Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-29
THE EXPOSITION SITE.
Washington the Only Place Where the
Government Can Exercise Control.
To the Editor of The Evening Star.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star
No convocat!on Of the American nations can
be held in 1892 save by and under the au-
thority Of the United States.
This proposition is accepted as true by all
localities which strive to obtain the location of
this grand celebration for 1892.
New York, Chicago and st. Louis are the
principal places which are to contest the capt.
tai Of the nation for the site of the celebration
But with an undivided voice they all declare
that the location must be under the jurisdic-
ton of the national government and held by
its authority. propose to show that there are
insurmountable obstacles in the way applica-
BILE alike to each of the cities named, and they
cannot be overcome except by a change
in the fundamental law, which cannot
be secured in time for the exhibition Of 1892
Authority, which underies the term 'emi-
nent domain" was seated in each of the origi-
nal thirteen states its Independent life and
was never surrendered by the adoption of the
Federal Constitution. This one Of the
rights reserved to the states. To surrender it
was TO commit suicide.
So the uniform practice of the general gov
ernment has been to purchase as a site for a
government building, such a custom house.
post Office, federal courts, &C.. DC, and then
to ask the state to cede its jurisdiction to the
United states. National authority then. for the
trst time, can be there exercised. This author
ity must not and cannot be associated author
ity The jurisdiction must be wholly national
or wholly state or municipal. There can be no
divided jurisdiction. The ''power to control
commerce with foreign nations and among the
several states" does not give the jurisdiction
needed. Nor can company incorporated by
Congress invade this prerogative of a state,
All national railway corporations, when enter
ing a state, have been required to use some
charter granted by or approved by the state.
This is conceded to be the law and the uniform
practice of the government.
Now ask, how can this national Jurisdiction
be thrown over the 300 acres Of ground re-
CURED for the site Of the cOnvocation? 1t is
not proposed that the government shall pur-
chase it! Nor that the state or city shall lose
its control or withdraw its right to collect the
taxes assessed upon this real estate. How, then,
is it to be controlled by the authority of the
nation? If the general government is to be in
authority then no city police can demand that
peace and good order shall reign. All state
and city officers on this ground are only civilians
No United States officers could execute the pre-
cepts Of courts, and there are no laws enacted
where there Is no jurisdiction, either state or
national, that could be enforced, and there are
no courts provided for such exigencies The
common law. and such as the government has
provided for the national territories, is the
only system of jurisprudence which can be
called into requisltion. And such a congre-
gated mass of life and property rs will then
and there convene would never trust itself in
such legal complication Of authority. Now let
it be clearly stated, il this convention Of
states is to he under national Jurisdiction las
all contend), then the hands Of the state or the
city must be kept of.
II under state authority the general govern
ment must have nothing to do by way of con-
trolling it. National jurisdiction follows own
ership and authority coded by states. But there
is no law for the general government to acquire
title from unwilling owners by appraisement
and condemnation. The United States can
take no private property in q state for public
use. Neither can state do it for the purpose
Of extending national jurisdiction. How absurd
the pretense that the site of the exhibition can
be within the jurisdiction Of q state, and yet
the exhibition and all its appurtenances to be
under national authority! This statement forces
me to say that the convocation OF states for 1892
to be held under national authority must be
where that authority is exclusively national
The exclusive Jurisdiction" secured in the
Constitution Of the United States for the ma
tional capital is the only place where that exhi-
bition can be held without an amendment and
a radical change In the fundamental laws Of
the land
This District, named in honor Of this Column
bus is not only suitable but il Is the only
place which meets all the requirements. Here
alone can Congress meet Here alone can the
President communicate with Congress and
receive ambassadors and other foreign
ministers" He can no more discharge this
solemn mandate Of the Constitution outside Of
Washington than he can convene Congress and
remove the executive officers into the open
prairies Of the west. Washington is then the
only place where the convention can legally be
held under the national Jurisdiction. BUTT ID
the most suitable place. 1t Is the typical city Of
the nation. Here is seen . republican govern
ment, equipped and in action. There can be no
state rivalries or jealousies in the District
belonging to eli the states. Benefits, like the
honors. viii be ''sssy" here and equally re-
oiprocal 70. @. PoMElox.
The Levy Concert