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 I Have the People of the District of Columbia any rights 
 \ that Congress is bound to respect? 
 
 : 
 
 I 
 
 ; . SPEECH 
 
 ; HALLET KILBOUEN, 
 
 ijelivkkeu at 
 
 XjIITCOT-jIT TSIA-XjH,, 
 
 ; 
 
 ADJ0L1;NKD MKKTJ.NG of the GENEKAL COMMITIKK A.M' rn:/.i.Ns i.\ 
 FlUTllEKANCE OP' THE MEASURE TO HOLD 
 
 AN INTEKiNATlONAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION 
 
 Ifi M\is}iingtun City, D. C, in 1S72. 
 
 ^^m^m^m 
 
 WASHINGTON CITY: 
 
 U'gILL * WlTtlKBOW, pniNTKRS AXD STi:ILe<>TTI'tRI<. 
 1870. 
 
Have the People of the District of Columbia any rights 
 that Congress is bound to respect? 
 
 SPEECH 
 
 HALLET KILBOUR:^, 
 
 DELIVERED AT 
 
 LIlsrOOLZ^ HI^IjL, 
 
 ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE AND CITIZENS IN 
 FURTHERANCE OF THE MEASURE TO HOLD 
 
 AN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION 
 
 In Washington City, D. C, in 1872. 
 
 WASHINGTON CITY: 
 
 H'om. k WITOJEBOW, PRINTERS AMD SIEB£OTTPIBS. 
 
 1870. 
 
 eopy 2 
 

 In exch. 
 D, of C. Pub. Lib. 
 
Congress and the District of Columbia. 
 
 SPEECH. 
 
 LNTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. 
 
 At an adjourned meeting of the genei'al committee and citi- 
 zens of Washington, held at Lincoln Hall, on Saturday evening, 
 January 15, 1870, 
 
 Mr. Hallet Kilbourn introduced the following resolution, 
 which was passed unanimously: 
 
 "Unsolved, That a committee of twc-nty be appointed by tin- chair to wait upon 
 Congress and urge the passage of the bill granting a charter for the proposed 
 International Exhibition, to neld at the national capital." 
 
 Mr. Kilbourn said that in submitting this resolution he wished 
 to make a few remarks for the benefit of the committee to be 
 appointed. He then said : 
 
 Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Gitizens: I appreciate the full 
 force of the remarks made by our chairman this evening, when 
 he said it was our duty to go bbfore Congress and demand atten- 
 tion from the nation's legislators in furtherance of our efforts to 
 accomplish the grand enterprise of having an International 
 Exhibition at the national capital. 
 
 It is time that we rai.sed the question, have the people of the 
 District of Columbia any rights which Congress is bound to re- 
 spect? As an humble citizen of this District, I am tired of 
 dancing attendance about the halls of Congress begging for 
 privileges which, as American citizens, it is our right to demand. 
 [Applause.] 
 
 We go before the committee of Congress to which is assigned 
 all matters pertaining to the welfare and prosperity of the 170,000 
 people of this District, and what is generally the result? While 
 on all proper measures wo can secure unanimous action in the 
 committee-rooms, yet when members disperse into the halls of 
 legislation their interest in District matters is generally dissi- 
 pated, and our efforts come to naught. 
 
 When the committee on District matters is called to report 
 business, but once or twice in a session, there is some excuse, 
 perhaps, for not keeping up the earnestness manifested in the 
 
committee-room ; but the interests of no other 170,000 American 
 tax-payers is neglected for any such reason. The real fact 
 patent to all, why our requests are not properly considered by 
 Congress is, that we have no political power, and no legislator is 
 dependent upon our sulfragcs for his succession in oflSice. 
 
 It is my candid opinion that had Noah resided in the District 
 of Columbia, and it had been necessary to procure a charter 
 from Congress before building the ark, the human race would 
 have been extinguished with the Deluge. [Loud applause and 
 laughter.] 
 
