Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-13


Congress-
A Wiser, Juster johnson.
In a veto message. 1857, President
Johnson says:
1T should also be remembered that in
legislating for the District of Columbia
under the federal Constitution the rela-
ton of Congress to its inhabitants ~
analogous to that OF a leg lslature to the
people of the state under their own local
constitution. 1t does not, therefore. seem
to be asking too much that III matters
pertaining to the District Congress should
have a like respect for the will and in
terest of its inhabitants is entertained
by state Legislature for the wishes and
prosperity of those for whom they legis-
late. The spirit of our Constitution and
the genius of our government require
that in regard to any law which Is to af-
feet and have a permanent bearing upon
a people their Will should exert at least
reasonable influence upon those who
are acting in the capacity Of their legis-
lators. Nor does ii accord with
our republican ideas that the principle
of self-government should lose its force
when applied to the residents of the Dis
trict merely because their legislators
are not like those of the states. respon-
sible through the ballot to the people for
whom they are the lawmaking power.
The great object of placing the seat or
government under the exclusive legisla-
UOn OF congress WAS 10 secure the ell
tire independence OF the general govern
ment from undue state influence and to
enable 1t to discharge without danger OF
interruption or infringement of its au
thority the high functions for which il
was created by the people For this i'm
portant purpose il was coded to the
United States by Maryland and Virginia
and it certainly never could have been
contemplated as one of the objects TO be
attained by placing il under the exclusive
jurisdiction Congress al
ford to propagandists or political parties
a place for an experimental test of ther
principles and theories. While, indeed
the residents of the seat of government
are not citizens of any state and are not.
therefore, allowed voice in the cleo
toral college or representation in the
councils of the nation, they are. never
theleSs, American citizens. entitled as
such to every guaranty of the Constitu-
ton, to every benefit of the laws and to
every right which pertains to citizens of
our common country In all matters.
then, affecting their domestic affairs the
spirit of our democratic form of govern
ment demands that their wishes should
be consulted and respected, and the,
taught to feel that although not permit
ted practically to participate in national
concerns, they are. nevertheless, under a
paternal government regardful of their
rights, mindful of their wants and So
licitous for their prosperity. 1t was evi-
IDENTIFY contemplated that all local uues-
HI,
least to an extent that would not be in
compatible with the object for which
Congress was granted exclusive lesisla-
ton over the seat of government
when the Constitution was yet under
consideration it was assumed 10y Mr.
Madison that its inhabitants would he
allowed a municipal legisIat ire for local
purposes. derived from their own suf-
frage.' When for the first time Congress
in the year 1900. assembled at Washing
ton, President Adams. in his speech AZ
its opening, reminded the two houses
that 1T was for them to consider whether
the local powers over the District OF
Columbia, vested by the Constitution in
the Congress of the United States. should
be Immediately exercised. and he asked
them to consider it as the capital of :,
great nation, advancing with uneNampled
rapidfty in arts, in commerce. in wealth
and in population. and possessing within
Itself those resources which, if not throw
away or lamentably misdrected. would
secure to 1T long course of prosperity
and self government Three years had
not elapsed when Congress was called
upon to determine the propriety of retro
ceding to Maryland and Virginia the
jurisdiction of the territory which the>
had respectively rel.nquished to the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t was
urged ON the one hand that exclusive
Jurisdiction was not necessary or useful
to the government that 1t deprived the
inhabitants Of the District of their polit-
lcaI lildl TllutH Oh the li1'1t "a
Congress was consumed in legislation
pertaining to st: that its government was
expensive; that Congress was not COM
petent to legislate for the District. he
cause the members were strangers 10 its
local concerns, and that II was sN
ample of a government without repre-
sentation-an experiment dangerous 10
the liberties of the states. On the other
hand it held, among other reasons,
and successfully. that the Constitution.
the acts of cession of Virginia and
Maryland and the act OF Congress ao-
cepting the grant all contemplated the
exercise of exclusive legislation by Con
gress, and that its usefulness. If not
its necessity, was inferred from the in
convenience which was felt for want Of
1t by the Congress of the confederation.
that the people themselves. who il WAS
said. had been deprived of their political
rights, had not complained and did NOT
desire Il retrocession; that the evil
might be remedled by giving them
representation in Congress when the
District should become sufficient.
pOpulOus, and in the meantime a locai
legislature: that If the inhabitants had
not political rights they had great poll
teal influence; that the trouble and eA-
pense of legislating for the District would
not be great, but would diminish. and
might in great measure be avoided
by local legislature. and that Congress
could not retrocede the inhabitants with
out their consent. Continuing to live
under the laws that existed
at the time of the cesslon, and Sucn
cbappaa aply having heen made as were