New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-28

no "n" citizen Who ought to have confidence in wash.
ington City. Gentlemen ought TO dca, neray ana 10y
the business take the sa courSo pcpo'o"'
Rt "f said that wo wore 400 miles
from Tho most Important seat Of war and tho cost OF
daily and expeditions communication with the lake IRON
tr ysmounted 10 greater than tho removal Of tho
c hc "scs To have all thcse ycnioncos merely
I'm Of tho intercss OF tho people OF THIS D
iwrs Congress exclusive legislation ovor this District,
aud instead OF that would DO giving the Disot conro
Mr. Wright OF Maryland was not willing any longer 70
suspend The people of this city by their oyslids Me
Among those who voted for remova wero Daniel Web
sor Mr. Aston of North Carolina Era Butlcr lager
sol OF Pennsylvania Kent OF NewYork Cyrus King on
Massachusetts, Timothy Pickering. John Reed, and ich-
ard Stockton.
RETRocEssroN or ALEXANDRIA
Another s.rong demonstration OF the state Of feeling
OH this subject was exhibited the 9Th OF May. Iso.
and ut various sessions before and subsequent to that
time and the date OF the retroccson OF Alexandria 1t
was this question that the voice Of the wost first
heard for removal. Senator william Allen. July q,
said:
seaboard gave tho commercial citios preponder-
ating influence In the councils OF the United SatesIye
hundred fold to the same number OF people In
the vast interior. They had Committees from tho
banks OF the Missouri or even the Ohio lobbying In
these halls TO regulate tariff duties. Mo- they had no as
ISOLATION In those regons md delegates to the
capital with the view of obtaining laws to meet the
views OF individual and sectional interests Instead OF
the and the wishes of the great men Of The nation
Fifteen hours before bill was introduced Into Congress-
Wallst. had knowledge OF II, and delegation was on
hand TO rogulne the details Of tho bill Thus Lad their
tariffs bocn formed thus the commercial Interest over
ruled all others The great men OF tile people lived on
the so-iour fifths OF themand y was in tho center
that the scat OF sh1d o DO % line
Robsrt M r. Hunter of virginia spoke Of the import
ance OF tho retroceson to people OF aud
depicted in glowing cclors the blight that had fallen
on city by nsr het rn%
decay; the desoaon which had como upon her not by
the scourge Of God. but by the hands OF man"
M pavle NJ AcrODac. Va. asked Congress 10 Qc-
eide the question of retrocession upon Its own merts
Win sny so 'G to the
John A. McCernand Of Illinois said that Congress had
full power TO change tho location OF seats Of Govern
ment and, in that case by the operation OF law. me
District including territory and people, would revert W
W. w Payne Of Alabama Collected to the bill because
sn n OF Rsf o SSSa south Of River
mac. Was 1t contemplated TO refund this moncy-hoot
saddle the debt Of the corporation Of Alexandria upon
Finally the old Missouri Trojan expressed himself upon
the Washng ton Monument Questioi-a similar scheme
TO the big fair first projected here by sundy plumbers
Mr. Thomas H. Benton in tho Senate. Jan. 1913. said:
81 entirely opposed to any action by which an 9,s S
United states the purpose Of going abroad to levy
contributions the human race, Ii individuals assume
~ erect A monument let them do IL as Individuals Out
let no opportunity be afforded them OF using the name
OF tho Congress OF the United states In furherance OF
Thus stands history on the removal OF the Capital The
voice selfsaereiDg patriotism calls us TO look ior ho
center OF population present and 10 come; to cease
pending money the verge OF the East but to build
deep and strong the everlasting Jerusalem Tppn ,ns
T Sans % humanity '0''A'''"' f'''' '"'
President would ask -FOUR especial attention to
and nearly like It have the friends OF Capitalize
moYal in the recent discussions made Their arguments
THE CONsTITUTIONALrTY OF REMOVAL.
But are you ready 10 say Mr. President that although
the argument rood. there Is constitutional question
in tho wayi Well. am not constitutional lawyer, and
therefore cannot discuss the coDsttutonality OF tho
question: but will to submit toyou few plain
facts which take precedence over all technical once
TONS Referring 10 the Federaist" find the Consti-
sept IT, $751; and which was adopted Sept H. 1885, con-
tains the following clause: -
power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what
soeyer such District not exceeding 10 miles SQUARE
ma NAV by cesson particular States aud the accept
apce OF Congress become the seat OF Government OF the
United States, and to exercise like authority over al
the state In which the shall be- for the erection OF
forts magazines arsenas. dock and other neediul
Now, Mr. President, wish you to bear In mind that
the above is the only clause in tho CONSTITUTION
the subject the seat OF Government, and that while
tho Constitution was adopted SEPT rs lSS, the Dill i0t
the removal OF the Capital rom TO ITS present
Ing It's second sessen. Now Sir bold to be true
that the Constitution framed and adopted without
any possible reference TO special and permanent oca
ton the seat Of Government In fact several ehofs
made before Ss ana ns az a %eTen Places
sst while at Philadelphia, then at Princeton, New
iTss It was resolved that buildings for the Of Con-
gress should be erected the banks OF the Delaware
or similar purpose should lie erected on the Potomac
some members conceying that there was no way 70
the debates upon the bill which resulted In the location
Of the Capital at its present place. some members desired
'Itis not in power to guard against repeal Our
acts are not those OF the Medes and Persians un
aterabe; repeal Is thing against which no provision
can be made"
Again those who pretend to believe in constitutional
prohibition couple with their argument the cesson OF
the District OF Columbia the foundation OF Tie fah
Now. what the facts about thati Was not the Viz
sress 10 the mother state lsei Was that a0t uncon
sttutonaii Was President Folks proclamation decar
NOT John C. Calhoun say in the debate tho subject
that according to his Judgment there could not DC
where the Constitution prohibtory clause ~ was 10
the OF the 70 I PROVISION
% the contrary. Now hN saw no such provision IN tne
Constitution II beonged to The Gentlemen PfSss
had right which he held to DO neontestabe 10 remove
the seat Of the right o. I S'a S ws
true established tis as the permanent seat OF Govern
a Ssi 4es @ y1 of
The Hon. Reverdy johnson, also being member OF tne
sracnssoD He went INTO review OF tho constitutional
provision relative to the establishment OF seat OF Gov
rnment and 10 the proceedings o Congress with regard
In M location within the District and insisted that there
was nothing in either to prohibit the OF tne
ten miles square tia State from which 1t was TAKEN OF
any porton thsrAof Ho supposed that absolute ne
cessy might arsa for the removal or thc seat OF
ment from the possession OF the District by an enemy
MT Benton held that the question with him was whether
the people Of Alexandria were willing 10 nave inc Terri
tory recced The consttutonaty involved In the ques
ton was uay settled by the passage OF the bill and the
consequent retrocesson That act OF sen Stn. 20 De
and prevent any further foolish cay upon the subject
No. Mr. President, there ~ no constitutional oDstacle I'D
the NAY Te han e Is mo SS removing
magazines arsenals dock yards and other nsedlu! GOV