Evening star., 1938-04-26

the District the direct control and SUI
pervision Of local affairs is maintained.
American Principles and Intent Of
FOrefathers.
Study Of the making, constituting and
expanding of the Constitution discloses
that there was no intent on the part
OF the makers of the Constitution and
OF those who construed and applied it
to violate the American principle that
couples representation with taxation
by excluding residents of the District
forever from voting participation In
the national councils.
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 history of
England, this fundamental principle
OF free government received its full and
perfect recognition in the struggle
which resulted in the independence of
the Colonies and the establishment of
the United States. The Bill of Rights
presented by the Colonists to the Brit
1Sh Parliament declared:
That the foundation of English
liberty and of all civil government is
a 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.
Decentralization of District.
Yet. in the District of Columbia,
the seat OF the Government of the
United States, 437.57l (now over
6o0,000) Americans. performing Justly
and honorably all the duties Of peace
and war, remain without any repre-
sentation whatever in the Govern
ment which rules and taxes them.
makes the laws they must obey anc
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 pre-
walls that this exclusion from par
ticipation in the government is the
necessary consequence of the ex-
elusive control of the Federal dis
trict vested in Congress. Such is by
no means the case. The Constitu-
ton article I. clause 81 confers upon
Congress the power of exclusive leg
islation m all cases whatsoever over
the District, not exceeding 10 miles
square, which shall be cession of par
tlcular States and the acceptance Of
Congress become the seat Of Govern
ment Of the United States" Mani
testify the purpose of this provision is
to insure absolute unity of legislative
power at the seat of Government.
National Representation and Exclu-
sivc National Control.
What was excluded was that dual
sovereignty, which by reason of the
Federal character of our Government
necessarily prevailed everywhere else.
AS stated by Madison in the Federal
ist, complete authority at the seat Of
the Government was designed to elm
mate the dependence of the members
Of the general Government on the
State comprehending the seat Of Gov
eminent for protection in the exercise
Of their duty" (Federalist, KILL
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