Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-03
The Suffrage Memorial to Congress

A memorial has been adopted by the commit
tee of fifteen, appointed by the chairman OF the
recent suffrage mass meeting, to De presented
to Congress. II reviews the legislation which
abolished popular government in this District
and says: The right of popular government
was guaranteed to the Inhabitants of this Dis
triCt by the compact betW cen Maryland and the
United States, which resulted In the cesSiOn of
this territory. The Maryland act of cession
provided that the Jurisdiction of her laws should
not cease in this District until Congress should
provide for its government and that body de-
clared in 1901 that the laws OF Maryland, as
they then existed, should continue in force;
among them being the first and second articles
Of the declaration of rights: THAT all govern
ment OF right originates with the people, is
founded In compact only, and instituted for,
the good Of the whole; second, that the
people of this state ought to have the
sole and exclusive right OF regulating the
internal government and police thereof"
ard its adoption by Congress made it cove
nant between the Inhabitants Of the District
and the United States which Congress cannot
abTogate ana is bound to fulfill. Following out
the terms OF the compact Of cession, and OF its
covenant with the Inhabitants Congress in one
OF its earliest acts OF legislation created the mu
nicipal corporation OF the city Of Washington,
which continued to exist for seventy years. 1t
Is perverSion of term to hold that the grant by
the people to exercise exclusive legislation in
this District implies arbitrary authority. Judge
Tucker, in his notes on BlackStoneS CommeIl-
ta!ieS, warned his hearers against the danger of
latitudnous construction of the powers OF
congress over this District. and said: "a system
OF laws Incompatible with the nature and princi-
pies OF representative democS .cy, though not
likely TO be introduced at once, may be matured
by degrees and difTuse its influence through the
states, and finally lay the foundation OF the most
important changes In the nature of the Federal
government" This language seems prophetic,
as the deliberate eXtinguishment OF popular
rights here seems designed as an example
Hence it is not solely in view OF common right
and valid compact that the question OF local
government in this District rises to the level of
the most important consideration, for 1t con-
Germs the character OF free government at large.
With what countenance can the representatives
Of the American people declare to the world
determination to deprive Of the right and benefit
OF LEGAL government population of 100 600
larger than that of some of the states? To
continue this wrong is to proclaim standing
condemnation of the American system of gov
ernment, and to assert that taxation without
representation is just, while obedience is due
where no free will exists. Wherefore the me-
morfalistS, on behalf of the Inhabitants they
represent, pray that laws may be enacted recog-
nlzing popular government In this District, and
efect1ng complete restoration Of the rights of
this people as American citizens"