The morning times., 1896-04-26

Government of the people, for the people
and by the people, is at present TO the
average resident OF the District, an I'M
known quantity. Nearly a quarter of a
century ago, The records tell us, there was
an attempt made to establish popular
sovereignty. but il was hghtthat Congress
extinguisbed inccntiuently.
Prior to that era the people had the
privilege of a limited partnership in the
control of their municipal affairs, but
when the cyclone of legislative enact
nlent struck the town il carried away the
entire structure of that constitutional
prerogative With which "all Men are
supposed TO have been endowed under the
law, the incstimable right to vote.
The District of Columbia, "a municipal
corporation as provided in Section OF
the Revised Statutes, relating 10 SAID
District = was not always under the cX-
elusive control of trio OF appoiItees or
the President of the United Statesmen
selected without the assent OF the gov
emed-to discharge the functions of
governor, a Legislature, and judiciary.
There was u ume. not 80 long ago, wnen
the residents of the District were rated
as citizens of the Republic, vested with
the rights and privileges guaranteed TO
sovereigns, and clothed with the dignity
of independent. llberty-loving manhood.
They are at present classified as wards
of the Nation,' their municipal affairs
subject to the W himsical guardianship
OF Inpn chosen 10y the states 10 make laws
for the whole people, but, incidentally,
to dispense bencyOlcnCc 10 the taxpayers
of the Nations Capital and adopt orui-
nanccs for the government of Indians
IN tie wild and woolly'' West.
The District is recognized as the seat or
or "a tH.i.
II consists. geographically, of the city
of Washington, which, lately, 10y the
grace OF Congress. absorbed Georgetown,
and a suburban section which embraces
agricultural acres and a number OF unln-
CorpOrat1d villages, but one OF which mas
been authoritatively christ tened. The
subdivision thus hOnored lies south OF the
Eastern Branch, historic stream, ana was
10y act of the town council sometimes calico
the national legislature formally named
AuaCostia. by an act approved Apul -,
1856.
washington was Officially proclaimed the
seat OF government by and through pro-
ceedingS taken under acts OF that same
legislative assembly, the Congress OF the
United states, approved july l6' l'"o'
and March 3. 1891. pursuant TO a pro-
vision contained in the eighth section or
the first article OF the Constitution of the
Union. enumeratinG the powers or Con-
creSs The section is as follows:
ITO exercise exclusive legislation ID all
cases whatsoever over such District mot
exceeding ten miles squareD as may, by
,essien of particular States and the ac-
ceptance OF Congress, become the seat OF
government of the United States, and 10
exercise like authority over all places
purchased 10y the consent OF the lcSlsldtuFe
of the State in which the same shan De-
for the erection OF forts, magazines ar
senals, dock yards and other needful puiid-
ings.'
The prescribed area was made avallaDle
nv an act of tie general assembly OF the
State of Maryland passed December %
l7SS Equally liberal and patriotic was
the general assembly of Virginia, whlcl
by act approved December 3, 1883, ceded
n like tract to the United States Tor the
same purpose, and thus ii came TO pass
that the site, ten miles square, was taken
from the territory of two Commonwealths'
and the territory dedicated TO Uncle sam
use and behoOf was formally appropriated
by proclamation of George Washington,
President, issued March 30, 1871.
In 1871, Maryland, by her legislative
branch formally ratified the cesslon or
SO much of her possessions as had peen
previously donated for the nations accept
ance, aud the act of accepting was
performed in advance by Congress, as
IL
There were originally two counties in the
District as provided in the act ofFebruary
27. 1901, the portion obtained from
Maryland being called Washington county,
the Virginia section coming in under the
title OF Alexandria county. The latter was,
however, in the administration OF President
Polk, by his proclamation, seeded to the
State of Virginia, aui the District area was
thus reduced 20 its present boundaries.
The city of Washington, prior to the
absorption OF Georgetown, contained
6.11O94 acres, and it was conveyed by its
original owners TO two trustees, who were,
by the way, the first public functlonarleS
10 exerise control over the municipality,
then in its inCipiency, and these trustees
were required TO and did convey TO two
Commissioners, for the use of the United
States, forever. "all the streets and lots
which the President might deem proper for
such purpose About 54l acres were taken
for reservations, for which the original
owners received S66 .66 3 3 per acre.
Nothing was paid for the lands embraced
ia the avenues and streets.
There was a hitch in the matter Of trans
fer. owing 10 disputes as TO the meaning
OF portions of the deed, the trustees re-
fused TO convey the streets and reserva-
tions to the commissioners appointed to
lay out the city, and il required a decision
from the supreme court of the United
States to set the title at rest and vest the
fee in the government. The United States
came, by virtue OF these detailed proceed
ingS, into possession, without cost, of all
the ground required for its streets, and its
sites for the public buildings, and also re-