 Now, Mr. Chairman, let me state some of the reasons why I 
 say the citizens of the District of Columbia have a right to de- 
 mand of Congress the proper and prompt consideration and 
 action upon measures presented for the promotion of our welfare- 
 "We pay a revenue tax to maintain and support the Government 
 of the United States far in excess of the amount paid by several 
 of the States, as the following exhibit shows: 
 
 Revenue tax collected hy the Oeneral Government since the enactment of the 
 internal revenue law from the people of the following States and Territories, 
 up to June 30, 1869 : 
 
 Minnesota $2,005,933 54 
 
 Kansas 1,537,344 95 
 
 Oregon 1,652.901 13 
 
 Nevalii 1,550.675 40 
 
 Nebraska .- 555,377 15 
 
 From the eiglit Territories — New Mexico, Utah, Montana, Idaho, 
 
 Colorado, Dakota, Washington, and Arizona 2,457,549 19 
 
 District of Columbia 3,505,397 51 
 
 This tax collected from the people of the District of Columbia 
 does not include the immense tax collected from the several 
 thousand Government employees in AVashington. The amount 
 of their tax is deducted from their salaries by the Governmerrt 
 disbursing agents. 
 
 By this statement, which is taken from the reports of the 
 Commissioner of Internal Eevenue, it will be seen that the people 
 of the District of Columbia have paid within about three per 
 cent, as much revenue tax to support the general Government of 
 the United States as was collected from the three great States 
 of Kansas, Nebraska, and Nevada combined! [Cheers.] Thsee 
 three States have six Senators and three members of Congress 
 to represent their interests in the councils of the nation, while 
 the people of the District of Columbia are denied all repre- 
 sentation. 
 
 The amount of the revenue tax paid to sujDport the Govern- 
 ment of the United States by the people of this District is 75 
 
per cent, f^rcatcr than has been collected from the people of Min- 
 nesota, who have two Senators and two members of Congress to 
 represent their interests. [Cheers.] It is more than 100 per 
 cent, greater than the amount collected Irom the States of Kan- 
 sas, Oregon, and Nevada, respectively. [Cheers.] It is over 15 
 per cent, greater than has been paid by the people of the State 
 of Nebraska and the eight Territories of New Mexico, Utah, 
 Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Dakota, Washington, and Arizona 
 combined. [Great applause.] Nebraska has her two Senators and 
 a member of Congress, and the eight Territories are represented 
 by eight delegates. The amount of the revenue tax collected 
 from the people of this District is GOO per cent, more than has 
 been collected from the people of the great State of Nebraska ; 
 and 3'et the ])eo])le of Nebraska are fully protected by their Sen- 
 ators and members, who, in addition to representing the interests 
 of their great State, have, in conjunction with the Eepresenta- 
 tives of the several States, exclusive jurisdiction over this Dis- 
 trict, while our inhabitants are entirel}- cut off from representa- 
 tion in the Government we pay so much to suTstain. [Applause 
 and cheers.] 
 
 The people of the gallant State of Vermont, who are repre- 
 sented by two illustrious Senators and three distinguished Rcip- 
 resentatives, have paid a revenue tax of §4,009,397 49 to support 
 and maintain the Government of the United States, while the peo- 
 ple of this District have paid 83,505,397 71, and are denied by Con- 
 gress the necessary legislation to organize our industrial ener- 
 gies and promote the general welfare of our people, Florida, 
 with two Senators and a Eepresentative. paid but $1,471,703 63 
 revenue tax; and Arkansas, with her two Senators and three 
 Representatives, has paid but §3,454,452 05. (The whole of these 
 two States, however, were not within the jurisdiction of the law 
 until after the termination of the rebellion.) [Long and con- 
 tinued applause.] 
 
 TROOPS FURNISHED. 
 
 From a message of Mayor AVallach at the close of the war it 
 appears that the records of the War Department show that the 
 total number of men received into the United States service and 
 credited to this District from the commencement to the close of 
 the rebellion was 10,872. Their numbers, when compared with 
 the population of the District, sutticiently attest the loyal spirit 
 of its people. No State, except Kansas, supplied so large a pro- 
 portion of troops, whether computed by tlie actual number of 
 
6 
 
 enlistments or by the different terms of service. The population 
 of the District by the census of 1860 was 75,000. The number 
 of troops furnished bj'' the District of Columbia, computed on 
 three years' standard of service, was 11,50G, or one to less than 
 every seven of its population; while in the States the proportion 
 was about one in every ten of the population, based on the cen- 
 sus of 18G0. A direct war tax was levied upon the people of the 
 United States, and the amount paid by the city of Washington 
 was $42,200. Claims to the amount of some §475,000,000 have 
 been presented by the several States for reimbursements for 
 expenses incurred in furnishing troops to defend the Govern- 
 ment of the United States, and several millions have alreadj^ been 
 refunded by the General Government, but not one dollar has 
 been allowed to this District for her expenditures for the same 
 purpose. [Sensation.] 
 
 RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 The amount expended by the Government for river and har- 
 bor improvements thi'oughout the country during the past 
 twenty years will, it is safe to assume, exceed 650,000.000 ; j-et 
 within that period not one dollar has been expended for improv- 
 ing the river or harbor at the national capital. I have known 
 of several instances in the West where many thousand dollars 
 have been expended to improve small streams that now are not 
 navigated by more than three flat-boats a year. [Laughter.] 
 And why? The sole inducement for the expenditure of these 
 appropriations is, that representatives in Congress have con- 
 stituents whose votes they wish to secure for re-election. These 
 representatives, having no constituents in the District of Colum- 
 bia, consequently the noble Potomac and harbor at the national 
 capital have been thus shamefully neglected for these twenty 
 years or more. Yet the Government collects tonnage duties 
 upon all vessels entering the District. In the meantime, the cor- 
 porate authorities of Washington and Georgetown have found 
 it necessary to approf)riate several thousand dollars to keep the 
 channel in navigable condition. 
 
 COMMON SCHOOLS. 
 
 There are 11,227 children in the public schools of the District, 
 as per statement of School Superintendent Richards. Mr. Rich- 
 ards states that more than one half of the children in the public 
 schools belong to families connected in some way with some 
 branch of the Government, and their parents pay no taxes. 
 
The parents of these children referred to by Superintendent 
 Eichards are the constituents of Senators and Representatives. 
 They hold oftico in some of the Government departments, retain- 
 ing their residence in the several States from which they were 
 appointed ; they pay no taxes towards the improvement of the 
 District, but their children are educated at the expense of the 
 District tax-payers; and yet Congress has persistently refused 
 to donate any public lands for school purposes in the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 By the following exhibit, for which I am indebted to lion. 
 Joseph S. Wilson, Commissioner of the General Land Office, it 
 will.be seen with what lavish generosity the Government has en- 
 couraged the school system of the "West. 
 
 Statement showing the quantity of public lands estimated as granted Tfy the United 
 States to the several States containing public lands for the support of common 
 schools, and reserved, to be hereafter appropriated for the same purpose in the 
 organized Territories; the quantifies in the Territories being estimated on the 
 presumed basis that the grant will be extended to the Territories by congres- 
 sional enacttnenls, viz : 
 
 States. Acres. States and Acres. 
 
 Territories. 
 
 Ohio 704,488 Kansas •. 2,891,309 
 
 Indiana 650,317 Nevada 3,985,428 
 
 Illinois 985,0(36 Nebraska 2,702,044 
 
 Missouri 1,199,139 Territories. 
 
 Alabama 902,774 Washington 2.488,675 
 
 Mississippi 837,584 New Mexico 4,309,368 
 
 Louisiana 786,044 Utah 3,008,613 
 
 Michigan 1,067,397 Dakota 5,366,451 
 
 Arkansas 886,460 Colorado 3,715,555 
 
 Florida 908,503 Montana 5,112,035 
 
 Iowa 905,144 Arizona 4,050,350 
 
 Wisconsin 958,649 Idaho 3,068,231 
 
 California 6,710,324 Wyoming 3,480,281 
 
 Minnesota 2,960,990 
 
 Oregon 3,329,706 Total 67,983,922 
 
 General Land Office, January 8, 1870. 
 
 Not one acre to the District of Columbia. 
 
 Compare the generous action of Congress in that exhibit towards 
 the people of the States and Territories with their treatment of 
 the school interest of this District, and it presents a condition of 
 affairs which should cause the nation's legislators to blush at 
 their neglect of the school interests of the national seat of Gov- 
 ernment; especially is our case aggAvated, when the fact as 
 stated by Superintendent Richards is considered in connection 
 therewith. 
 
 "Well has it been said that the District of Columbia, the ward 
 of the nation, ovcm- which Congress has exclusive jurisdiction, is 
 treated like a neglected step-child. [Laughter and applause.] 
 
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SCRIP. 
 
