The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12
EARLY SECESSION DAYS
The Sentiment Had No Bearing on
the National Union.
Efforts of Alexandria md George
town to BE Released From Their
Association With the City of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to the Mary
land and Virginia Legislatures.

The exclusive jurisdiction of the United
States was extended over the District Of
Columbia on the 9th of February, 1901,
and almost Immediately plans were pro-
posed for a change in the District bounds,
or for it's entire abolition. The act of
March 8, 1871, which provided that nothing
therein should authorize the erection of
public buildings on the Virginia SIDE Of the
river had created dissatisfaction there be
fore the United States took control, and at
the third session which Congress held in
Washington Mr.. Bacon, of New York, in
troduced a bill to cede back to Maryland
and Virginia the land and jurisdiction
which made the District Of Columbia. On
the 9Th of February. 1903, the vote was
taken on this proposal. and it was found to
have only twenty-five supporters in the
House Of Reprt sentatiYes. In 1884 the at
tempt to disestablish the District OF CO.
Iumbia was again made by Mr.. Bacon. This
time his proposal was to re-cede TO MIry-
land and Virginia all the territory except
the city of Washington. These attempts
seem. from the records, to have been
abandoned after 1906 for many years. On
both these occasions Mr.. G. W. P. Custfs
of Arlington was an active opponent OF re-
procession.
However talk on the subject did not
cease. 1t was claimed on the one hand
that the constitution of Maryland had been
violated by the cession without a vote
upon the act having been taken at two
successive sessions of the Maryland Legis-
lature. In Virginia some takers alleged
that the prohibition of the erection of any
of the public buildings on the Virginia side
Of the river was violation of the terms
of cession, and made it void. Mr.. Bacon
and those of his opinion asserted that
Congress was authorized to accept ees-
sion only Of territory to be 1.-The seat of
government" and that, inasmuch as
Georgetown. Alexandria, and the other
territory outside the city of Washington
were not the seat of government, the re-
tention of that territory was uneonstitu-
tional.
In 1918 another proposal for the disinte-
grafton Of the District of Columbia came to
the front and a town meeting in Alexan-
diia was called by the mayer. Dr.. E. C.
Dick presided and Jacob Hoffman was Sec
rotary At this meeting a protest against
fetrocessiop was adopted. II WAS not,
however, until 1894 that a general move
ment outside of Washington was made for
IetTOfeSSlOI. II laQ Dtt4 pEUpOseu III ION
GEES to establish a Legislature for the
District of Columbia The two !:ttle cities.
Georgetown and Alexandria, feared the
overwhelming influence of the continually
growing city CT Washington, which might
deprive them of the home rule which ex-
listed in their municipalities. Georgetown
this time took the lead, and made q strong
appeal to the State Of Maryland for help.
while Alexandria made an appeal 10 the
=fsl al 7a1a inn, from
In the House Of Representatives. on the
18th of February. Mr. Wise of Virginia in
PRODUCED a resolution that the committee
on the District Of Columbia be instructed
10 enquire into the expediency of reced-
ing under proper restrictions and reser-
vations. and gith the consent of the peo-
pie of this Dis trict and the States of Mary
land and Virginia. the said District to the
said States.
In Georgetown series Of popular move
nlents in favor of return to Maryland
were initiated and. after some preliIni-
nary proceedings. q mass meeting of the
voters Of Georgetown was called. The
meeting was held on the 18th Of February
at the North Lancasterian school room. and
the Potomac Advocate states that it
was zone Of the largest and most respect
able ever held within our town. Mr.
John Kuntz occupied the chair and Thorn
as Turner was tEe secretary. Mr. S. Nc
Kenney introduced a resolution that with
out reference to the political advantages
to accrue to that portion Of the county OF
Washington which lies west of Rock Creek,
including Georgetown, from a rstroces-
sion thereof to Maryland, provided that
il can be effected on such terms as shall
secure from Congress the reimbursement
from Congress Of the debt created in the
improvement OF the harbor and the con-
struction Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca
nal, will in the opinion of this meeting.
promote the pecuniary interests and gen.
eral prosperity of the citizens" The
meeting requested tie mayor to order a
vote OF the citizens OF the territory affect
ed on the 18th Of February, and if such
vote was favorable to retrocession to unite
with the common council of Georgetown
in bringing thS~subject before the Mary
land Legislature.
The Georgetown committee went to An
napolis to seek help from the Legislature
OF Maryland. and action on the subject
was begun in April, just before the time
fixed for the adjournment A committee
reported series Of resolutions on the sub
tect, the most important being this one:
Resolved, That the General Assembly Of
Maryland Go assent to the recession Ct
Georgetown and that portion Of the county
OF Washington, in the District of Column
bia, lying west of Rock Greek formerly in
cluded within the limits of Mont gomery
County; provided the Congress of the
United States do agree to yield its ex-
elusive Jurisdiction over the same: and in
such event the said territory shall there
upon be held and deemed a portion of the
domain of Maryland, and that the citizens
thereof be entitled to all the immunities
and privileges Of citizens of the State,
and the protection and continuance Of all
the corporate powers which may have been
granted by the Congress of the United
States
On that occasion Mr.. Cottman, Of
Somerset, submitted an additional leso-
luton. as follows:
And whereas the Constitution OF the
United States has provided that Congress
shall have power TO exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases over such district
as may by the cession Of particular States
and the acceptance OF Congress become the
seat OF the United States; and
Whereas the territory north OF the Po-
tomae, a portion Of the domain OF Mary
land. has been apparently and ostensibly
eeded to the United States by an act OF the
Legislature of Maryland which WIS not
ratified and confirmed by succeeding Leg
Stature. and this ostensihle cession OF the
domain being such modification OF the
Constitution as requires the action of two
successive Legislatures in the mode pro-
sided By the constitution Of Maryland;
therefore,
'glesolved, That the territory aforesaid
was not coded In conformity with the con-
uftution of this State and now Is, and OF
right ought TO be, part Of the territory OF
Maryland"
The Legislature of Maryland, however.