The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. [volume], December 31, 1800, Image 1

About The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1800-1810

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Vjl. I.
WASHINGTON CITY, PRINTED BY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, NEW-JERSEY AVENUE,
Five DOLLS. PER ANN.
For the National Intelligencer.
CONSIDERATIONS
On th: Government of the TerriTohv of
Columj/a.
No. IF.
HAVING in the preceding numbers
Sketched a plan both for the general and
local government of the Territory, it will
re mam in this number to add a few consi
derations addreffed to the inhabitants oS
the Territory, to Satisfy their minds that
diis government either is, or would cer
tainly in the cou: fe of its operations become.
a<;ei;uate to the management of all its con
cerns.
mind muSt be cnllous to the prospe
rity of the Territory, that does not a
and explicitly allow t ity of a total
Separatum of it from the refpec\ive
from which it was taken. A volume
might be written to demonltrate the truth
of this affertion in every point that it em
braces : but it is conceived that a (incrh
ray of patriotic ardor for i* i intereft will
11 to every heart, and th it
thofe: who do not feel its truth are actuated
hy other confederations than a deiire to
promote the wealth, honor and advantage,
which ought in the natural courle of hu
man affairs to attend the metropolis of fo
t a country as the United States.
What man attached to freedom will fay
that the people of this Territory ought to
be 101 lin the general iii'.fs ; ami to be
without any participation in the Federal
Government ? What confederate mind will
deny that it is better for this purpole that
it ihould be placed constitutionally on the
Ig that has been propofed ; then that
th.- favor flwuldbedifpenfed partially, and
in such a way us not to be felt, by two in
dividual States ?
Where is the man who tan believe that
its local interefts can better be confided to
thofe dates ; than to all the states at large,
and to its own inhabitants ?
Conceiving that no further representa
tions need to be male on thefe two heads,
I fhall confine myfelf principally in this
number to one fubject which has occurred
to every mind; and ivfpccVmg which an
opinion ibffl -what erroneous has prevailed.
It lias been obvious to every perfon, on
firft view of the fubject, that a police is
necclury in the city of Wafhington, in
Alexandria, and in George Town. All
cities and large towns require inch a po-
lice ; and without it none can flouriSh, or
afford nn elegant and commodious reii
dencc.
But it has been generally imagined that
a Separate and corporate body of magiftracy
is necelfary Sor each of thefe places. In
framing this opinion no regard has been
had to the country out of their limits. Per
haps there has been a defire to abandon
this to the States as oS no value; perhaps it
was thought of 1.0 confequence to leave this
in anarchy.
I trull that I have ufed arguments Suffi
cient to produce conviction on every un
prejudiced mind, that it is contrary to the
fpirit of the constitution, to the letter of it ;
and to the beSt interells of the Territory, to
leave a (ingle inch of it in the pofTefTion
of the ftates ; but that the Federal Go
vernment fhouhl have the Sovereign exclu
sive jurifdtction.
The idea of corporations lias occurred
from a comparifon of thefe places with
others of a limilar kind, as Philadelphia.
or Baltimore ; and were the Situation of the
towns in the Territory in the lealt Similar
to thofe, the idea would be natural and
proper enough.
But it mult be remembered that the
towns in the Territory are leagued in a
common interest; which is not the cafe in
other places where there is a discontinuity;
and that the country is a partaker of lid
intereft. Heme for the regulation of local
matters in the Territory there is reqvtiiiu
a genera! \ding authority, Sue!
im fori • connects difcontinu*
otts towns in th Hate, a Philadel
Ivaaia; An
The National Intellipencen
WASHINGTON * ADVERTISER.
uapolis and Baltimore in Maryland—
Without this, the rel'ources and exertioi
ot the whole Territory never can be drawn
forth and applied to any one object ; but
its leveral parts, always in collilion, and
drawing two different ways, mult occafion
a Sacrifice of all general to particular in-
Ceredts.
I truft that experience will demonstrate
that a numerous and refpectable legislature
Sor the whole Territory tvill entirely Super
cede the neceffiiy of feparate deliberative
bodies ; and that it will he found in its
application the mult eijui table, impartial,
and effective depofitory of authority, and'
the leaft expenfi, c.
If the Territory is divided, in its prefent
Situation, into five precincts, fuch as are
deSignated in the appendix to number 3,
with a Sheriff and Aldermen or Jultices in
each, in veiled with Such executive and ju
dicial powers as the legillature may from
time to time prefcribc, will not every ob
ject, under the Superintending care of 'die
legillature, be attained with cafe, effecl
and economy ?
in order to he perfectly Satisfied let us
deli end to particulars.
lh.-for- this car) be done it is neeeffary to
draw a line between fuch difburfemeuls and
expenditures as may property be expected
from the federal Government ; and fuch as
ought to be properly chargeable on the in
habitants themfelves.
