Evening star., 1933-05-14

DcIOTc CQe Spring rams hat
softened the Blue Ridge
~ Mountain trails. !. youthful
traveller from Western Vir-
ginia came to his journeys END in
alexandria.
Tall and spare he was. and earnest
OF visage. In his deep eyes burned in
telligence; courage and determination
were written in the rugged cast OF his
countenance.
He had come to witness the birth
of a new city-the first capital delib-
erately planned by a republic since the
beginnings of history. Peter the Great
had called into being the metropolis
OF St. Petersburg; the splendors OF
Versailles had risen under the aegis
of Louis XIV, but the Capital of the
young American Nation was the crea-
tion of self-governing people. To the
traveller this was an event so mo-
mentous that he needs must pull up
the stakes of a budding legal career
in the western counties of Virginia, and
fare eastward over the mountains to
behold this achievement with his own
eyes.
Became legendary Hero.
This was the manner of the coming
of Augustus Brevoort Woodward to the
National Capital. Today his name is
familiar only to those who rummage
among the early records of the city
and of the State of Michigan. He has
assumed the proportions of a legend
ary hero. the misty magnitude OF his
stature enhanced, not only by time,
but by his failure to leave to biogra-
pliers any save the slightest records of
his early life. 1t may be said with
truth that he lives by his work.
The votelesS residents of the Capital
had no more ardent champion than
this fiery and eloquent young lawyer in
the early days of the nineteenth CEN
tury. His was the first voice raised
in behalf of national representation for
the people of the District of Columbia
His pen drafted the first proposal for
a constitutional amendment to give po-
litical freedom to the citizens of Wash
ington. From his mind Sprang the
first concrete plan for a District gov
ernment.
To the Washingtonian of today it
seems almost to pass belief that an
attorney, only 26 years of age, residing
in Washington for less than a year,
could have accomplished with such
apparent ease the comprehensive plan
of political existence for the National
Capital that woodward presented.
Bought Real Estate Here.
Soon after his arrival in Alexandria,
Woodward visited Washington and
bought considerable number of lots
from William Prout. He resumed the
practice of law, frequently appearing
Marlboro, at the same time studying
the plans for development of the Capt.
tai. He read avidly every line of Con-
gressional news that pertained to the
new seat of Government.
When Congress adjourned in Phila-
delphia, and prepared to meet next In
Washington. Woodward moved from
Alexandria to the Capital, possibly to
be nearer his real estate investments,
certainly to be present when Congress
should take charge of its new home.
He was particularly anxious to learn
what arrangements Congress should
make in providing government Tor the
District In the final session at Phil
adelphia a committee had been ap-
pointed to study this matter, but notn-
ing had come Of it.
On November %. 1900. President
John Adams addressed the Congress at
its first session in Washington. In his
message was a suggetion of which
Woodward took particular note.
1T is with you, gentlemen. the
President said, ito consider whether
the local powers over the District OF
Columbia, vested by the Constitution IN
the Congress of the United States, snail
be Immediately exercised.
If, in your opinion, this important
trust ought now to be executed, you
cannot fail, while performing 1T, TO taKe
into view the future probable situa-
ton of the territory, for the happiness
Of which you are about to proVloe.
Admonished Congress.
You will consider it as the Capital
of a great Nation, advancing with un-
exampled rapidity in arts, in commerce.
in wealth. and in population, and pos
sessine within itself those resources
which. if not thrown away or lament
ably misdirected, will secure to 1t long
course of prosperity and self-govern-
ment." ;s
Undoubtedly. Woodward was joined
by other thoughtful Washingtonlans IN
speculating on the reaction OF Congress
To this adinonit:on. Although the mes
sage indicated the President was leaV-
ING entirely to Congress the RESPONSE
biiity for providing District govern
ment. still it was evident from tne
Language that the Chief Executive re-
garded Washington as no mere teIli,
tory. but the home town OF rising anu
yieo-ou; Nation. for whose happiness
end welfare the Congress was ac-
countable.
Tried to Escape Labors.
This portion OF the message was re-
ferred to special committees OF the wv
houses of Congress. Within fortnlgn'
both had returned reports to theH Ie-
spective houses. The Senate commlttee
commended to that body the simple as
sertion that Congress now assumso eA'
elusive jurisdiction over the Dlstrict
THE House committee supported tnls
view, but went step further IN recon-,
mending that the laws OF Marylaho
be retained>in force for the portlon "
the District ceded By Maryiano' ane
the Virginia laws Tor the section given
bv the commonwealth.
This palpable attempt to escape tnt
labor of setting up suitable govern
ment for the Capital City lnstantly
angered Woodward, and spurreo I'LL
to action.
on Christmas eve. 1900, there ap-
peared in the National Intelligencer an
essay signed "Epamionoass. Its ro-
bust directness of expression. the mercl'
less clarity of its logic, Immediately ar
rested the attention of the newspaper
rcaSers. among whom were many mem
bers of Congress.
Under his nom de plume. Woooware
took no pains to conceal his complete
dissatisfaction with the House report
which. he wrote, must give alarm ane
distress to every person interested II
the fate of the City Of washington.
Objected to Dependency.
He had perceived the hidden IN
equities of the House plan. He nat
subjected the proposal to a severe anS
expert analysis, ana he had Vlsualized
under its operation, the utter depend
ency of the District peop.e on TN
LEGISLATURE and judiciary of Marylans
and Virginia. Disfranchised. politicall!
inarticulate, the people of Washington
were to be the stepchildren OF tW.