charity and support. To make the position I have taken still 

 stronger, that the people of this District ask but for what is strictly 

 and justly due them, and that the charge of mendicity is false and 

 libellous, I beg the serious and impartial attention of the public to 

 the following synopsis of the able report made by the late Mr. 

 Southard, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the District of 

 Columbia, on the memorial of the corporate authorities and inhab- 

 itants of the city of Washington, and that of Georgetown. The 

 date of the report is February 2, 1835, vide 23d Congress, 2d 

 session (97.) 



The committee reported, that the embarrassment of the city was 

 not caused by the imprudence or extravagance of the inhabitants 

 and city authorities to the extent anticipated, and that the views by 

 which they were governed were of a liberal and public spirited 

 character. That neither the Government nor the proprietors con- 

 templated that the whole or even a large proportion of the burden 

 should be thrown upon the inhabitants, of the city. That the Gov- 

 ernment is bound by every principle of equal right and justice, to 

 pay a proportion of the expense incurred in this matter equal to 

 the amount of the property which it held, and which was to be in- 

 creased in value and benefitted by it, and this would have been 

 greatly more than one-half. That it was anticipated, at the date 

 of the contract, that the property acquired by Government would 

 become immensely productive, enabling it to secure a perfect ac- 

 commodation for itself, and "insure a considerable surplus to the 

 city to be employed in its improvement ;" the city therefore ought 

 not to be regarded as inexcusably importunate when it asks for their 

 alleviation. That the city may have gone further in this matter 

 than the necessities or convenience of the Government may for the 

 time being have required ; but the expenditures were made with 

 the generous purpose of increasing the public accommodation, and 

 rendering the capitol of the country what it ought to be, as well to 

 augment the property held by individuals, and by the Government 

 itself, and the improvements which it has made have greatly en- 

 hanced both. That in several States of the Union, where the Gov- 

 ernment holds landed estate, it has paid taxes on it, whilst in the 

 city of Washington it has not. That, although in the acts of in- 

 corporation, which gave the city partial control and regulation over 

 the streets, there is no exemption of the property of the Govern- 



