Evening star., 1902-02-15
The Original District Of Colum bia.
u ba Edi+or of Tho EreDtpc Star.

Star, the popular champion OF the best in
terests Of the District Of Columbia, favOrs
the restoration Of the original ten miles
square. The act Of Congress Of 1S46 ceding
back to the state Of Virginia part of the
District of Columbia lying south of the Po-
tomac river Is not and meyer will be APP
proved by the people of the United States.
A resolution calling for proceeding by
the United States Attorney General in the
Supreme Court to test the question, which
was introduced In the Se1la te> recently by
Senator Mcmillan reflects much credit upor
that stanch friend and supporter Of every
movement to permanently improve and ben
eft the nations capital Pending its con-
sideraton. let us look into the subject.
Immediately after the successful revolu-
tionary war the young republic had no es-
tablished home or seat OF national govern
ment. The Constitution provided for a
seat of government, and until 1t was chosen
and arranged Congress held Its sessions
sometimes In New York and sometimes in
Philadelphia, and the subject Of establish
ing permanent capital was long consid-
cred. New York wanted It established
there. philadelphia wanted 1t and several
other places wanted It, But President
George Washington opposed it's being es-
tablished In any large commercial city,
and selected site near the middle of the
Atlantic seaboard, at the junction Of the
Potomac and Anacostia rivera surveying
it, and procuring the consent OF MARYLAND
and Virginia to cede the same to the gen.
eral government II it should be accepted
as the permanent seat Of government Of
the United States. Gen. Washington. then
as President recommended to Congress to
accept the offer Of MARYLAND and Virginia
to donate ten miles square Of the said Site
committee Of several from each branch
of Congress was appointed to visit the pro-
posed location and report. Its members did
SO, president Washington accompanying
them. Their report was favorable. The ten
miles square was duly ceded by Maryland
capital Of the nation and was accepted by
the government and occupied over half a
century as such. when, in 1848, a few OF the
people who happened to live in that part
donated by Virginia petitioned Congress to
cede that portion Of the District back to
Virginia, SO they could vote. During the
Daniel Webster and several other members
declared that such an act would be un-
constitutional and agatnst public policy
But a bill was passed THAI II a majority of
the voters living there -coaId be secured in
favor OF the project It srould be done. A
vote was taken, sman majority favored
1t. and Congress did nothing further to
confirm IT. There seems to be no doubt in
the minds of the highest legal talent in this
country, to whom the subject has been re-
ferred, that Congress had no right under
the constitution OF the United States to
cede one foot OF the established. seat Of
government back to the donors II 1t could
be done at all 1t would require the affirma-
tion OF three-fourths Of the voters of evSry
state IN the Union. It was the naticA's
seat OF government. the capital. There
fore great wrong was done to the people
OF the whole country. II 1t can be shown
that Congress had any such power then 1t
has the power to cede back to thesstate Of
Maryland that part of the District she
gave. which Is all there is left Of the ten
miles square selected by Washington as the
home OF the general government. 1t was
proved during the late civil war how very
valuable to the United States government
Is that part OF the District lying south
this great republic is considered. ten miles
square seems little enough for the accom-
modation OF its great and growing federal
government machinery. Hence, it is con-
from the arrangementssmade by the found
ers Of this nation should be adiudicated by
the Supreme Court, SO as to determine
this matter. ROBERT a. PHILLIPS.