Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-29

the subjects-in other words the slaves
of their former fellow citizens. II this
be true-and il will scarcely he denied
by any one who has correct idea of
ms own right as AN American citizen
the grant TO Congress Of exclusive ju-
rtsdictlon i'll the District of Columbia
can be Interpreted so far respect.
the aggregate people OF the United
states as meaning nothing more than
TO allow 10 Congress the controlling pow
er necessary to accord a free and safe
exercise of the functions assigned to
the general government by the Con-
stitution. In all other respects the
legislation of Congress should be adapt
ed to their peculiar position and wants
and be confornaple with their DELHI
crate opinions of their own interests"
President Andrew johnson repeats
Iackson's recommendation of a territorial.
delegate In Congress, and in message
Netoins an act to regulate the elective
franchise In the District of Columbia
(Which provided for unqualified negro
suffrage in the District though a soecia.
election held in Washington and George
town had shown an almost unanimous
vote against such Sufrrage). he discusses
elaborate and Interestingly the pob'r
teal status Of the WashIngtonian. In
his message Of 1866 he SAYS:
The District of Columbia. under OK
listing laws, is not entitled 10 that req
reSentation in the national councils
which. from our earliest history has
been uniformly accorded to each terri
in our limits. It maintains peculiar
relations to Congress. to whom the Cor.
stitutton has granted the power OF exal~
cising exclusive legislation over the seat
siding IN the District. whose interests
are thus conflded to the special suardi-
anship of Congress, exceed in number
the population Of several of our terri
tories, and no just reason is perceived
why a delegate OF their choice sh uld
not be admitted to a. seat IN the House
OF Representatives. No move seems SO
appropriate and effectual OF enabling
them to make known their peculiar
conditions and wants. and OF securins
the local legislation adapted to them
!, therefore. recommend the passa o.
law authorizing the electors OF the
District of Columbia to choose Q dele
gate. to be allowed the same ri hts and
privileges as delegate representing q
territory tory The increasing r. enterpr.s.
the District are highly gratifying. and
trust the efforts OF the municipal au-
thorities to promote the prosperity OF
efficient and generous cooperation OF
Congress"
A Wiser, Juster johnson.
In a veto message, 1857. President
johnson says:
TT should also be remembered that IN
legislating for the District Of Columbia
under the federal Constitution the rsla-
ton OF Congress to it's Inhabitants Is
analogous to that of leg stature to the
people Of the state under their own local
constitution. 1t does not. therefore. seem
to be asking too much that in matters
pertaining to the District Congress should
have a like respect for the will and In
terest Of its Inhabitants as is entertained
by a state legislature for tho wishes and
prosperity of those for whom they legis-
late. The spirit of our Constitution and
h0 nfYya r,f ant
that in regard to any law which is to af
feet and have a permanent bearing upon
q people their will should exert at least
q reasonable influence VI those who
lators. Nor does accord With
our republican ideas that the principle
Of self-government should lose its force
when applied to the residents Of the Dis
are not like those of the states respoa-
sible through the ballot to the people fr
whom they are the iawmaking power.
The great object Of placing the seat u
government under the exclusive legisls-
ton Of Congress wa to secure the e.
tire Independence Of general eovssR-
ment from undue state influence and 10
enable it to discharge without danger q
interruption or infringement Of its -
thority the high functions for which h
was created by the people. For this b1-
portant purpose II was oeded to tbs
United States by Maryland and vlrIn3A
and 1t certainly never could have besa
contemplated as one OF the objects 70 -
attained by placing It under the exclusive
jurisdiction Of Congress that IL would e.
FORD to propagandists or political parties
a place for an experimental test Of thSlr
principles and theories. While. indeed.
the residents OF the seat Of government
are not citizens of any state and are not,
therefore, allowed a voice in tlas elsc-
toral college or representation In ths
councils Of the nation, they ara. nevsp-
theless. American citizens. emitted a.
such to every guaranty OF the Conetatu-
ton, to every benefit Of the laws and to
every right which pertains to citizens Of
f GSr sesnr s ,Sss In an mater
spirit Of our democratic form Of govern
ment demands that their wishes should
be consulted and respected, and they
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 ev1-
tons would be left to their decision. at
least to an extent that would not be In
compatible with the object for which
Congress was granted exclusive legisla-
ton over the seat of government
When the Constitution was We, under
consideration 1t was assumed by Mr..
Madison that Its Inhabitants would be
allowed municipal legislature for local
frage.' When for the first time Congress.
in the year 1s0o. assembled at Washing
ton, President Adams. in his speech at
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 Q
great nation, advancing with une1ampled
rapidty in arts, in commerce, in wealth
and in population, and possessing within
itself those resources which, IL not thrown
away or lamentably misdirected, would
and self-government' Three years had
not elapsed when Congress was called
upon to determine the propriety OF retire
ceding to Maryland and Virginia the
jurisdiction OF the territory which they
had respectively relinquished to the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t wes
urged on the one hand that exclusive
was not necessary or useful
to the government: that II deprived the
Of the District OF their polit-
ical rights: that much Of the time OF
Congress was consumed In legislation
pertaining to It; that its government was
expensive; that Congress was not conf
petent to Hesitate for the District, BE-
cause the members were strangers to It's
local concerns, and that II was an ex-
ample of a government without repre-
experiment dangerous to
the liberties OF the states. On the other
hand it was held. among other reasons.
and successfully. that the Constitution.
the acts of cession OF Virginia ard
Maryland and the act of Congress &C.
cepting the grant an contemplated tho
exercise Of exclusive legislation by Con-
gress, and that its usefulness, II not
Its necessity, was inferred from the In