Daily National Intelligencer

Baltimore, December 28.

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

MESSRS. EDITORS:

It is with great pain I perceive that attempts are making in Alexandria and Georgetown to bring about a separation of the singular body politic comprehended in the District of Columbia, which in my opinion ought to be preserved inviolate, if for no other reason than to shew how happy people may live without possessing any rights whatever, until they unluckily discover their misery.

The pretexts for this dissolution of the body politic, so far as I have heard them urged, are, first—that the good citizens of the District have no political rights—secondly, that they are not represented in any legislative body whatever, and of course are taxed without their consent—and, thirdly, that the power of legislating for them being lodged in a body over which they have no control whatever, they might just as well be governed by the Parliament of England as by the Congress of the United States. The consequence of all this, say these aggrieved and oppressed citizens, is, that they are left to shift for themselves, without deriving any benefits whatever from the fostering cares of those who preside over their destinies.

Now, as I am a staunch friend of union, and a decided enemy to all separations, either of states or towns; you will oblige me greatly, Messrs. Editors, if you will give me a little elbow room in your paper to examine whether there be any sober grounds for these complaints. And, first, as to the first grievance, the want of political rights: both Alexandria and Georgetown have each a good, jolly, substantial Corporation, whose sole business is to attend to the affairs of the town, and eat for the benefit of their constituents. The deuce is in it, if this is not sufficient for two rather small places, which, however, ought not to be undervalued for being small, because they would undoubtedly grow larger if they could. These Corporations, among other privileges, exercise that of making and issuing paper money, and, how two towns, possessing each a corporation that makes as much money as it pleases, for the benefit of its fellow-citizens, can possibly want any other rights, is to me extraordinary. My opinion, therefore, is, that they are unreasonable towns, being, as they certainly are, rather small towns, as I said before. And, moreover, I think, that the good Lady Washington ought to discard both these discontented baggages for their ingratitude, since the less of such company she keeps the better.

Then, Messrs. Editors, as to the second ground of complaint, that they are taxed without their consent, having no representatives. Some people are truly unreasonable, and, I am sorry to say that our neighbors of Alexandria and Georgetown are among the number. Being, as I said before, rather small towns, and not very likely to grow larger, it is truly wonderful that they are not satisfied with being represented by all Congress together. I say all Congress, for I do maintain, that the people of this District in one way or other exercise over that honorable body a degree of influence equal, if not superior, to that of their more immediate constituents. The members of Congress live half the year among us-- they receive our hospitalities--they lay their heads at night beneath our roofs--and in the day time they are dependent on us for the carriages and horses that transport them from one part of the city to another. Suppose we refused to cook their dinners; or take them to our houses; or transport them from one place to another; would not either of these measures bring them at once to reason, if they infringed upon our rights, or refused any just privilege? We, therefore, are the true sovereign people, and all the rest of the United States our vassals through the medium of our direct influence over their representatives.

Again, therefore, I repeat, that Alexandria and Georgetown are unreasonable towns, being, as I before observed, rather small towns, and not very likely to grow larger, particularly if they separate from Washington.

As to the complaint, that Congress leave the good people of this District to shift for themselves, it is utterly without foundation. Have they not by a solemn vote established the Seat of Government at this place, and therefore caused the people to receive a vast benefit from the expenditures of the various members of the government, as well as persons of every class brought hither by business of various kinds? Have they not also expended immense sums on the public buildings, by which the inhabitants have been benefited in various ways? Have they not, to sum up all, incorporated every Bank petitioned for to the number of a dozen or fifteen, so that the whole place is crammed with paper money to such a degree that the people are almost choked with it? If it be urged that Alexandria and Georgetown receive but little benefit from the monies laid out as above, I have only to observe, that many of the members of Congress go down to Alexandria on parties of pleasure during the session, and spend their money like princes--while it is a notorious fact, that all our ladies go to Georgetown to buy frippery.

I therefore conclude this article by observing, that Alexandria & Georgetown are very unreasonable towns, being, as I before observed, rather exceeding small towns, and not very likely to grow larger, let who will adopt them hereafter. They had better lie still like modest, well behaved little rogues of towns, till Washington grows out to them, when, as a reward for their dutiful behavior, we may possibly admit them to the honors of suburbs.

Yours truly, Messrs. Editors,

TIBERIUS GOOSECREEK.