 But a few years ago Congress again distributed a large por- 
 tion of its public lands among several of the States in the shape 
 of agricultural scrip, as is shown in the following exhibit : 
 
 Statement showing the names of the States entitled to Agricultural College scrip 
 under act of July 2, 1862, and supplements, which have accepted the grant and 
 received the scrip, with the quantity of scrip, viz : 
 States. Acres in Scrip States. Acres in Scrip. 
 
 Vermont 150,000 Massachusetts 360,000 
 
 Connecticut 180,000 New Hamp.sliire 150,000 
 
 Rhode Island 120,000 West Virginia 150,000 
 
 Kentucky 330,000 Ohio 630,000 
 
 Illinois 480,000 Maryland 210.000 
 
 New York 990,000 Indiana 390,000 
 
 Maine 210,000 Delaware 90,000 
 
 Fennsylvania 780,000 Tennessee 300,000 
 
 New Jersey 210,000 North Jarolina 370,000 
 
 Total number of acres in scrip issued 6,000,000 
 
 General Land Office, Jan. 8, 1870. ^^^=^^= 
 
 As usual, not an acre donated for the benefit of the District of 
 Columbia. Having no voice in the councils of the nation, Ave are 
 dependent entirely upon those whose whole attention is occupied 
 by distant and distinct interests ; and Avhile they are unmindful 
 of our interests in a great deal that pertains to our welfare and 
 prosperity, yet no opportunity is missed to require our people to 
 contribute their full share of the burdens for the maintenance 
 and support of the Government. 
 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 Congress has also, in its generous bounty, donated 185,890,- 
 794.G7 acres of public land to several States and corporations in 
 aid of the construction of i-ailroads throughout the West; j'et at 
 the capital of the nation no Government encouragement was 
 ever rendered, and hence we have but one line leading to the 
 North and one line South. For years we have applied to Con- 
 gress to grant us charters for increased railroad facilities, but our 
 eiforts have been in vaiu. At the last session of Congress I had 
 the honor, in company with Mayor Bowen, to visit Congress to 
 procure the passage of an act giving citizens of Washington, in 
 their corporate capacity, the privilege of subscribing $1,500,000 
 to aid in bringing into our city two more lines of railroad. 
 Congress did not take the time to act upon the matter, and 
 has not to this day. We worked long, diligently', and well, 
 but all to no purpose. And now some members of that body 
 raise objections to Washington as the place to hold the Inter- 
 national Exhibition because of its want of railroad facilities. 
 
9 
 
 Bony us the privilege to expend our own means in buildinf]^ rail- 
 roads, and then denounce us because we have not proper railroad 
 facilities ! " O, consistency, thou art a jewel !" [Great applause.] 
 
 Fellow-Citizens: It is not solely for the nejrlect of Congress in 
 regard to donations of land and appropriations of means for the 
 benefit of the nation's capital of which I complain; it is, among 
 other things, the shameful disregard constantly manifested by 
 that bod}' to our petitions and appeals for relief from the old 
 laws of Maryland, which were inherited in the cession of the 
 District from that State. Our energies are bound down by laws 
 enacted nearly a century ago, and not at all applicable to our 
 present condition or the progress of the times. For instance, 
 let me cite the old usuiy law of Maryland, which is in full force 
 in this District to-day. It enacts that if money is loaned at a 
 greater rate than six per cent, per annum, the lender is liable to 
 forfeit both principal and interest. Money is the sinew of enter- 
 prise as well as of war, and unless it can be legally protected in 
 its use in this District at the usual rates throughout the country, 
 it will not flow in here. 
 
 We have asked again and again of Congress for the liberal- 
 izing of this law, and to give us such statutes as govern their 
 own constituents; but so far our effbrts have been unavailing. 
 Yet the Government of the United States have offered seven and 
 three tenths per cent, per annum interest to induce capital to 
 come to her relief; but if a citizen of this District takes a fraction 
 over six per cent., he is liable to forfeit all. With liberal laws 
 regulating the use of money here, (if any regulation is neces- 
 sary,) capital would seek investment; new enterpi'ises would 
 spring up in our midst; millions of dollai'S now invested by our 
 citizens in Government securities would be unlocked and flow 
 into the numerous channels of industrial enterprise developed 
 by the renewed energies of our people. 
 
