The Portland daily press., 1869-10-15
Letter frsm Washin gton.
WARRINGTON, Oct, Z, 1863.
To the Editor of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press:
THE TITLE TO THE ARLINGTON ESTATE.
have read, recently, an article by a cor
respondent of the Boston Traveller in which
the writer says that the government holds the
Arlington estate, formerly the property of
Gen. Lee, and now National Cemetery, by
title resulting from confiscation-a lite es-
tate, terminating at the death of Gen. Lee,
upon the happening of which event the es-
tate will revert to his heirs. L think the
writer is misinformed in regard to the title
of the government, for if I am not mistaken,
the government holds the Lee estate by tax
title, the Quarter Masters Department hay
ing bid off the property, when it was sold a
few years since by Gen. Pierpont, who was
military Governor of the State of Virginia at
that time. The government never confiscated
the property, but came into the possession of
the same by purchase as stated. The time OF
redemption having passed by, the title at the
present, is nothing less than fee simple. The
people throughout the country, need not be
alarmed in regard to the removal of the hon
ored dead, that lie sleeping there, for there is
not the shadow of possibility that the
graves will ever be disturbed.
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.
The removal of the Capital is again asita-
ting the people of the West. and they wish
now, to keep the subject constantly before the
people until the assembling of Congress.
There has been some considerable discussion
upon the question whether it can be done
without constitutional amendment In look
ing over the subject, find that in some dis
cussions in the Senate, in relation to the ces-
sion of portion of the Capital some time
since, to the State OF Virginia. the most emf
nent men of that body, declared that that act
of Congress ceding certain territory to vir-
ginia was unconstitutional. Among the num-
Der, find Harris of New York, one of the
ablest lawyers in the country, Howard, Stew
art, Wade and Davis and Fessenden, all of
them distinguished Senators contended that
such act was unconstitutional. Hon Rever-
dy johnson. however took contrary view
and said that Congress had the power, and
when speaking upon the question, Senator
Fessendcn asked Mr.. johnson, if Congress
could not also cede the other half of the dis
trict just as well as what they did to Virginia
and ESQ, where would the Capital be? This
question Mr.. johnson did not answer very
clearly, but contended that Congress had the
right. The Constitution emphatically declares
that Congress shall have Jurisdiction over such
territory as may be coded for the purpose of
establishing Capital not exceeding ten miles
square, and such conditions having been car
ried out and the Capital established, nothing
short ola constitutional amendment can re-
move it. But understand that some parties
in Alexandria, refuse to pay taxes to the State
Of Virginia, contending that their property is
part of the District of Columb ia, as the act
ceding the territory to Virginia was uncvnsti-
tutional, SO undoubtedly the question whether
it will take constitutional amendment to re-
move the Capital may be soon settled by the
Supreme Court.
ESCAPE OF A ROGUE THROUGH FLAW IN
AN INDICTMENT.
Mr.. j. ii. A. Scheuman, a colored messen-
ger some time since in the Treasury. was
arrested and has been on trial for embezzIing
United Staets bank notes. A motion was made
in arrest ofjudgment upon uncertainty in the
Indictment and was granted by Judge Fisher
and now as the statute of limitations inter-
venes no action can be brought by the United
States.
BASE BALL PERSONAL - APPOINTMENT.
Rev. DR.. Southgate, formerly of your city.
who has been officiating at the church of the
Ascension, (EpiscopaD in this city, has ac-
cepted call from Annapolis, and enters i'm
mediately upon his new field of labor.
The National Base Ball Club of this civ
has recently retrieved somewhat its former
popularity by beating the Ecfords of BROOKLYN
the champion club of America, by score of
four to two. The members of the National
are feeling exceedingly well pleased at their
success upon that occasion. aUus
Mr.. Newton Written of your city has been
appointed to first class clerkship in the Sec
ond Auditors Office, Treasury Department.
PRENTIss