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

The following is synopsis oil al ar
tIcle written by Judge ]. K. N. Mort q
which covers the matter OF the retroces-
sion Of Alexandra to Virginia and which
should put a stop to all this talk sbou,
the coUs'itutio0slity OF this act.
Retrocession Act Of 1046, entitled
Gan cot to retrocede the cou1iy OF
Alexandria, In the D.strict Of Oolumois,
t. the state OF Virginis."
Discu ssion ss ID it's conslitutionslit'.
CONSTITUTION PROVISION
Sec. 8, Art. 1. "The Congress shall
have power = to exercise exclusive
legislation In all cases Whatsoever, over
such dis rlct loot exceeding ten miles
souare) as may, by cession OF particular
stltN, and the acceptance OF Congress-,
become the seat OF the government OF
the United STATES, and to exercise Ike
authority over sll places purchased oy
the consent of the Legislature of the
state 10 which the same shall be, Tor
the erection of forts, msgsz mes, arser-
els, dock.yardS, and other neediul build
ings."
This provision, in itself, nowhere
provides that the seat OF government,
when selected BY Congress, was 10 be
permanent and perpetual; nor is any
distinction made between the district ac-
ceptsd as the seat OF government, and
places purchased for forts, etc.
Congress lie given power ''t) exercise
exclusive legislation" over the former,
aud "to exercise like su hority" over
tbs 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 sdoI ton of the provision shows th't
1t wss, expressly, proposed to use the
word permanent and that resolution
was introduced to this eud by Mr..
Madison, tu. the constitutional conven-
tion re'uset 10 incorporate tae word
permanent In the provision relating to
inc b6SI vi RUNcIuUOhls
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Au.ut IL, 1887. Provision under
discussion: That. "neither House, with
oct the consent OF the other, shall ad-
ilurn for more than three days, nor TO
auy other place than that at which the
two houses are sitting" \ ~
Mr.. King remarked that he thought
law at least should be made necessary
to q removal of the seat CT govern.
mept.
Mr. Madison viewed the iubj.tt In the
same light. 10 order II quiet sn'plcions
both within and without doors, 1t might
not be amIss to authorize the two houses
by a concuIrlUt vote to adjourn at their
frat meeting to the most proper place,
and to require thereafter the sanction OF
law to their removal.
The motion was made, "The ltglsla.
ture shall at their first assembling de.
termine ou place at which their future
sessions will be held; neither House shall
afterwards, during the session Of the
House OF Represer tativeS, without tie
consent OF the other, adjourn for more
than three days, nor sbsll they adjourn
to sny other plsce than such ss shall
have been fixed by law" (Msdison's
Notes on Debs'es of Constitutional Oou-
veLtlon, PIP 604 sos }
Thus we see that all that was here
contended for was, not that Congress
conld MT change as we'll as select the
seat OF government t. bat only that Law
should be passed when a change should
be made.
On August Is, 1887, M,. Madison
offered two resolutions giving Congress
power (dsm p. 555),
l. 80 exercise exclusively legisla.
tive authority at the seat OF Ganeral
Government, etc."
2 "To fix aud permanently establish
the seat Of government Of the United
Safes 10 which they she'll possess ex-
elusive right of soil and Jurisdiction"
The convention adopted the first, Tut
not the second.
1Eut VIC btC tui Y 10 OuutbNphOboi
convention not only did net FIX or a..
tempt to 6x any permsnent seat OF gov
eminent, but actually declined to give
Congress power to fix any permsUer t
seat, which 1t could not change 81
will.
So much for the Constitution.
We now quote from the proceedings
OF Congress 10 show thst there never
vas the slightest thl uyht that Congress
IN fixing a sest Of government, had sny
power to 90 6x 1t that Congress could
DOT, at any NE, change 1t at will.
H,use OF Representatives, first session
Of first congress. August 27, 1879.
Mr.. Livermore (New Hampsbire),
p. 7S9, said that The idea Of Q perms-
ueut seat of government wss not Itself
strictly thu. As population increased
aud men of new views took their seats
in Oougress, this permanent seat might