Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-04-21

The following is Synopsis VI IL 81
ticle written by Judge J. <. N. Mort q
which covers the matter of the retroces-
sion Of Alexandra to Virginia and which
should put stop to all this talk about
the constitutions OF this set
Retrocession Act of 1846, entitled
"An act to retrocede the cou,!y OF
Alexandria, In the District of Oolumpis,
t, the state OF Virginia"
Discu ssion az to it's constitutionslIt'. :.
CONSTITUTION PROVISION
Sec. 8, Art. l. "The Congress shall
have power X to exercise exclusive
legislation In sll cases Whatsoever, over
such dis rict (uot exceeding ten miles
square) as may, BY cession OF particular
st, t,s, and the acceptance of Oongrees,
become the seat of the government o'
the United States, and to exercise like
authority over ell places purchased py
the consent of the legislature of tie
s!ste 10 which the same shall be, for
tie erection of forts, msgsz mes, arser :
sis, dock.ysrds, and other needful build.
ings."
This provision, in Itself, nowhere
provides that the seat OF government,
when selected by Congress, was TO be
permanent and perpetual; nor Is any
distinction made between the district &C.
oepted as the seat OF government, and
places purchased for forts, etc.
Congress is given power 'to exercise
exclusive legislation" over the former,
aud "to exercise like authority" over
the latter. The only difference is that
one is to be ceded, and the other is to be
purchased.
Not only is the seat of government
not made permanent by the language
of the constitution, but the history OF
the sdot ton of the provision shows Ia; t
It wss, expressly, proposed to use the
word 'permanent,' and that resolu Lion
was introduced to this end by Mr..
Madison, tu. the constitutional CONVEX
tion reused to incorporate tae word
permanent in the provision relating to
the sest of government.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Au.ut II, 1887. Provision under
discussion: That. '.neither House, with
oct the consent of the other, shall ad-
ilurn for more than three days, nor to
any other place than that at which the
two houses are sitting" \
Mr.. King remarked that he thought q
law at least should be made necessary
to removal of the seat CT govern
mept.
Mr.. Madison viewed the tubj.et in the
same light. 10 order to quiet su'piclons
both within and without doors, 1t might
not be amIss to authorize the two houses
by conculrlrt vote to adjourn st their
frat meeting to the most proper place,
and to require thereafter the sanction OF
law to their removal.
The motion was made, "The lfglsla-
ture shall at their first assembling de.
termine on a place at which their iu.ure
sessions will be held; neither House shall
afterwards, during the session of the
House OF Represet tatives, without tie
consent OF the other, adjourn for more
than three days, nor shall they adjourn
to lny other place than such as shall
have been fixed by lsw." (Madison's
Notes on Deba es Of Constitutional Oou.
veL tlon, PIP 5O4 5O5)
Thus We see that all that was here
contended for wss, not that Congress
could MT change as we'll as select the
sest of goverumert. but only that law
should be passed when change should
be made.
On August IS, 1887, M,. Madison
offered two resolutions giving Congress
power (dsm p. 555).
/. :'To exercise exclusively legisla.
tive authority at the seat OF Gsneral
Government, etc."
2 "To fix aud permanently establish
the seat OF government of the United
Safes in which they she'll possess ex-
elusive right of soil aud Jurisdiction"
The convention adopted the first, tu!
not the second.
Thu, We see thtt the constitutional
convention not only did net 6x or al.
tempt to 6x any permanent seat OF gov.
eminent, but actually declined to give
Congress power to hx any permsuet
seat, which 1t could not change 81
will.
So much for the Constitution.
We now quote from the proceedings
of Congress 70 show that there never
vas the slightest thi u sht that Congress
In fixing seat Of government, had any
power to 60 FIX it that Congress could
oot, a. any ne, change 1t at will.
House OF Representatives, FIRST session
Of first congress. August 27, 1889.
Mr.. Livermore (Nsw Hsmpsbire),
.. 7S9, said tast The idea Of q perma.
aent seat of government was not itself
strictly thu. As population Increased
aud men of new views took their seats
in OoDgress, t5Is permanent seat might
be altered at pleasure.
Mr.. Sherman (Oonn.), p. 907, &C
knowledged that Congress ctu,d stjourn
TO ottaer plsce than the seat of govern
ment,
House. Second session second congress
Mr.. Madison, p, 1865. II Is said
that before The tee years expire, q re.
peal of the act may take place, and
thus Congress be Kept at Fhiladelphis
But what more can We do than pass {
| law for the pnrpcs,9 It Ia mt in on