 "We have for tlie past ten years prayed to Congress at every 
 session to grant us a general act of incorporation, under which 
 the combination of capital and energy could establish manufac- 
 turing and other productive and useful enterprises in our midst, 
 all tending in their results to the prosperity and welfare of our 
 people, at the same time, in their eftect, promoting the attrac- 
 tions and comforts of the nation's capital, and largely enhancing 
 the value of the Government property" here. 
 
 Wo are not asking Congress to appropriate money to aid us 
 in our enterprises; we onl}' ask them to appropriate t^e brief 
 time necessary to give us liberal legislation, and if they will but 
 
10 
 
 do that much, we will, by our own energi<^, make the nation's 
 capital, in its comforts, conveniences, and magnitude, worthy of 
 being the seat of Government of our wide-spread Eepublic! 
 [Great applause.] 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. 
 
 The numerous constituents of Congress visiting the capital 
 are no doubt shocked at the condition of the broad avenue 
 leading from tbe Capitol to the President's House, and breathe 
 curses deep, and often loud, at the citizens of Washington for not 
 manifesting proper enei'gy and putting it in good order. The 
 anathemas hurled at the people of Washington for the shameful 
 condition of that thoroughfare is not confined to visitors, but I 
 have heard more than one member of Congress express the same 
 denunciatory remarks. While the ignorance of visitors as to 
 who has the entire control over the avenues of this city may ex- 
 cuse their indignation, yet how unjustifiable are such expressions 
 from those who have exclusive jurisdiction in the premises, and 
 are alone accountable for its shameful condition. I have been 
 before Congress with several committees of our citizens asking 
 for the authority to have Pennsylvania avenue paved, but never 
 have been able to get a measure for that purpose through both 
 Houses. 
 
 Let me state an incident right in point, recently related to me, 
 which occurred some three or four years ago. The property- 
 holders of Louisiana avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets, 
 on which fronts the Seaton House, disgusted at the horrid con- 
 dition of the street, and knowing the hopelessness of getting 
 authority from Congress, Avithin the lifetime of human patience, 
 resolved to take the responsibility of putting down a valuable 
 pavement at their own expense, trusting that Congress (which 
 has exclusive control of the avenue) would passively acquiesce; 
 but no sooner had they commenced the jn'oposcd improvement 
 than an officer of the Government prohibited their going on with 
 the work until first acquiring authority from Congress! [Sensa- 
 tion.] 
 
 Messrs. Congressmen and your constituents visiting the na- 
 tional capital, give full vent to your curses and indignation at 
 the condition of the avenues of Washington ! The reason lohy 
 they are so but illustrates the truth of the old saying, that "your 
 curses, like chickens, come home to your roost." [Laughter and 
 cheering.] 
 
11 
 
 WIEO CONTROLS THE AVENUES. 
 
 That the question of Jurisdiction over the avenues of Wash- 
 ington may be frcslienod to the minds of Congress and the 
 country, I submit some extracts from a rejiort made by the Hon. 
 Samuel L. Southard, of New Jei'sey, late Vice President of the 
 United States, to the second session of the Thirt3'-Third Con- 
 gress : 
 
 "The plan of this eitj^ was formed by the public authorities; 
 the dimensions of the streets determined by them, Avithout inter- 
 ference by the inhabitants, or regard to their partieuUir interests 
 or convenience. It is a plan calculated for the magnificent capi- 
 tal of a great nation ; but oppressive, from its ver}^ dimensions 
 and arrangements, to the inhabitants, if its execution to any extent 
 is to be thrown upon them. No people who anticipated the exe- 
 cution and subsequent support of it out of their own funds would 
 ever have dreamed of forming such a plan. It would have been 
 consummate folly. At that period neither the Government nor 
 the proprietors contemplated that the whole, or even a large pro- 
 portion, of the burden should be thrown upon the inhabitants of 
 the city. This assertion is amply sustained by two considera- 
 tions. In the first place, the contract between the Government 
 and the owners of the land gave to the former a large extent of 
 public lots, sufficient for all the edifices and improvements which 
 its convenience could require ; and, in addition thereto, one-half 
 of all the building lots within the city limits; thus making the 
 nation itself an equal owner of all the private property, and 
 equally interested, for the benefit of this private property, in all 
 the improvements which might be made. In the next place, the 
 Government assumed, and, from that day to the present, has 
 claimed and exercised, entire and absolute control over all the 
 streets of the city, so that the inhabitants or the corporate au- 
 thorities have no power either to enh\rge or to diminish them, 
 nor to open or close them ; but the authority in these respects 
 has been exercised at all times by Congress. It has even closed 
 one of the streets and sold the ground which formed a part of it. 
 It has also changed the situation of the streets and canal, retain- 
 ing to itself the lots thereby thrown open, and the Supremo 
 Court has sustained its authority in so doing. It could not have 
 entered into the contemplation of an}' one at the date of the con- 
 tract, nor can it now be regarded as either reasonable or just 
 that the city should bear the expense of the streets, the property 
 and control of which was so absolutely in the Government, and 
 more than one-half of the land adjacent, which belonged to it, 
 must be increased in value by their improvement. 
 