The committee who reported the bill
have not adverted to this fubject. They
have cut the Gordian knot of all difficulties
by a lethargic apathy ; and a refillal to in
te any thing. Is it that diey ima
gine the atfurs o( this Metropolis will fall
into order by the mere diurnal and annual
revolutions of the earth, without the aid
of human interpoikion ; or that its irdiabi
tants, like a Hock of Itocks, can he govern
ed by Some physical instinct, without th.
bus aid of Reason ? Or do they in
tend that the refources of the Federal Go*
veniment Hull be lavilhed for the wants of
this favorite child, the door of its Trcafury
kept open, and its every wilh gratified oi.
requeft.
If this latter fhould be intended, what
ever acknowledgements we may owe for
Such benevolence, I trull that the inhabi
tants of the Territory will have good fenfc
enough to perceive that, it is the molt fa
tal (tab which can be given to t! r inte
rests ; and pride enough to feel that it is
both an appeal to their poverty and iniig
nificance, and the ft-al of it forever.
This territory is pofSelfed at preSent of
relources as adequate in proportion to its
own exigencies as any other part of the
United States ; and if it is not opprelfed
by a diltracled inefficient government it
will foon be more fo. Every inhabitant
ought to pride himfelf' 1 this pecuniary in
dependence ; and to ci (courage a conftant
application to Congre s Sor donations and
charities, which caimct fail in the end to
make every State in the Union our enemy.
Yet there are certain expenditures pro
perly to he expected from the Federal Go
vernment. The erection and beeping in
repair of the Prea/.idoliad, the Capital, and
"he buildings which will be nrceffary for
the judiciary of the United States ; the
formation of public dock yards, and a naval
hofpital ; the conflruclion of the great ca
nal ; the improvement of the public gar
dens ; the erection and prefervation of
honorary memorials for their distinguished
men of Science, Statesmen, generals, or ad
mirals ; the institution of a national univer
sity ; theic and a variety of limilar calls,j
which may be imagined with more cafe
than they can be enumerated, ace un
doubtedly the affairs of the nation, to pro
mote its advantage, or to gratify its talte ;
and this territory alone ought not to be
oppreSfed with the burthen.
But as many other objects again are for
our ufe, our convenience, to promote our
advantage, or to gratify our pride. The
paving and lighting of Streets, the regula
tion of buildings and wharves, the inllitu
tion of hofpitals and lazarettoes, the regu
lation of hackney coachts, the maintcnanct
>f bridges and ferries, the erection of pn
fons and penitentiads, thefe and a grew
variety of objects, which cannot now ir
the infancy of our metropolis, and indeed
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31th, 1800.
j'.l our nation, be forefeen or imagined, but
[which will come with prefling urgency
long before it Iball have obtained the age
of London or Paris, will conltitute a ferns
of calls requiring unremitted attention,
management, and economy. Some of them
in fact are the wants of pofterity ; and
not of the prefent ;ige. But we mult consi
der, and that confideration mult be attend
ed with pain as well as pleafure, that we
are legiflating for pofterity as well ai for
ourfelves ; and that the intereft of millions
unborn is confided to our hands. It is all
important in all affairs to begin right, tc
take a comprehenSive circumfpective view,
to build the mound, to lay out the channel,
before the great tide rolls in, unexpected
and unmanageable.
For the attainment of any fuch objed,
Ictus examine the courfe it mult purfue
under th« arrangement which has been
propoSed.
An objecTt oSexpenSe iscithcr for the bene
fit of the whole territory, and therefore pro
perly chargeable on the whole inhabitants ;
or it is fenr the particular benefitof a/ia;-;,and
therefore properly chargeable on fuch part.
What tribunal is more proper to draw the
tween thefe diltinc'tioiis than the lc
gifinUire of the whole ? What authority
is more competent to apply the burden
where it ought to be felt, with juStice, e
tiuity, impartiality and effect, than the
legillature of the whole ? LSow eafy is it
for it in the collecddon of its taxation for
the wants of the whole territory, to add a
Special affeffment for the wants of fome
particular part. If fome object is to be
carried into immediate execution, how ca
fy it is to appoint a commif/ioner with ex
ecutive power.; only, retaining all the deli
berative in the lcv-illaturc ? If
and permanent aid to the powers of the ftie
riff and aldermen ihould be Sound neceffiuy,
how eafy is it to actd a mayor, with execu
tive powers only; In Short every Step we
advance renders the fwbje&ib plain, and
l*o (dear, that further arguments may ob
'cure, but cannot illuftrate.
Before I conclude, I Shall add one word
mi two Smaller concerns j which it may
not be luperftuoua to advert to.
The one is the interests of certain political
pecuniary, &: literary, in(titutions,withinthc
territory, which have been erected by the
ftates ; and which may fear a fall in the
ranlition from one government to ano
ther.
Thefe infiitutions are principally the cor
porate bodies of Alexandria and George
Town : fib* banks of Alexandria and Co
lumbia : the univerfity of St. Mary's :
lln 1 .ibrary Company of Alexandria.
