Evening star., 1938-05-22


fight, calmly observed to the youthful
enthusiast, Col. Hamilton, you will
take your horse-the animal quietly
cropping the herbage hard by, uncon-
scious of the scene that was enacted
so near it, in which such great spirits
were the actors. DR.. Griffith survived
the war and became rector Of parish
in which Washington worshiped. He
was elected first bishop of Virginia
under the new regime, and when about
to embark for Europe for conservation.
sickened and died in Philadelphia. He
was a ripe scholar. a pious minister.
and an ardent enthusiast in the cause
of American independence.
THE laying OF the corner stone OF
the District of Columbia took
place on April Is, 1871. at Jones Point.
at the mouth Of Hunting Creek, near
Alexandria, and was quite an AFFAIR
for this period of our national his
tory. And so this city and part OF
Falls Church to the West were within
the boundaries of the District of CO.
lumbia until 1846, when it was by
act Of Congress retroceded to the
State Of Virginia at the request OF
the people of Alexandria. Prior to
retrocession all that part Of the Dis
trict lying South of the Potomac
was known as Alexandria County.
d. C. At that time the city Of AL
exandria, and the county as well.
had just as much franchise as We
have today. Truce, they had their
own separate mayor. but the National
Government controlled their finances
and to an extent dictated just what
they could do and what they could
not do.
1t had enjoyed many privileges
which were taken away from it when
it became part Of the District.
Indeed, few of the golden eggs 1t
was promised were ever laid. and II
laid, according to its BELIEF, went TO
that part of the District Of Columbia
I North of the Potomac. Burdened
with debt nearly reaching a million
dollars, on the brink of bankruptcy.
with its frequent appeals to Congress
for relief usually falling upon deaf
ears, poor Alexandria was at last
forced to beg to be permitted again
| to become a part Of Virginia. and
Congress acquiesced.
IN ALEXANDRIA'S memorial to
Congress it automatically set
forth, as best it could under the cir.
cumstances. a very good agument IN
favor of again joining Virginia. How
ever. some of the things it then said
not only applied at the time to the
rest of the District. but indeed, still
apply to citizens of Washington, who
are left behind to hold the bag and
carry on. Alexandria deplored its
position and did not mince words in
saying 50. Here are excerpts from
its memorial:
when we remind the committee
that we are a disfranchised people.
deprived of all those political rights
and privileges SO dear to an American
citizen, and the possession Of which
is so we'll calculated to elevate and
dignity the human character; that the
exclusive Jurisdiction which Congress
possesses over us. however wisely ana
moderately exercised, is despotism.
we are almost inclined to say nothing
more, as we cannot doubt but that
our feelings, under such circum-
i stances, will meet with the ready
sympathy Of every member OF Con-
gress. Regardless of these evils, we
should be willing to continue in this
state of vassalage, and sacrifice our
selves for the good Of our country.
could We perceive any substantial
benefit resulting therefrom to the rest
of the Union. The citizens Of Alex
andria are as strongly Influenced as
the citizens of any of the States I'VE
say not fellow citizens. for In our
degraded condition the term would
be inapplicable) by emotions OF pure
and elevated patriotism.
UCAN a people. among whom the
march Of human mind Is thus
impeded in relation to the highest
objects on which it can be exercised.
be expected to prosper, when, too. we
are surrounded by States to whose
citizens every passing year brings the
fruits of an improved judgment ana
a more intelligent understanding? BY
decisions of the Supreme Court, the
inhabitants Of this District are not
constitutionally entitled to many OF
the civil rights Of citizens OF the
States, as guaranteed to them. merely
because their rights are secured to
them as being citizens Of State; ana
whilst an alien, British subject. may
sue in the Federal courts Of the Union.
we are denied the privilege. In order
to obtain this right, individual IN.
stances have occurred in which our
citizens have been compelled to re-
move to one OF the States. We are
deprived Of the elective franchise,
privilege so dear and sacred that We
would present its deprivation to the
strongest light before your honorable
body. Side by side with the trial by
Jury and the writ Of habeas corpus
may be placed the rights Of the ballot
box. It is not unworthy Of remark
that whilst the principles Of free gov
ernment are yearly extending with the
rapid march of civilization and thrones
and dynasties are yielding to their
influence, here alone. in the 10 miles
square, in and about the Capitol Of
this great country, is there no i'm.
provement, no advance in popular
rights. A foreigner. on reaching some
distant portion of our territory. might
we'll expect. on approaching the seat
of government, to find its inhabitants
enjoying in at least an equal degree
the free institutions Of the country.
In ascertaining our true conditions,
how unaccountable must It appeal
that we alone are denied them!"
Now Alexandria. as . part OF Viz
ginia, has some one in Congress to
fieht its battles, and 1t can do about
everything that the District Of Co
lumbia cannot do.