 " The committee are of opinion that the Government was 
 bound by every principle of equal rights and Justice to pay a pro- 
 portion of the expense ineurreil upon this subject, equal to the 
 amount of property which it held, and which was increased' in 
 
12 
 
 value and benefited hy it ; and this would have been greatly- 
 more than one-half. 
 
 " If the streets are its property, and to be regarded as altogether 
 under its control, it is not easy to perceve why it should call 
 upon or permit others to keep that property in order; and if the 
 streets are to be regarded as for the joint convenience of the 
 Government and the inhabitants, the expense of maintaining 
 them should be joint, and in proportion to their respective inte- 
 rests. The early action of the Government and its agents is 
 believed to have been in conformity Avith this principle, but the 
 Government has not heretofore borne anything like its relative 
 proportion. Its expenditures for this object have been compara- 
 tively small, and devoted almost entirely to the avenues and 
 streets which are indispensably necessary for the convenience of 
 Congress and the public otRces. To exhibit the views of those 
 who were intrusted by the nation with control and management 
 of this subject, the committee add to this a report from President 
 Washington to the commissioners, dated 14th December, 1795; 
 a letter" from President Jelferson to the commissioners, dated 
 August 29, 1801 ; and a copy of a message from Mr. Jefferson to 
 Congress, on the 11th of January, 1802. * * * * 
 
 "Congress has expended nothing except upon streets which 
 adjoin the public squai-es, and even upon such has only made 
 some pavements and walks and set out some trees along the 
 squares, leaving the rest of the expense of even those streets to 
 be borne by the city. 
 
 '• While, on the other hand, the city has not only expended its 
 money on the streets where even the population was scattered 
 over an immense area, but especially opened and improved those 
 leading to the national establishments at the navy yard and 
 arsenal, and those leading to and around the public squares and 
 reservations belonging to the nation, and thus, by its own means, 
 enhanced the value of public property. 
 
 "The immense property of the Government which has been 
 thus benefited has been at all time free from taxation, while the 
 property of individuals adjoining it has been subjected to it. In 
 Bcveral of the .States of the Union, where the Government holds 
 landed estate, it had paid taxes upon it, and these taxes have been 
 expended for the ordinary municipal purposes of the places where 
 the property was situated. In the city of Washington the case 
 has been directly the reverse. Holding here more property than 
 anywhere else, it has been subjected to no imposition of this 
 kind. In the acts of incorporation, which gave the city a partial 
 control and regulation over the streets, there is no exemption of 
 the property of the Government from taxation, and it might, 
 perhaps, be properly inferred that Congress did not intend that 
 it should be exempted, but that it should be equally subject to 
 those burdens which became necessary for the common benefit 
 of the whole. But the corporate authorities have, with prudence 
 and propriety, abstained from levying taxes upon it, and have 
 laid the whole weight upon that part of the property which 
 belongs to individuals, while the Government has been equally 
 
13 
 
 participant in the benefits -which liavo resulted from them. The 
 assessments have been reguhirly made upon all, public and private 
 alike, but the taxes have been collected only from the private 
 holders of property. ******* 
 
 "These streets are not only oppressive from their size and extent 
 in their ori<!;inal formation, but they will, from the same causes, 
 continue to be an uncnilim/ foui'cr of expense in their repairs. They 
 must annually cost nearly double the amount of streets of the- 
 same lenujth of moderate dimensions. The Government, which 
 created this condition of things, ought not to be very deaf to the 
 comjilaints of those upon whom such a burden has fallen. * * 
 
 " It has been stated before that the avenues and streets were 
 transferred without any pecuniary compensation therefor being 
 made by the (rovernment. 
 
