Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-07-24
That Petition Again.

That petition to Congress alKing tbst AL
exandria be taking back into the District
again, which was signed by e number Of
citizens who proclaim to the world that they
"are not permitted to have and enjoy the
equal rights, privileges and advantages
whch belong to the ci.iz5ns OF the District
OF Columbia, and pray that this wrong and
Injustice may be no longer continued" is
still the topic OF conversation in this oity
end is commented upon by the press elsS-
where. NIsny of the staunchest citizens
spd business men regret that such petition
should have been seEt to Congress and soy
that if Alexandria should be taken back
into the District its condition would be
worse than it WAS when it once formed
part of the 'tea miles qusre." It is gene,
aly believed, however, that with the c1ceF-
tion OF the uniayorat!e com ments which are
being made concerning Alexandria liz COZ
sequence OF ihe reading CT the paper in
Congress, the petition Will amount to
Dolhipg.
10 reference to the petition the Richmond
Dispatch says: MANY OF the most promi-
nant business men of the city of AlexaDdris
are aignors, the frat namo on the petition
| being Joseph Broders o prominent business
man. Then there is the neme of Henry
Strauss, who has go often bad aspirations to
become mayer Of the good and ancient town
Oh The other side Of The Potomac, aud who
haYing failed to make the connection has
eome original opinions Of what politics is.
Mr.. Strauss is one of tho leading business
mer, having been in Alexandria fer great
many years. There ere many other we'll
kGown names on the petition, bat the grass
will grow over tbei- graves in ell probabii-
| ~ before AleXandria county is egain made
/; 9 rart Of the Dist.iGt of Columbia
| The Richmond Times says: The idee
that taxes would be lower. and that the
County would obtain great benefits from
government appropriations for public worka
and improvements seems to be at tho
bottom OF this movement. 10 short, il
seems to be the principle, or rather policy,
Of "tha old asg and an appropriation" The
otjecs being rather the appropriation than
tho flag, l. is evident enough that Congress-
will not even contemplate favorable action
upon toe petition. The universal option
ia both Houses iE that the District of CoIum-
bic is now 'argo enough for all practical pur-
poses and that the Potomac river should be
the boundary line between Virginia and the
district"
Tie Washington correspondent OF the
baltimore Sun says; "The presentation OF 3
petition in the Senate of the Uaited States
on the part of q number of citizsDs OF
Alexandria in favor of the repeal o..
1.-The act of July 8. 1876. By which the town
ard cnuuty OF alexandria were retrcceded
&c Virginia, Is the outcome Of y s,i.i-hUnt
which has been in progress in thGt city FOR
several months. The cesaion OF the south
bank Of the Potomac to the District OF Co
lGmbis made By the act of General Assem-
big OF Virginia. December 8, 1889, was &C
; cepted by the United States on the 10Th Of
Jnly, 1890, and Oh the 9th OF February
1901, the jurisdiction OF the United States
was extended over that portion OF Fairfax
couHty, including tho town of Alexandria,
which had beer ceGed. Almost immediate
" in Congress and out an agitation fer re-
turn to the States Of such portions as were
not needed for the general government was
begun, but soon died cut. L. wes revived
ON the south aida OF the river CD the publ
cation OF tho CENSUS OF 1880. showing de-
crease OF $50 in the population of the cedeo
territory, but nothing resulted. It vac
again ssitated in 1870 after the cher
ters lad been withdrawn from the
District bauks At laat, il 1916. Con.
gress passed an scf, with the consent o.
the Legislature of Virginia. By which the
| Virginia hank ofthe river Was to DC retro
c,ded to Virginia If majority Of the voters
desre6 Henry Winter Davis, then yourg
layer in Aexandria. vas Que OF the early
advocates of retrocession The vote on the
passage OF the act OF retrocession was 80 10
Il in The Senate and 95 10 60 in the House
of Representatives. Beth John Quincy
Adams and j tfsrson Davis voted against
lhs bill The city coupci of Washington
passed resolutions against it, but 1t Was ap-
proved By President Polk on the ofJuly.
1916, and in the following September poll
OF three days was held Oh the acceptance Of
the law. The vote of the people resulted:
For retrocession 763, against Yetrocesaion
222, and In 1S47 the jurisdiction of Virginia
Yves extended over The retroceded 10; ritory
''iu full and absolute right as well of soil as
| OF persona." in accordance With the terms OF
the act, Daring the late war sn effort Vas
made to induce Congress to bring the south
| hank OF the Potomac into the Dis
trcJ under the war power, end q
| petition TO that effect was presented
10 Congress, but net acted upon. Il.
| 1874 the question Of the validity Of the ACT
OF retrocesson was brought heicre The Su-
preme Court Of the UGiied States in the csse
Of Pbilips vs. Payne. Payne, the sheriff OF
Alexandria county, had forced Phillips TO
pay State taxes for land in Alexandria
county, and Phillips sued Payne to recover
back The amount be had paid, alleging that
the State of Virginia had DO jurisdiction
under the constitution in Alexandria county.
Tho Supreme Court held that the gu stion of the
jurisdiction OF Virginia could not be raised in
private suit, and that only tho Unitel States or
Tho state of Virginia could bring that question
before the court Phillips suit wss dismissed
aud so the subject has rested. IS hr. Frank
Hume the last delegate to the House Of Delegates
of Virginia from Alexandria county, has declined
TO be candidate for Congress, it is said that N
effort will be msdo to induce him to take the lead
in the restoration Of Alexandria county to the
D strict o. Columbia, and that in that event mr.
Humo will probably he the District Commissioner
from Alexandria county"
The Alexandra correspondent OF tie
R'ohmord Times ssys:
MANY Of che sienels say they were mis-