Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-01

participation IN the national coun-
ellis.
Representation by the people in the
legislature by delegates of their own
election is the corner stone of Ameri-
can political institutions. Having
deep roots in the constitutional his
tory of England. this fundamental
principle ,sI,9 Of free government received
struggle which resulted in the indie
pendence of the colonies and the es-
Enlistment Of the United States.
The bill OF rights presented by the
colonists to the British parliament
declared
That the foundation of English
liberty and of all civil government is
right in the people to participate in
their legislative councils"
Accepted by our ancestors as self
evident truth. and so proclaimed In
the Declaration of Independence. the
principle that governments derive
their just powers from the consent Of
the governed has since spread around
the world.
Observation-Disclosures Of District.
Yet in the District of Columbia. the
seat of the government of the United
States. 1851 Americans. perform
ing justly and honorably all the
duties of peace and war, remain with
out any representation whatever in
the government which rules and
taxes them, makes the laws they must
obey. and sends their sons to battle.
What is there in our scheme OF
government that requires that the
capital OF the United States should
!, be the one capital among the civilized
nations the inhabitants of which are
excluded, deliberately and Of set pur
pose. from all participation in their
government? A vague notion prevails
that this exclusion from participation
in the government Is the necessary
consequence of the exclusive control
of the federal district vested In Con-
gress. Such is by no means the case.
,, The Constitution (article !, clause 81
confers upon Congress the power Of
exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over the District, not ex-
ceeding ten miles square. which shall
acceptance of Congress become the
seat Of government Of the United
States" Manifestly the purpose. Of
this provision is to insure absolute
unity of legislative power at the seat
of government.
National Representation and Ex-
elusive National Control.
What was excluded was that dual
sovereignty which, by reason of the
federal character of our government.
else AS stated by Madison in the
Federalist. complete authority at the
seat of the government was designed
to eliminate the dependence of the
members of the general government
on the state comprehending the seat
of government for protection In the
exercise of their duty" (Federalist.
XL1L)
AT that time friends Of the new
Constitution feared and believed that
the balance between the federal and
state governments was much more
likely to be disturbed by the prepon-
derancy of the last than of the first
scale" tFederalist. XLIV.) Hence
they provided that the supremacy of
Congress in the federal district
should be absolute and exclusive of
all state action whatsoever.
There. sovereignty was to be single
and plenary-not divided as else
where between two powers. one fed
words: The object of this clause was
to give Congress 1.-The combined pow
ers of a general and of state gov
eminent in all cases where legisla-
| ton is possible" (Stoutenburgh v.
Hennick. 12S, U. S.. 141, 147: Capital
V. United States, IL Pet, 524. $50
The amendment proposed by this
! resolution does not alter or diminish
| this absolute sovereignty in the
slightest degree. for the supremacy of
Congress at the seat OF government
will hA ktnA
sive and complete when the two
Houses include among their members
representatives chosen by the inhabi-
tants of the District. There will be
| then. as now, a single legislative will.
obedient to g. single system OF law.
and the total exclusion Of any pos
sible claim to authority on the part
Of any other sovereign.
What Did Ferefathers Intends
But it is said that if the supremacy
! Of the federal government in the Dis
trict of Columbia does not Of necessity
exclude the idea of representation in
! the legislative body by which it is
governed. nevertheless the founders
Of the Capital city contemplated it as
a place confined to governmental uses
in manner Incompatible with the
4
part of its inhabitants. Some go so
far as to suggest that Washington
, was never intended to be CONNER
cial or even populous city; that 1t is
in the nature OF a government reser-
+, walton and taken out of the applica-
tion of the principle Of self-govern-
ment. Nothing is further from the
truth. 1t is refuted by the acts and
words of the founders. the reiterated
language of the courts when called
! Of the District, and the action Of Con-
gress from the time it began to deal
with the government Of the federal
! district.
cession in general terms Of an area
ten miles square but never located
nor defined. e Kitty Laws, Md. 1888.
C. 46) And the acceptance by Con-
gress was of "a district or territory
not exceeding ten miles square. to be
located as hereafter directed at some
place on the Potomac between the
mouths Of the Eastern branch and the
Conococheague." tAct Of Jan. 4. 1880,
/ Stat. 1909
the first place the establishment Of
the National Capital on the Potomac,
and had finally determined its precis Sc
location and extent? On this point the
contemporary evidence is clear. Wash
ington, by his personal explorations
Of the region. had demonstrated that
the potomac, when improved. was the
shortest and best route from the coast
to the Ohio valley. and therefore the
main channel. as he said. for Eek
tensive and valuable trade Of rising
empire"
The city of Washington was re-
earded as the natural meeting point