National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-03
FIFTY CENTS PER MONTH.
A PLEA FOR SUFFRAGE.
The Memorial Adopted by the Citi-
zens' Committee.
The Right OF self-Government InIicrited
from Maryland aud Guaranteed by the
Act OF Sosslon-Some Indisputablo
Legal FaCts-Prophetlo Lam
guago from Judge Tucker
important Points.


A Prayer for the Restoration of Our Rights.
| The committee Of fifteen, appointed by the
chairman of the recent su f.rago mass met ting
has agreed upon the following memorial to be
presented to Congress:
| To The Honorable The Senate aud House Of Repre-
sentatiUes of The United States of america in
| Congress Assembled:
The undersigned, a committee appointed by
meeting Of tho inhabtants of tho District
of Columbia assembled ut Odd-Fullows' Hall,
| In the city OF Washington, on the 23d day of
January, 1880, by direction Of said meeting
respectfully present the following memorial:
Your mcmofialists with respect, represent
that the act Of 2lst February, 1871 mutilHtcd
popular government IN this District by giving
| tho appointment of the Governor and one of
tho branches of tho Legislature TO the Presi.
dent and Senate instead of the vote of tho
peoples that the act Of June 30 1874, abolished
| popular government entirely, aud the act of
June IL, 1873, declared that abolishment to be
permanent.
| This legislation was In dorugaton Of COM
| mon right in violation Of ifrcpCalable law
and subvorsive of The American System of
Democratic representative Institutions
| II needs no argument to show that citizens
Of the United States are entitled to sclrgov-
ernnont, for such is the principle lying at the
| foundation OF all law in every State of tho
! u Mon.
This right was guaranteed to the inhab.
itants of this District by the compact between
alyland aud the United States, which re-
suited IN the cession of this territory. Tho
Maryland act OF cessiOu provided that the
Jurisdiction OF her laws should not cease in
this District until Congress should provide for
its government, and that body declared 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
n sla Nf rt.I,t
of right originates with tho people, is founded
in compact only, and instituted for the good
OF Che whole; second, that the people of this
State ought to havU the sole and exclusive
right of regulating the internal government
and police thereof"
This was part Of the constitution of Mary
land, and its adoption by Congress made it q
covenant, with the rest Of that constitution,
between the inhabitants OF tho District and
the United States which Congress cannot abrO-
gate aud is bound to fulfill.
The guarantee OF local government chosen
by the people was well understood by the wso
uud patriotic men who framed and procured
the adoption of the Federal Constitution, us
was declared by Madison in the forty third
number OF the Psderaiisi.
Following out the terms OF the compact of
ccssion, and of its covenant with the inhubi-
tants, Congress, finding local government oX-
lsting III the District, IN the cities OF AloXun-
dria and Georgetown, and In the levy courts
In the counties maintained their popular in
stitutious, and in one Of its earliest acts Of
legislation created the municipal corporation
Of the city OF Washington, which continued to
eS ist for seventy years.
II is pervcrsion of term to hold that tho
grant by the people to exercise exclusive legis-
lation in this District implies arbitrary author
ity. This grant OF power may not be c0msid-
ercd TO dony or dispaTagO others retained by
the people. Tho rights which the Inhabitants
of this District enjoyed az citizens of Mary
land wore inalienable: the right to govern
themselves, and not to be taxed but by their
own consent; and those rights were never del
cgatod to the United Stnies, but specially re-
served TO tho people, theii enjoyment being
"mcslimablo to Us and formidable to tyrants
only"
Long ago, Judge Tucker, in his notes on
BlaCkstone's Commentaries, warned his hear
ors against tile danger OF a luutudmous con-
struction Of tho powers Of Congress over this
District. Ho said: "a systcm Of laws incom-
patible with the nature aud principles of q
representative Democracy, though not likely
TO bu introduced ut once, may DO matured bv
degrees, and dituso its influence through tho
States, and finally lay the foundation of tho
most important changes in the nature of tho
Federal Government"
This language seems prophetic, rs the de-
lberate oStinguiHhment OF popular rights here
seems designed us an example. Hence IL is
not solely III the view OF common night aud
valid com pact that the question of local govern
ment in this District rises to the level Of tho
most imp0Itan consideration, for II concorus
the character of free government ut large.
with what countGnance can the representa-
tiyeS Of the American people declare to tho
world determination to deprive of the right
aud benefit OF local government Il population
Of lGOOO --largor than that OF some Of the
Statos2 To continue this wrong is u pro.
claim standing condemnation or the Amcr-
can system UI government, and to assert that
taxation without representation is just, wh!lu
obedcucc is duo where no FREQ viii exists
Wherefore the memOralists, on behalf of
the inhabitants they represent, pray that laws
may be enacted recognizing popular govern
ment in this District aud cnectng a COM
pletc restoration Of the rights OF this pacpIe as
American citizens.
By order Of the Committee;
THOMAS J. pURAST, Chairman