Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-26
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
The Suffrage Question.

Editor .Star:-Sir: As you have steadily opposed
the current effort on the part of portion OF the
people of this city and District to have.sunrage
here restored, and as the undersigned fully
sympathiZes with you In this position please to
permit the insertion in your columns of the fol-
lowing considerations:
!. One OF the primary original objects of the
selection Of this city and District as the site of
the national government was to get rid of this
very thing OF the suffrage and popular local
elections. On the 21st OF Oet i7S3, Congress
had been insulted at Philadelphia by a band of
rowdies, which the state authority was unable
to restrain and the national legislature was con-
strained to adjourn to Princeton, where they
held their sessions in the College Hall. This led
to the consideration Of the subject of establishing
subsequent history Of the proposals and debates
up to the formation OF the constitution, as well
as after that event, shows that one of the prln-
cipal objects was to avoid the suffrage in and
about the national capital.
2. Hence, when the constitution was formed
it was provided that Congress should 'eXereise
over such District not exceeding ten miles
square, as may by cesSiOn OF particular states
and the acceptance of Congress become the seat
of government OF the United States, and to ex-
by the consent OF the legislature of the state in
which the shall be for the erection OF forts,
magazines, aTSenalS dockyardS and other need
full buildings" This constitutional provision
vests in Congress the exclusive jurisdiction over
this District, and charges the Congress with the
duty OF exclusive legislation for II. Therefore,
any legislation of Congress which delegates this
power, or any part thereof, to any secondary or
subordinate organ Of legislation is palpable
violation OF the express provision of the conSti
tuition. They have no more right to do this in
this District under the constitution than to do
it in any fort, magazine, arsenal, dockyard,
post Office, land Office or mint in the country.
And who ever heard of men employed and re-
siding in those places clamoring for bill be-
slowing On them the right to legislate for them
selves?
3. Then. if the constitution expressly restricts
Congress from delegating its legislative powers
to subordinate body here, what is the use OF
the suffrage? Upon what do those who clamor
for it propose to exercise it? Do they intend
simply to PLAY suffrage in order to prove them
selves capable Of self-government? For whom
and what would they vote? Certainly not for
legislators, because the constitution expressly
precludes any such body of men. For whom.
then, would they or could they vote? Only such
officers as are made requisite by the laws Oh
Congress- But II the Offices are created by Con-
gress, then they should certainly be filled by
Congress, in the cheapest, shortest and most
effective mode-which mode is certainly not by
popular elections. Thus we see by the very
provision of the constitution the trainers Of
that instrument intended to exclude the fran
ch1se from the seat OF government.
4. Past experience OF the forms of delegated
government both municipal and territorial in
this District furnishes the most conclusive COM
mentary on the wisdom of this constitutional
prohibition. Never was there more scandal
Gus abuse OF delegated power, or of the elective
franchise itself Than the late cOntrfUGnce by
which Congress managed in disregard of an eX-
press constitutional provision to throw Off its
own duty and responsibility upon the shoulders
OF set OF men, who with rare exceptions We're
VIGOROUSLY unit for the functions they as
sumed, and to which they were chosen by tricks
this community. Those elections We're so con-
Quoted that the bona tide citizens and tax
payers OF this District were virtually deprived
OF all the legitimate effect of their vote by
crowds of houseleSS, homeless, irresponsible
men, imported into the various wards OF the
city for the express and only purpose of carry
ing the elections against the bona Hfe citizens
what kind of privilege or right is this to be
so loudly clamored for? We denounce it as a
humbug, a delusion and a snare and we want
no more OF it! Indeed the evils OF that system
became so palpable in few years that Congress
steps and abolished the disgraceful eXpedient !!
Now, let them be slow to repeat it.
$. The clamor of certain parties for the resto-
ration OF the suffrage at the seat Of govern
ment Is as silly as it is impertinent. Suffrage
from the beginning was not contemplated here.
The founders of the government and trainers OF
the constitution designed undoubtedly to ex-
clude it. This was a notice to the people that if
they made their domicile here they would do it
with the full knowledge of the condition OF their
residence, andff they wished to exercise the SUI
frage they could remove into the states. To say
that this arrangement is anti-republican is sim
ply to reflect Oh the men who created the re-
public.
6. How any man with this constitutional pro-
vison before him and the wretched blunders OF
the past in memory can insist on Congress again
repeating its mistake, under the specous but
fallaciouS plea OF ''Home Rule'-which would
practically mean street-rule and mob-ruie, is
more than we can understand.
I. The idea that opposition to suffrage in the
District is q sorry confession of the failure of
republican principles and institutions is riJicu-
lous enough. When we think that it is not
late idea, but was entertained at the beginning
by the very first and foremost OF the republi-
cans: that 1t is due largely to this idea that the
seat OF government was located here at all
we cannot fail to, see. in view OF past expert
ence, that the wisdom and foresight OF the fore
fathers have been entirely indicated while the
folly OF the opposite policy has likewise been
fully demonstrated.
s. II we look to the parties who are urgent
fer the suffrage such as 1t has been here and
may be again on the one hand, and on the other
TO those who do not yearn for its restoration,
one must be persuaded that very great pre-
ponderance OF the property and business men,
the substantial and reliable men of the District
who pay most OF the taxes, have had enough OF
it. They are satisfied. They want no more four
million loans voted on to them BY street tramps
and grass grubbers, who disappear as soon as
the Jdrce is played!
On the Whole then we may venture, in con-
clusion, to suggest that those very oeaginous
and extraordinary and eX-oificial republicans
Who are now so loudly calling for "a govern
ment OF the people, for the people and by the
people, would do well to postpone the matter at
least till the city shall have a breathing spell
and recover somewhat from the exhaustion in
Cident to the CESSATION OF feather-duStcr legsla-
tors and 0bc0ntracting delegates.
SUFFRAGE OvER-THE-LEF
Why Suffrage is not Wanted.
Eoiof' !StGT:-Through the medium OF
your paper. that is almost universally perused
in this District, desire 10 lay before the in
habitants Of this District, (whom Mr.. Durant
says he lis forbidden by law to call fellow-cit-
Zens'n the following communication. / hope
also to reach the eye OF Congress and the PreSi-
dent:
l believe it is easier and far more common to
fEd fault with the President, Congress and the
District Commissioners than it is to improve
upon their present administration OF the affairs
OF the District. am led to the above conclusion
after attentiyely listening TO the concise argu-
mems. the terSe resolutions, the ''Spread-eagle'
eloquence and the unmeanlng applause display
ed at the late suffrage meeting at odd Fellows
lal". OF that whole thing l think it may be
properly said, it presented most able, fa5ci-
mating string OF .'giufe,1ag gelp1ulities." MI. j.
p. krlngle, OF that meeting, heads the statiSti-
cal essay with the Alexandria resolutions or
July, 1i.4, with George Washington as chair
man, to prove the necessity of suffrage. I de-
sire to cite the Constitution OF the United
States, signed by General George Washington
as president of the convention, which formed
the Constitution in 1857 to prove that Congress
should Of right, legislate for the District OF
Columbia. Now If Mr. Kringle is in earnest,
and believes in the truth OF his Indictment
against our worthy Commissioners, let him ask
for and insist on an investigation and compel
the Commissioners to disclose the facts con-