Thursday, February 3.
Amy Dardin's Claim.
A petition of Amy Dardin, of the county of Mecklenburg, in the State of Virginia, widow and relict of David Dardin, deceased, was presented to the House and read, praying compensation for the value of a stud horse, called Romulus, the property of the deceased, which was impressed into the service of the Southern army under the command of Major General Greene, by order of James Gunn, captain in a regiment of Continental cavalry, some time in the month of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one. Referred to the Committee of Claims.
Tuesday, February 8.
District of Columbia.
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the following resolutions, offered by Mr. Bacon:
"Resolved, That it is expedient for Congress to recede to the State of Virginia the jurisdiction of that part of the Territory of Columbia, which was ceded to the United States by the said State of Virginia, by an act passed the third day of December in the year 1789, entitled, "An act for the cession of ten miles square, or any lesser quantity of territory, within this State, to the United States in Congress assembled, for the permanent seat of the General Government." Provided, the said State of Virginia shall consent and agree thereto.
"Resolved, That it is expedient for Congress to recede to the State of Maryland the jurisdiction of that part of Columbia which was ceded to the United States by the said State of Maryland, by an act passed the 19th day of December, in the year 1791, entitled "An act concerning the Territory of Columbia and the City of Washington:" Provided, That said State of Maryland shall consent and agree thereto."
The first resolution being read,
Mr. Smilie said it was not his wish to take up the time of the House, but barely to assign, in a few words, his reasons for the vote he should give. In the last Congress he had voted against the assumption, and he had heard no reasons since to change his opinion on the propriety of that vote. He should, therefore, vote now for a retrocession. He never could understand the reason for giving Congress an exclusive jurisdiction over ten miles square. He believed there was but one reason: It had been thought good policy to introduce this article into the constitution to facilitate its adoption, as it was known that all parts of the Union were anxious to have the seat of Government. It did not appear to him, in any proper point of view, necessary that Congress should possess such exclusive jurisdiction. There was no doubt that, let Congress sit where they would, they would always have sufficient power to protect themselves. Unfortunately, however, there was on this subject an association of ideas in the minds of many persons, not in the least connected, which was, that the residence of Congress in this place, and their possessing exclusive jurisdiction, was the same thing. If the exercise of exclusive jurisdiction could have any effect on his mind, as to the other point, it would be directly opposite, as he would much rather sit here without than with exclusive jurisdiction, as we cannot possess this authority without depriving the citizens of rights which were the most dear to them. When he looked around him, and saw no man, unless a stranger, who was not a political slave, he felt the most painful sensations. Under our exercise of exclusive jurisdiction the citizens here are deprived of all political rights, nor can we confer them. If Congress can derive no solid benefit from the exercise of this power, why keep the people in this degraded situation? It is true, this place may be settled by foreigners; but can we suppose that any native citizen, who values his political rights, will come here? For the honor of the country, he must suppose there would be none. Why not then restore the people to their former condition? Mr. S. concluded by declaring that the act of retrocession would have no effect upon his mind as to staying here.