Evening star., 1915-03-29
II Nation Repudiates Capital
Obligation It Must in Honor
Surrender Capital Control.
RETR0CESSION
OR STATEHOOD
The m-Controlled Capital,
Crested BY the Forefsthers,
! Hunt Hot Be- Destroyed.
Aprn % 1914

pudiate its half obligation In re-
speet to capital maintenance; for
the logical sequence Of such action
is surrender of all power and ex-
elusive jurisdiction in respect to
the District of Columbia, and the
destruction of the nation-con-
trolled capital, conceived and ere
ated by the forefathers. II. The
nation should not diminish its hall
contribution to capital-upbuild-
ing; for the logical sequence OF
such action is surrender by the ma
tlpn of control of the capital mu-
nicipality to the local majority
stockholders. Power and obliga-
ton are inseparably coupled; and
if the latter is destroyed or d.
minished. the former is in equity
destroyed or diminished in pro-
portion. III. The Washingtonian.
eager to exercise his American
right of full representation in
Congress, should not need to de-
stroy the half-and-half law in Or
der to get it. AS taxpayer and
potential soldier of the nation he
is entitled to, and should enjoy,
this representation, whether Con-
gress for the nation retains or sur
renders control and exclusive
power of legislation in respect to
the capital.
II the nation repudiates entirely
its national-capital obligation ex-
cept in direct relation to public
buildings and grounds it must in
honor surrender all exclusive
legislative power in respect to
the District of Columbia. 1t must
set up here a sovereign state of
Columbia, by constitutional
amendment repeating the ten
miles square provision; or it must
retrocede to Maryland the portion
of the District ceded by Mary
land over a century ago to form
the seat of government.
This action, dissolving the ma
tional capital partnership, di-
vorces absolutely capital and ma
ton, changes the seat of govern
ment from the District to the area
occupied by public buildings or
used as public grounds, or neces-
sary for any national purpose, and
destroys Washington as the ma
tons city.
This step should not be taken:
(I) Because, tending to bank
rupt and depopulate the city
which will take the place of the
former capital. it will result in a
shabby and discreditable environ
rnent of the seat of government,
humiliating to national self-re-
spect.
(z) 1t viii be dishonorable, de-
stroying equities and vested rights
which spring from the century-old
pledge. based on a valuable con-
sideration, to preserve and de-
veiop Washington as the perma-
nent national capital. The ma
ton as hall owner Of Washing
tons original lots made this
pledge to each purchaser of a 10,
from it as distinctly as if the
pledge had been written in the
deed.
fa) II will offend the fine
strong spirit of American nation
atty" The national capital is no,
only the symbol of union, but is in
itself a patriotic. unifying influ.
ence. The nation should not and
will not destroy this material EN-
bodiment of the union of the
states, this bond and token of the
spirit of American nationality.
rha idea OF Withdrawing from stat,
oover ana the control Of its residents ;
norton OF territory 10 bcfVt ds tne seat o.
~overnment urder the exclusive jurisdic
e,on OF the people OF the whole Union
q. represented by Congress. seems Il
have obtained strong hold upon th
minas OF the founders of the republic
Many desired to strengthen the notiol
OF a union by giving the general govern
n.ent an exclusive territory. a center o
federal action controlled by It alone
STATE tealousies had some influence In tn
matter. The Jurisdiction Of any one stat
over the seat Of government would.
wa. thought. give that state. to some ex
tent control over the general govern
ment Itself. Exclusive Jurisdiction an
the power TO call out the militia woul'
also. (. was considered. enable Congress
To protect itself in case OF riot or othe
disturbance. The fact. now worn thread
bare by constant allusion. was remem
oered. that Congress, while meeting a
Philadelphia, October 21. 1873. had beel
insulted and forced to adjourn to Prince
ton. The opposition to the plan of gtvin
Congress- exclusive jurisdiction over tn
seat Of government seems to have bee
feeble. No debate upon the clause Is re
ported to have taken place in the con
stitutional convention. Objection wa
made In the virginia ratifying conven
tiou that the District might become a,
asylum for political criminals or violat
ofs Of states rights. But tho clause wa
adopted without much opposition. BY 1t
terms Congress was given the power Q