With rcfpeci to the two firft it may he
obServed that all their judicial powers will
of courl'c be abforbed in the judicial fyf
tem of the territory. Their executive
powers will probably be revived, under ;.
modification improved, and not deteriora
ted.
With refpect to the Banks of Alex
andria and Columbia, a confidence mar be
entertained, without a fliadow of appre
henlion, that their charters will not bedif
turbed. They may both expect to gain
by the change. The federal government,
and a legislature of their own, may be ex
pected to afford a more liberal and Solid
patronage than the ftate governments.
The Library Company of Alexandria,
fo far from being affected, will probably
have the pleafure of feeing their example
followed, and the fame an. | to f
terature in the other parts of the Territory.
All thefe mftitUtionsought to exhibit':,
manly confidence ; to betray no fclfilhncli..
no jealouiy. They Ought to embark with
'die fame courage in the common caufe.
rhcre cannot be a doubt that time, whofi
Iteps are Steady, even when they are flow.
will reconcile all interest*, and eftablilh
harmony and reciprocity.
. With ri-fpec. to the Univerfity oS St.
Mary's, it may be proper to Say little. An
mftitution of this kind will be fofterod in
every republican government- It would
he infui,ity in it to circ-ai! annihilation, rob
bery, or Spoliation. If any alteration
takes ■ ritiot i',il te>
the better, and not Sor the worf .
The other point to which I allu ed is
[the expenfi
NEAR THE CAPITOL* No. XXVII.
In all undertaking* it is proper to he
gin with moderation and pariunony. The
Salary of the governor is properly charge
able to the United States. All officers cre
ated by the laws oSthe territory ought to be
paid Srom their proper refources.Thc expenfe
of the executive and judicial cftablilhmeut
Would be fo Small, fo little different from
what in one way or other is now actually
attached to it, that when every thing is
confidered it would not be difficult to fhew
that the quantum of real expenditure h
in fact diminished.
The principal expenfe will attend the le
legillature. Here we mufl be minute. This
body is not intended Sor a School of elo
quence ; for the popular and florid ha
rangue. It is an aifociation of men of bu
iincfs, whole time is precious to them, and
that of" their conflituents. I'reluming that
in a body, whoSe members would be i'o
near each other; who would have fo fre
quent opportunities to dit'cuSs and con Suit
with their constituents, and with one ano
ther, on public concerns, ten or fifteen
days twice in the year, would be amply
fuificient for their feffions, the cxpcnK
could not be oppreffive. They ought to
receive for their Services as much as will
defray the expenfes of their abfence from
their families ; but no more.
It is probable that if neceffity required
it, the hiit legillature would ferve without
pay. Admit that it fhould average one
thouSand dollars in the year, this is the pi ice
of acquittal from all the taxation of Vir
ginia and Maryland. Thofe who have felt
that taxation can be.it judge how cheap the
pnrehafeis made. It Should be remember-
;'tl too that every burden becomes light*
the population advances; and that t
im would diminish, as to each individual,
while the expenfes of the government
-•ncreafing
1 fhall now conclude thefe conSidenUi
ons. 1 have been led to a length which
the Subject: did not proiiiife; at firft ; tut
which I conceive is not greater than the
cafe will jultify. If my Sentiments arc:
not adopted, the prefent a tioXi of them cm
be attended with no difacivantage to the in
habitants of that territory, for whole he
ley were intended. If a temporiting,
unliable, and incomplete fyftenj is pre1:
I fhall only have to lament the elh
prejudice which in my belt judgment its in
tereiVwill l'ultain ; but my mind will not I,
a diminution of one inipull'e to one exerti
on, which an humble and unafpiring
zen can contribute towards its welfare.
EPA WIN ON DAS.
City of Washington,
December 23d, 1800.
APPENDIX. No. I.
A Copy of the Bill reported by the com
mittee.
" A bill concerning the District of Co
lumbia.
" Section I. Be it enacted by the Sen
ate and Houfe of Rcprefeiitatives of
the United States of America in Con
grefs nSlemblcd.—That the laws eft he
ftate of Virginia as they exifted on the
firft Monday of December in the yt ar
1800 fhall bu and continue in force in
that part of the Diftrict of Columbia
which was ceded by the faid ftate to
the United States, ?; by them accep
ted for the permanent Ot of govern
ment; and that the laws of the ftate
of Maryland , as they exifted on the
Said tii It Monday in ' December, fhi.ll
be and continue in force in that pait
of the laid diftrict which was ceded by
that ftate to the United States, and
by them accepted as aforefaid.
"Section 2. And be it further enacted
—that all all executive and judicial of
ficers, appointed by the refpective ftates
of Virginia and Maryland, and who
had jurisdiction in or over the faid
diftrict, or any part thereof, on the faid
fndi Monday in December, according to
the" tenor e«i' the COnftitutiotl and. laws
1 of the Said (late, Shall Continue to hold
' and exercife fuch juiifdlction until re
moved by the Prefident of the United
States ; and that the appointment of
all fnch officers hereafter (hall he made
' in thcim. jnatftd by the fecond
Paid In Advance.