Evening star., 1929-06-05
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.


the District of Columbia.
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.
A canvass of sentiment In Arlington
County reveals the fact that public
opinion in favor of a restoration of the
county to its former status as part
of the District of Columbia is not
solidified nor generally aroused. That
1t exists in some degree has been dis
closed by recent events. but its actual
extent is conceded to be a matter of
guesswork.
Believe Change Widespread.
Some active advocates of the change,
who are citizens of the county, believe
that it is widespread and only needs
to be organized to make itself felt by
Virginia and the Federal Government.
Others say the exponents Of the plan
have got hold Of q dead issue, which
will come to naught, as in the case
of all similar movements during the
last 83 years.
Agitation at this time for a return
of the county to the District has had
one definite result: 1t has caused
many persons, both in Arlington County
and the District, to delve into history
to discover the reasons for the retro
cession by Congress of the Virginia por-
ton of the District in 1846 and to
learn something. of former. movements
for its restoration, In the expectation
that they will shed important light
on the present movement.
List Congressional Powers.
Among the powers of Congress
enumerated in the Constitution is the
following: ITO exercise exclusive legis-
lation in all cases whatsoever over such
district (not exceeding 10 miles square)
as may by cession of particular States
and the acceptance Of Congress be-
come the seat of Government OF the
United States" etc.
An act of Congress approved July
16. 1870. provided for the location OF
the Federal District on the Potomac
River between the mouth of the East
ern Branch and of Connococheague
Greek, q tributary of the Potomac enter
ing from the Maryland side about 65
miles away in an air line. The exact
location within these limits was LETT 10
President Washington. Virginia and
Maryland, by acts Of their Leglsla-
lures offered to cede whatever territory
the Federal Government might need 1or
this purpose.
State Rivalry Cited.
There had been a great rivalry be-
tween the Northern and Southern states
over the location Of the Capital OF the
new Nation, both sides earnestly deslr-
ing that It be given to their section
and offering all sorts of inducements.
The location near or within the borders
Of the South was the result OF a
compromise between the two rival lead
ers, Hamilton and Jefferson, by Whlch
a sufficient number Of Northern votes
were changed in favor OF the Potomac
to cause its selection.
Although the act Of Congress did not
say whether the District should be 10
Gated on one or both sides Of the. river,
its terms as we'll as those OF the con-
stitutional provision provided for dis
! trict in the form of square. III the
new city should be located on the
| river or near it and in the center OF
! the SQUARE, 1t was necessary that tne
square embrace territory on both sldes
| of the river. The Constitution author
! lied the acceptance of territory from
particular States''-in the plural.
Washington Disregards Letter.
When President washington came to
make his selection of the site he dis
regarded the letter of the act OF Con-
! gress in order to include Alexandra
I within the new District. Congress
however. amended the act subsequently
| to agree with the wishes OF Washng-
ton, who had ordered that the hrsi
| corner stone of the District be locatec
! just south of Alexandria ON Hunting
| Creek, which is some distance Oelo"
! the mouth of the Eastern Branch.
! Curiously enough. the District hao
hardly been located, after bitter sec
tionai rivalry, than residents In the
chosen territory began to petition Con-
| Rress for q retroceSsion OF ther par
to Virginia and Maryland. The mrs
! Of such efforts was made by George
town citizens in 1903.
First Retrocession Attempt.
The first serious attempts for thu
retrocession Of the Virginia portion
were made in 1924, when meetings were
held for and against 1t in the town o.
Alexandria. The project was first de
feated by a vote of 404 to 286. Late
the citizens of Alexandra City peti
toned Congress to permit them to with
draw from the District, and Congress
passed the retrocession act, approved
July 9, 1s46, by President Polk. Th
act provided that it should becom
effective If a majority Of the voters II
the Virginia portion of the Distric
should vote for retrocession. The voter
in the Maryland portion were given NJ
voice in the decision.
The voting took place September
and 2, 1886, and resulted in 1853 in favo
of retrocesSion and 222 against 1t. TIL
. citizens of the rural part of Alexandra
County generally voted in the negativ
. and those of the town in the affirma
tive. BY proclamation of September
, 1846. that portion of the District de
rived from Virginia was receded to tina
State.
RetrocessiOn Preamble.
The preamble to the act of retroces
sion declares that experience hat
shown that the portion of the Distric
: Of Columbia ceded to the United State
4 by the State of Virginia has not beer
: nor Is ever likely to be. necessary fc