 •' The reservations of ground for public use consist of seven- 
 teen entire squares, or large sections, in various parts of the 
 city, and contain 541 acres, 1 rood, and 36 perches of land. On 
 some of these the Capitol, President's House, and other public 
 buildings have been erected. The rest of them ai'e either open 
 and unoccupied, or have been devoted to public uses, according 
 to the discretion of Congress on the subject. 
 
 " For ihis large extent of land, equal to all its present and pro- 
 spective wants, the Government paid nominally the sum of §30,399 
 to the proprietors of the soil, but in reality nothing. This sum Avas 
 not paid from the general treasury, nor one cent of it contributed 
 by the people of the United States. 
 
 "The whole of it was taken out of the proceeds of the sales 
 of building lots, which had also been secured by the Government 
 in the contract with landholders. It thus appears that the peo- 
 ple of the United States have paid nothing for all these public 
 lots, nor for the pro]ierty in the streets. They procured them, and 
 now own them, without the expenditure of a single dollar. It is 
 difficult to estimate the present value of the public grounds. 
 
 " In 1836 there had been received from the sale of building lots, which cost 
 
 the Oovernmcnt nothing $711,021 48 
 
 And the value of the public reservation was 1,500,000 00 
 
 $2.211.024 48 
 
 Since that time hundreds of thousands of dollars have been 
 received by the CJeneral Government from the further sales of 
 lots originally donated to it, theproceedsof which have not been 
 applied to the original purpose and contract Avith the citizens of 
 this city. 
 
 Continuing, said report proceeds to state — 
 
 "They regard it (this District) as the child of the Union; as 
 the creation of the Union lor its own pui-poses. The design of 
 the Constitution and its founders was to create a residence for 
 the Government, where they should have absolute and unlimited 
 
14 
 
 control; which should be regulated and governed by them, with- 
 out the interference of partial intei-ests in the States; which 
 should be built up and sustained by their authority and resources; 
 not dependent upon the Avill or resources of any State or local 
 interest. If this had not been the design, it is not easy to com- 
 prehend either the principle which would prevent the Govern- 
 ment from a liberal appropriation of national resources to ac- 
 complish the object, or the policy which would confine the city 
 to the means possessed by the inhabitants for its improvement. 
 
 '•'In accomplishing their object, the Union undertook the guar- 
 dianship of the District, deprived its inhabitants of the right of 
 Belf-government and of the elective franchise, and made them 
 dependent upon the will of the representatives of the States, to 
 whom alone they can look for relief." 
 
 MARKET HOUSE. 
 
 Probably no one prominent object in the city commands so 
 many opprobrious epithets and is so universally conceded a nui- 
 sance, alike by citizens and sojourners, as the group of old sheds 
 fronting five hundred feet along Pennsylvania avenue, and styled 
 the Centre market. Mark Twaih, in one of his lectures, said 
 that, in all his travels around the world, visiting objects of inte- 
 rest in Christian and heathen lands, his national feeling was 
 constantly buoyed \ip by the recollection that at the national 
 capital of his own proud Kepublic there existed a structure whose 
 equal was not to be found on the face of the habitable globe — 
 the Centre market house, on Pennsylvania avenue. [Long-con- 
 tinued laughter and cheers.] 
 
 Fellow-Citizens: In our effort to procure the charter for our 
 proposed International Exhibition we have been met with the 
 statement that our cit}' is not in condition to invite visitors from 
 the Old "World here, special stress being laid upon the condition 
 of Pennsylvania avenue, and its twin relic of Congressional 
 orphanage, the market-house. 
 
 Having shown wherein the responsibility lies, as regards the 
 avenue, indulge me a moment while I pay due respect to the 
 market-house question. 
 
 These old dilapidated sheds are on one of the reservations 
 donated to the General Government, and for years the city has 
 had possession by suffrance, and has continually occupied it for 
 market purposes. 
 
