Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-09
Congress and D. c.


We. the only voteless peo-
pie remaining under the SOW
ereignty of the Constitution,
are deeply and solemnly
grateful that the conscience
Of the Senate seeks ways and
means to end our un-Ameri-
can humiliation. With bipar-
tisan rededication to their
oath of Office. Senator Ke-
fauver's constitutional
Amendments Subcommittee
will conduct hearings pur-
posed to provide implement
ing legislation that will give
US o voice in our Govern
ment through representation
in the House and a vote for
President and Vice President.
Undecided are the voting
powers in the Congress Of
our representatives If so
selected.
II the Constitution be
their guide. there can be no
excuse for perpetuating our
shameful, un-American polit-
ical impotence. Either Al
exander Hamilton or James
Madison in The Federalist
No. XIII postulated that our
Government fought to be
founded on a mixture OF the
principles Of proportional
and equal representation"
And this equal representation
allowed TO each State is at
once a constitutional recog-
milton Of the portion Of SOW
ereignty remaining in the in
diridual States, and an In
strument for preserving that
residuary sovereignty"
Surely to say that we are
not a State. nor can we be
one, is to bubble with both
the spirit and substance Of
our Constitution. The pur-
pose Of creating a Federal
City as the seat Of govern
ment was succinctly argued
by James Madison in The
Federalist No. XIII: The
indispensable necessity Of
complete authority at the
seat of government, carries
its own evidence with it. 1t
is a power exercised by ev-
cry legislature Of the Union.
I might say Of the world, by
virtue Of its general suprem-
acy. without it, not only the
public authority might be
insulted and its proceedings
interrupted with impunity;
but a dependence OF the
members of the general gov
eminent on the State COM
pretending the seat OF the
Government, for the protec-
ton in the exercise OF their
duty, might bring on the ma
tional councils an imputation
of awe and influence, equally
dishonorable to the govern
ment and Unsatisfactory to
the other members Of the
confederacy."
Surely it will not serve the
solemn oath Of office, taken
by every public ofiicial to sup
port the Constitution, to give
to those representing the
people mot the Federal prop
erty) Of the Nations Capital,
less sovereignty. less dignity.
less sufficiency than each OF
the other members Of Con-
gress possesses by the same
authority. The question is a
simple one: Shall our shame
full, un-American, political
impotence continue to go
with the land? Or shall our
Congress rise to the heights
Of dedicated political respon-
sibility and declare: Cove
nants and shameful practices
of unfair, un-American in
tolerance and discrimination
no longer shall run with the
land that is the capital OF
the worlds greatest de-
mocracy.
Thomas E. Mattingly, MD.
-
In Representative Davis OF
Georgia we seem to have a
modern-day Nero who plays
politics of the rawest kind
while the citizens Of Wash
ington burn with anger and
the plight Of our Juvenile
Court becomes more ana
more serious.
The democratic processes
Of government are being
completely disregarded as
Representative Davis contin-
ues to display a total lack OF
political responsibility.
On the brighter side-three
cheers for Senators Heating.
Beall and Case tof South
Dakota who have gotten to-
gether on an amendment to
give the District a vote in
national elections. Senator
Kefauver is cooperating adj
mirably by holding hearings