Evening star., 1896-12-19
O'FERRALL OPPOSED
Leading virginians Express Them
selves on Retrocession.
THE STATE UNLIKELY 10 YIELD LAND
Attorney General Scott Regards the
Proposition as a Joke.
GEORGE i. w1sE's VIEW
TEE STATE UNLIKELY 10 YIELD LAM
GEORGE d. WISE'S VIEW
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, December 1S, 1896.
The proposition to retrocede Alexandria
little encouragement from the leading cit;-
| zcns of Virginia.
Gov. O'Ferrall today, when interviewed
on the question, said: LAS governor of Nir-
ginia 1 would, of course. be opposed to Civ
ing up any of the territory of the state.
This question would be brought before the
state legislature before any movement
could be made. and l do not believe the
legislature would favor this. Indeed l be-
heve they would oppose it. The object of
this movement, ! take 1t. Is TO have Alex
andria county supplied with police from
the other side. and thereby break up the
crime, gambling and other violatio of
| the law. which have made that part of
the state notorious for years. The people
in the District should remember, however,
that nearly all the crooks and criminals in
Alexandria county who carry on their ne
farious business there came from the
Washing gton side.
There is equally as much devilment GO
ing On on the Maryland side. If they want
TO stop the violations of law going OH
there, they should stop sending their law
less people over to the Virginia side. 1
have given great deal of my time and
labor to the breaking up of the lawlessness
IN Alexandria county, and l think the con-
dition of things Up there Is greatly i'm
proved, though, of course, there is some
little lawlessness being carried on in a
cleEGestine way. l am opposed to any ter
ritory from Virginia being given away
The Attorney Generals Opinion.
Attorney General Scott stated that he
was not familiar with the movement to
retrocede any portion of Virginia to the
United States, but he had heard and read
about many propositions of this kind,
which always turned out to be mere talk,
vita no reasonable possibility of being
passed. that the thing was getting to be a
huge joke.
He was sure the legislature of Virginia
would not seriously entertain any such
proposition, and he was of the opinion that
intelligent Virginians would oppose the
movement from the start. He said. Il am
opposed to any proposition to surrender
any Virginia territory to any government.
We have 10 more territory than We can
take. care of. ard when the proposition
&C mes up. If 1t ever does, there will be a
general fight against it. 1t will be a colder
day than this ard l will be much older
man, when Virginia gives any of her ter
Geo. D. p.e,. Portion.
Geo. d. Wise VIXEN seen by Star cor
respondent said 4 am opposed to the
proposition. 1t would never be carried
through the Virginia legislature, 1 am sure
Virginia has already lost too much of her
territory. Sne wasjone of the original thir-
teen states, and did more toward organiz-
ing the Union thap any other three states
Sae let go Niscohsin, Minnesota, and all
that northw estern- territory and the
Pierrepont Legislature at Alexandria dis
membered Virginia by making West Nir-
glnla separate STATE. This was uncon-
,ttltutional ,t If Nirgihia was dismembered
legally then why was the Pierrepont gov
ernneht set up in this state during the
war? If the dismembering of Virginia had
heen uncoh hstitutioI al the Pierrepont gov
ernment was unconstitutional Virginia
was robbed Of West Virginia.
i am unalterably5 opposed to this state
loslrg any OF her territory, and l am sure
TINS proposition will never go through We
want all the territory We have"
Morton Maryc, auditor of public accounts s.
Geo X Taylor. clerk of the supreme court
OF appeals and others said they were op-
posed to the proposition.
Mr.. Clements Enthusiastic.
Mr.. James e. Clements of Alexandria
county Is quite enthusiastic over the Nc
MILAN resolution. Mr.. Clements said to a
Star reporter this morning:
1t Is good thing, and If carried out
will prove great benefit to Alexandria
city and county. l hope 1t will end In re-
PROCESSION. The navy yard would. In all
probabilities, be moved to Alexandria
where there is an excellent water front
and much deeper water than at Washing
tom. Mr.. Clements thinks that Alexan-
drla county would be benefited by having
the necessary bridges across the Potomac
connecting 1t with Washington, as the
property at Arlington would be much i'm
proved and the surrounding country much
enhanced in value.
He Is of the opinion that Alexandria
city would be the manufacturing portion
Of the national capital, and its business
largely increased.