Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-14
Is ALEXANDRIA IN THE DISTRICT
From the Washington Star.

Among the most interesting cases 70 come
before the Uoited States Supreme Court at this
session, is that OF Phillip VS. Payne, which in
wolves the legality of the retroccsSlon OF Alex
andria city aud county from this district 10 the
state of Virginia. The matter having at
tracted considerable attention, the follow
iDg facts may prove interesting: AleXan-
dria was fouDded IN lI49, aud was lncor
porated IN l779 The ccsSiOn of the town
and county of Alexandria to the United States
was made by an act Of the general assembly of
Virginia of December 3, 1889. Congress ac-
copied the cession 10 1890, and jurisdiction
was extended over the town and county OF
Alexandria on the 9th Of February, 1901
From lS35 there was a growing desire on the
part of the people Of the town OF Alexandria
TO return to Virginia, but this desire Was 10 20
wise shared by the people OF the country, who
continued to the last almost unanimous against
retrocession. ln 1888, after the repeal By Con
gress of the local bank charter, the agitation
upon the subject became more active aud PEI
severing. Foremost among the young men who
promoted the movement was Heury Winter
Davis, then resident Of Alexandria. ln Feb
ruary, 1916, the general assembly of Virginia
passed an act providing for the acceptance OF
the retrocesslon of Alexandria town aud county
upon the passage OF au act OF Congress ior that
purpose and its acceptance by the voters OF
Alexandria. Ou the Sth Of May, 10 the same
year the House Of Representatives OF the Unit
ed States authorized the retrocesslon by vote
of % to lUO Among those who voted ln the
negative were Joho Quincy Adams, Jefferson
Davis and Abraham Lincoln. 1t was adopted
, ia the Senate by vote OF 80 to IA. Messrs.
Calhoun, Reverdy johnson, Benton, Cameron'
CLAYTON, Corwiu, Critteuden and other dlstln-
guished men, voting in its favor; Messrs.
Breese, Dickinson. Dix and Maugum voting
in the negative Mr. Webster did not vote.
This act, after setting forth that no more
territory under the exclusive legislation given
to Congress over the District, which Is the seat
of the general government, than may be neces-
sary and proper for the purpose OF such
seat" and that experience hatt shown that
the portion of the District Of Columbia ceded
to the United States by the State OF Virginia
has not been, nor is likely to be necessary for
that purpose" proceeded to cede the county
and town of Alexandria, with the consent OF
majority of the people thereof, ITO the State
OF Virginia. in full aud absolute right aud Jurs-
diction, AS we'll of soil as OF persons residing or
to reside therein" The voters Of Alexandria
early 10 September concurred in the retroces-
sion by a vote OF 763 to 222, the polls being
kept open three days, and before the close OF
the year the jurisdiction OF Virginia was torm-
ally extended over the retroceded territory.
Nor has the subject failed heretofore to be
called TO the attention of eminent judicial tr-
buuals. At the time Of the retrocessiou there
was pending in the Supreme Court OF the Uult-
ed States on appeal from the Circuit Court OF
the District OF Columbia for Alexandria several
cases, notably that OF Bank Of Potomac VS.. Nc
LaughIin. Congress authorized the Supreme
Court to decide all such cases as before, and
to certify the decision to the Circuit Superior
Court OF Virglaia for Alexandria, aud the leg
isature of Virginia authorized the latter court
to accept such decision as binding. The Su-
preme Court decided the cases and certified
them accordingly, and in the case above cited
on appeal the Court of Appeals OF Virginia on
the llth of May, 1850, decided this proceeding
constitutional and valid.
AT one time Mr. Lincoln recommended the
recession of Alexandria to the District by the
Joint action of the United States and Virginia
During the war il was proposed that the gen
cral government should take and keep jurlsdlc
ton under ''the war power and just after the
war the subject was agitated 10 the Senate OF
the United States, but was soon dropped.