The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-01
JURIsDICrION OVER GOVERNMENT
PROPERTY.


On the 18th Of January, ultimo, Governor
Mckinney received letter from Mr.. 4. 3.
Ncttlcton, acting Secretary of the United
States Treasury, inviting attention 10 the
laws Of Virginia requiring spc-
cidc act Of the Legislature before
the United States can acquire exclusive
Jurisdiction over property selected by
them % De purchased for the use Of the
Federal Government. lie also suggests 10
the Governor that, in order 20 avoid delay
in the matter Il acquiring title to any
property so selected. the Legislature pass
a general act cedin- "cXclusiyc iurs
dictIon" TO the United states in all such
cases. 80 as 90 prevent the necessity of the
passage Of special act i'm every case
ON the same date the Governor received
letter from Secretary Proctor, OF the Var
Department. ON the subject OF The ces-iou
OF exclusive jurisdiction o. the United
states of some eight National cemeteries
situated within the State of Virginia.
aud enclosing the draft of bin
which be requests the Governor To-
recommend TO the legislature for passage.
These letters were followed by one written
on the 2s,h Of January bY secretary VIM
dom-possibly the lSst leuei ever written
by that northumberland the senti-
ments contained in the previous letter of
Acting Secretary Nettleton, and emIhasiz-
ing the suggestions therein made.
This is a question which, like all others,
has two sides. According % the draft ofthe
bin prepared by the Department of War
the United states are 90 DE given absolute
urisdistion over any land coded them by
the State. except that there is reserved TO
the ST b. concurrent jurisdiction for the
execution within said lands of all process.
civil or criminal, lawfully issued by the
courts o., tae state not incompatible with
this ce.son.' In otherwords, he state isIe-
qucstcd NOT only 90 surrender all authority
over the property coded TO tho Government in
this particular case, but the Governor is re-
queste0 to recommend 10 the Legislature the
passage OF a general law giving The United
states permission 20 purchase any property
in the State whenever ,hey may see it, aud
as soon a- fha decd is ro.nrIrd tho State has
mo- more right 10 enter upon that property
for any purpose, except TO serve a process I'd
the courts, than il would have TO enter and
ASSUME authority i'm the Distinct of Column
bia.
Inc only advantage of such law TO the
State would Zoe that whenever the United
States may desire 10 purchase a site for
public building, they can do SO without
waiting for any special act Of The
Legislature giving them juu,d.c ion; but
on the other hand, if such a measure should
ever becomelaN, ,he Federal Government
could. if it chose, purchase whole county
in Virginia, and establish thereon a little
district of It's own, over which the
state would have absolutely no authority
whatever. This would be- rather danger
Gus position for the : ate 90 consent 90 be
placed i'm, as, by it,, she would bee Noluu-
tarily depriving herself Of important priy-
lcges and sovereignty that she DOW pos
sesscs. There are many possibilities
which might make Unnecessary for ihe State !
to have concurrent jurisdiction with the
Federal Government over property in the /
state owned by The United states, and it|
would De well for tine legislature 90 weigh /
the subject well iu all its bearings Def &c
ever conserving TO binding the State by /
such restrictions.