intelligence or property, should
compel the people of the District Of
Columbia TO try an experiment which
their own constituents have thus far
shown an unwillingness 10 test for
themselves. Nor does ii accord with
our republican ideas that the principle
Of self-government should lose its force
when applied TO the residents Of the
District, merely because their legisla-
tors are not, like those of the States, re-
sponsible, through the ballot, to the
people for whom they are the law-mak-
ing power.
! The great object Of placing the seat Of
government under the exclusive leglsla-
tion of Congress, was to secure the en-
tire independence Of the General Gov
ernment from undue State influence,
and TO enable it 10 discharge, without
danger of interruption or Infringement
of its authority, the high functions for
which ii was created by the people.
Fos this important purpose twas ceded
10 the United States by Maryland and
Virginia, and it certainly never could
have been contemplated, as one of the
objects TO be attained by placing II un-
der the exclusive jurisdiction Of Con-
gress, that il would afford TO propa-
gandists or political parties place for
an experimental test of their principles
and theories. While, indeed, the resi-
dents of the seat of government are not
citizens Of any State, and are not, there
fore, allowed voice in the electoral
college, or represented in the councils
of the nation, they are, nevertheless,
American citizens, entitled as such TO
every guarantee Of the Constitution, to
every benefit of the laws, and 20 every
right which pertains TO citizens Of our
common country. In all matters, then,
affecting their domestic affairs, the
spirit of our democratic form OF govern
ment demands that their wishes should
be consulted and respected, and they
taught to feel, that, although not per
mitted practically to participate IN
national concerns, they are, neverthe-
less, under paternal Government, re-
gardful of their ghts, mindful OF their
wants, and solicitous for their prosperi-
II. 1t was evidently contemplated
that all local questions would be left
TO their decision, at least 10 an extent
that would not be Incompatible with
the object for which Con-
gress was granted exclusive legislation
over the seat Of government. When
the Constitution was yet under conslC-
Grafton. il was assumed, by Mr.. Madl-
son, that its inhabitants would be al
lowed municipal Legislature for loca!
purposes, derived from their own sui
frages." When, for the first time, Con-
gress, in the year 1900, assembled al
Washington, President Adams, in his
speech at its opening, reminded the two
Houses that il was for them to consider
whether the local powers over the DIS
trct of Columbia, vested by the Con-
siItutiOn in the Congress of the United
States, should be immediately exercised,
and he asked them TO consider II a.
the capital Of great nation, advancing
with uneXampled rapidity III arts, III
commerce, in weaith, and III population,
and possessing within itself the resources
which. if not thrown away or lamenta-
bly, misdirected, would secure TO IL
long course of prosperity and self gov
ernment." Three years had not elapsed
when Congress was called upon TO de-
terlniue the propriety of retroceding 10
Maryland and Virginia the jurisdiction
Of the territory which they had respect
lively relinquished to the Government OF
United States. 1t was urged, on the
one hand, that exclusive jurisdiction
was not necessary or useful 10 the Gov
erumept; that it deprived the inhablt-
ants OF the District of their political
rights; that much of the time OF Con-
gress was consumed IN legislation per
tanning TO ii; that its government was
expensive; that Congress was not com
petent 10 legislate for the District,
| because the members were strangers 10
its local concerns; and that il was an
example Of a government without rep
resentation-an experiment dangerous
TO the liberties of the States. On the
other hand, it was held, among other
reasons, and successively, that the Con
stitution, the acts OF cession of Virginia
and Maryland, and the act Of Congress
accepting the grant, all contemplated
the exercise of exclusive legislation by
| Congress, and that It's usefulness, II not
its necessity, was inferred from the IN
convenience which was felt for want Of
il by the Congress Of the Confederation;
that the people themselves, who II was
said had been deprived Of their political
rights, had not complained and did not
desire a retrocession; that the evil
might be remedied by giving them q
/ representation III Congress when the
District should become sufficiently pop
uious, and in the meantime local leg
islature; that If the inhabitants had
not political rights, they had great po-
litical influence; that the trouble and
expense Of legislating for the District
would not be great, but would dlmln-
ish, and might in a great measure be
avoided by local legislature; and that
Congress could not retrocede the inhab-
itants without their consent. Contin-
uing to live substantially under the
laws that existed at the time Of the ces-
sion, and such changes only having been
made as were suggested by themselves,
the people of the District have not
sought, by . local Legislature, that
which has generally been willingly con-
seeded by the Congress of the nation
As general rule, sound policy re-
quires that the Legislature should yield
to the wishes Of . people, when not in
consistent with the Consultation and
the laws. The measures suited 10 one
community might not be well adapted
10 the condition Of another; and the
persons best qualified to determine such
questions, are those whose interests are
TO be directly affected by any proposed
law. In Massachusetts,, for instance,
male persons are allowed to vote with
out regard 10 color, provided they pos
sess certain degree of intelligence. In
q population in that State Of ,23l ,O66,
there were by the census OF loi0, only
9.6e2 persons of color; and of the males
over twenty years of age there were
3s9.036 white, 2,6a2 colored. By the
same official enumeration, there were IN
the District of Columbia 60,76i whites
to 1876 persons of the colored race.
Since then, however, the population OF
the District has greatly increased, and
il is estimated that 1t the present time
there are nearly = hundred thousana
whites TO thirty thousand negroes The
cause of the augmented numbers Of the