Alexandria Gazette

ALEXANDRIA REPRESENTATION.

The constitutional question now before the Senate, relative to a delegate for the county of Alexandria, may be difficult to solve, but, if viewed properly, there can be but one decision—and that view is presented by solving this question: Can you give Alexandria and Fairfax a delegate, jointly, without violating the Constitution which you are sworn to support. The Constitution expressly declares that Fairfax shall have a separate delegate. Why, then, interfere with it, if attended with a palpable violation of the Constitution? When the Constitution was formed, no acquisition of additional territory was anticipated, hence the silence of the Constitution relative thereto. You have permitted Alexandria to become a part of the State, notwithstanding the silence of the Constitution; and if you can receive additional territory, you can provide for its taxation and representation, under the same clause of the Constitution, without robbing Fairfax of those rights which the Constitution clearly guarantees to her. To give Alexandria a delegate, is as constitutional as to receive her as additional territory, the Constitution providing for neither; but to rob Fairfax of her delegate, when the Constitution expressly gives her one, is so gross and palpable a violation of that sacred instrument that every assurance is felt that the Senate will not be guilty of it. The question, then, presents itself, how is it to be avoided?—Simply by amending the House bill now before the Senate, by giving a delegate to Alexandria, and letting Fairfax alone, as the Constitution recognizes her. Do this, and the difficulty will end. As it is now understood, a majority of the House is in favor of giving Fairfax and Alexandria each a delegate.

It would be much more just and proper to take a delegate from Loudoun, she having three, than to rob Fairfax of her only one, and thus disfranchise her entirely.

FAIRFAX.
Fairfax County, March 4th.

On Saturday the Senate did amend the bill, so as to give a separate delegate to Alexandria. It is now before the House, and we trust that body will confirm the action of the Senate. Upon the plainest principles of constitutional right and justice, the Senate's amendment should be agreed to.—Rich. Enq.

[Since this article was in type, we have received the news of the action of the House of Delegates, on the subject of the representation of Fairfax and Alexandria Counties—which see in another column.]