 Four years ago our cit}- authorities proposed to erect an ele- 
 gant structure on the premises, and present a building which 
 would be a credit to Pennsylvania avenue, clean and commodious, 
 for market purposes. Plans were adopted which would require the 
 
15 
 
 expenditure of several hundred thoiisand dollars, and the money 
 was appropriated by our city. After the erection of the found- 
 ation, at an expense of several thousand dollars. Congress sud- 
 denly realized the fiict that the old white-washed landmark and 
 guide-post for meandering representatives was about to disap- 
 pear and a permanent structure erected in its place. Congres- 
 sional wrath was ai'oused — a portion of " eminent domain" was 
 about to be occupied by the citizens of the national capital, with- 
 out first having received permission from the Congress of the 
 United States! The wheels of genei'al legislation were imme- 
 diately stopped, and a matter relating to the District of Colum- 
 bia received the time and attention of Congress. Was it a mat- 
 ter for the welfare of our people that passed so promptly? Let 
 the following letter speak for itself: 
 
 " House op Eepresentatives, 
 
 "Washington, I). C, June 25, 1866. 
 " Hon. J. P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior. 
 
 "Sir: The House Mna7imo?<s?j/ passed a joint resolution this 
 morning authorizing you, among other things, to prevent the 
 erection of any permanent building upon any square or reserva- 
 tion in this city. 
 
 " It was intended to hit the case of the market building now 
 going up on Pennsylvania avenue and Eighth street. 
 " I hope you will give them notice to stop immediately. 
 " Very respectfully, John B. Steele, 
 
 " Chairman District Committee, H. R. 
 
 Fellow-citizens: It is the neglect and indifference on the part 
 of Congress towards our appeals for proper legislation which 
 arouses the just indignation of our people. We ask no aid from 
 the Government, but we demand justice. [Cheers.] I think I 
 have said enough to convince the committee to be appointed to 
 urge the passage of the Exhibition bill that we have some foun- 
 dation on Avhich to base our demand. We ask for no money to 
 aid us in this measure, yet it is an enterprise of the greatest na- 
 tional importance. There is not an artisan in any township of 
 our broad land but who would be benefited by such an exhibi- 
 tion of the industrial arts of the world as our people have taken 
 the first steps to inaugurate. We only ask for the opportunitj'- 
 to invest our money in the enterprise. If our efforts in this 
 matter shall fail by reason of the indifference or purposed neglect 
 on the part of Congress, it will be another striking illustration 
 of the abuse growing out of our political condition — "heavy 
 taxation and no representation." [Loud and continued applause 
 
16 
 
 and cheers.] It seems to me that the incentive which induced 
 the throwing of the tea overboard in Boston harbor was but a 
 tithe in comparison to the inflictions under which the 170,000 
 people of this District sufi'er by the non-action of Congress in 
 regard to such legishition as is needed for the working out of 
 our salvation by our own industry and energies. [Applause.] 
 
 I think that with a united and persistent effort we can procure 
 action in Congress. The representatives of the American people 
 will be just, if we can only command their attention till they 
 hear our case fully. Let them give us liberal legislation suitable 
 to the times and our circumstances ; let them break the shackles 
 which bind our energies by repealing the old Maryland laAvs in 
 force here. 
 
 The remarks made by Hon. Thomas B. Bryan, of Chicago, at 
 our last meeting, wherein he stated that we needed but vim to 
 push Washington forward with Chicago strides of prosperity, 
 is evidence that he is unacquainted with the difficulties we 
 labor under. Chicago has liberal, encouraging legislation. Wash- 
 ington has none. I assert, without fear of successful contradic- 
 tion, that the people of Washington have displayed as much 
 energy in the past five years, when is fully considered the tre- 
 mendous disadvantages under which we labor, as the people of 
 Chicago, and that we have not accomplished more is not for the 
 want of energetic and enterprising citizens, but is owing wholly 
 to the fact that the General Government denies to us the same 
 privileges and rights of liberal legislation Avliich is secured to 
 the citizens of the several States through their several Legisla- 
 tures. [Great applause and excitement.] 
 
 During Mr. Kilbourn's remarks the audience manifested the 
 wildest enthusiasm by constantly interrui)ting him with cheer- 
 ing and applause for the able manner, great power, and eloquence 
 with which he urged that the people of the District of Columbia 
 had long enough borne - taxation without representation," aftd 
 upon retiring he received round upon round of applause; many 
 of the audience, upon the adjournment, going to the stage to 
 congratulate him. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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