Evening star., 1951-07-15
In Old Alexandra
When the Town, Now an Independent City,
Wos Part of the District of Columbia
By John cloaett Proctor

q alexandria was port Of entry
.Iprior to being merged into the
District. 1t was a very old town,
'Ioriginatirg as Hunting Creek
Warehouse. and changing its name
Ito Belle Haven before becoming
Alexandra.
1t had enjoyed many privileges
(which were taken away from it
when it became a part of the
District. Indeed, few of the
golden eggs it was promised were
lever laid. Burdened with a debt
nearly reaching a million dollars.
Jon 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.
Sought Self Government
In Alexandria's memorial to
Congress, it automatically set
forth, as best it could under the
circumstances, a very good argu-
ment in favor of again joining
Virginia. However. some of the
things it then said not only ap-
piled at the time to the rest of
the District, but, indeed. still apply
to citizens who are left behind to
hold the bag and carry on. Alex
andria deplored its position and
did not mince words in saying So:
I'VE maintain that all govern
ment POLITICALLY considered) but
self government is bad, and that
without some radical change,
time. instead of making a bad
government better, will make it
worse; that whatever power is ex-
tercised independently to the will
of the people. expressed indi-
Ividually or through their repre-
sentatives, is a despotism. When
we remind the committee that
we are a disfranchised people, de-.
prived of all those political rights
and privileges SO dear to an
American citizen, and the possess
sion of which is so we'll calcu-
lated to elevate and dignity the
human character; that the ex-
elusive jurisdiction which Con-
Igress possesses over us, however
wisely and moderately exercised,
is a despotism, we are almost in
clined to say nothing more. as
we cannot doubt but that our
feelings, under such circum-
stances, will meet with the ready
sympathy of every member of
Congress. Regardless of these
evils. we should be willing to con-
tinue in this state of vassalage,
and sacrifice ourselves for the
good of our country, could we per-
ceive any substantial benefit re-
sulting therefrom to the rest of
the Union The citizens of Alex
andria are as strongly influenced
as the citizens of any of the
States eve say not fellow citizens,
for, in our degraded condition the
term would be inapplicable) by
emotions of pure and elevated
patriotism.
Can people, among whom the
march of the human mind is thus
limpeded in relation to the highest
| objects on which it can be exer-
cised, be expected to prosper when,
too, we are surrounded by States
to whose citizens every passing
year brings the fruits of an i'm
proved judgment and a more in
telligent understandings"
No doubt Washington wanted
Alexandria to be a part of the
District of Columbia, otherwise
he would not have had the cor
nerStone placed at Jones Point,
where the line would include that
city. Everyone knows that Presi-
dent Washington was a. Virgin
ian; he was born in Virginia, lived
in Virginia, and died in Virginia.
His love for and his loyalty to
Virginia were beyond question.
Why then would it not be natural
for him to want included in the
Federal territory at least strip
Of his own native State?
The arguments advanced by
Alexandria, upon which retro
cession was granted, are only the
same arguments which have been
repeatedly set forth in behalf of
Washington and the rest of the
District of Columbia. They call
for certain relief which would and
should be granted. And perhaps,
after all, if Alexandria City and
Arlington County were assured
the full political rights which they
now enjoy, who knows but what
they would want again to be a
part of the District of Columbia?