Article I, Section 8, Clause 17

Ten miles square! Babylon itself, unless the suburbs are taken into view, was not of greater extent.

The satirical paragraph exclaims "Ten miles square!", the words of the clause on the district for the seat of government, the only provision with that phrase; the paragraph attaches it to the house of representatives as part of the satire.

To exerciſe excluſive legiſlation in all caſes whatſoever, over ſuch diſtrict (not exceeding ten miles ſquare) as may, by ceſſion of particular States, and the acceptance of Congreſs, become the ſeat of the government of the United States, and to exerciſe like authority over all places purchaſed by the conſent of the Legiſlature of the State in which the ſame ſhall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arſenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings.

The paragraph prints Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution as signed; the quoted words are the same as the clause's (apart from capitals and the long s), though the pamphlet's punctuation differs in places.

So great is the jealouſy of ſome of our citizens, that even this clauſe has excited their fears. This little ſpot is to be the centre to which is to be attracted all the wealth and power of this extenſive continent: The focus which will abſorb the laſt remains of American liberty.

The paragraph answers the fears excited by "this clause" about the seat of government, the district clause printed above it (Article I, Section 8, Clause 17).

THE Congreſs is to govern, as they ſhall ſee fit, a diſtrict not more than ten miles ſquare.

The paragraph says Congress is to govern a district not more than ten miles square, as Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 provides.

But ſtill there are fears for the diſtrict which may become the ſeat of Congreſs, and which may be ten miles ſquare.

The paragraph speaks of fears for "the district which may become the seat of Congress, and which may be ten miles square," the district of Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

With reſpect, likewiſe, to the particular diſtrict of ten miles, which is to be the ſeat of government, it will undoubtedly be proper to obſerve this ſalutary precaution, as there the legiſlative power will be veſted in the preſident, ſenate, and houſe of repreſentatives of the United…

The paragraph names "the particular district of ten miles, which is to be the seat of government," in which "the legislative power will be vested in the president, senate, and house of representatives"; only the district clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 17) provides for such a district.

The ten miles square, which is to become the seat of government, will of course be the place of residence for the president and the great officers of state; the same observations of a great man will apply to the court…

The paragraph names "the ten miles square, which is to become the seat of government", the district described in Article I, Section 8, clause 17.

They wiſh to ſee government eſtabliſhed, and peaceably holding the reins with honour, energy, and dignity; but they wiſh for no federal city, whoſe "cloud cap'd towers" may ſcreen the ſtate culprit from the hand of juſtice; while its excluſive juriſdiction may protect the riot of armies encamped within its limits.

The paragraph objects to a "federal city" with "exclusive jurisdiction," which describes the district over which Congress is given exclusive legislation in Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

…invasions ; to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, for the governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, and for the erection of forts, magazines, etc.

The paragraph cites "the ist art., 8th sec, 15th, i6th and 17th clauses" and echoes the seventeenth's words on "the erection of forts, magazines".

SMITH moved for the following amendment to clause 17, of sec. 8, art. 1:—

The passage introduces an amendment "to clause 17, of sec. 8, art. 1"; the reference is by number, and the link is only to the clause it names.

He objects to giving the government exclusive legislation; in a district not exceeding ten miles square, although the previous consent and cession of the state within which it may be, is required.

Spaight answers an objection to "exclusive legislation in a district not exceeding ten miles square" with the state's consent and cession.

The exclusive power of legislation over the ten miles square is introduced by many gentlemen.

The speaker refers to "The exclusive power of legislation over the ten miles square".

Adverting to the clause investing Congress with the power of exclusive legislation in a district not exceeding ten miles square, he said he had before expressed his doubts that this district would be the favorite of the generality, and that it would be possible for them to give exclusive…

The speaker refers to "the clause investing Congress with the power of exclusive legislation in a district not exceeding ten miles square".

…could prescribe the terms on which Congress should hold it, no danger could arise, as no state would consent to injure itself: there was the same security with respect to the places purchased for the erection of forts, magazines, &c.; and as to the territory of the United States, the power of Congress only extended to make needful rules and regulations concerning it, without prejudicing the claim of…

The paragraph reports an argument about "the places purchased for the erection of forts, magazines, &c.", words found in Article I, Section 8, seventeenth clause.

GEORGE MASON thought that there were few clauses in the Constitution so dangerous as that which gave Congress exclusive power of legislation within ten miles square.

Mr. Mason is reported as saying there were few clauses so dangerous as "that which gave Congress exclusive power of legislation within ten miles square".

He begged the gentleman to read the clauses which gave the power of exclusive legislation, and he might see that nothing could be done without the consent of the states.

The paragraph reports a request to read "the clauses which gave the power of exclusive legislation".

The clause before you gives a power of direct taxation, unbounded and unlimited, exclusive power of legislation, in all cases whatsoever, for ten miles square, and over all places purchased for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, &c.

The speaker speaks of "the clause before you" giving "exclusive power of legislation, in all cases whatsoever, for ten miles square, and over all places purchased for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards"; the last words are found in Article I, Section 8, seventeenth clause.

Clause 17. at the end, add these words, "Provided that the Congress shall not have authority to make any law to prevent the laws of the States respectively in which such district or places may be, from…

Following "Art. 1. sect. 8." two paragraphs earlier, the proposal names "Clause 17" as the place for its addition.

…of coin or securities of the United States; the express power to define and punish piracies and felonies committed upon the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; exclusive legislative power within this District: express powers to govern all Territories; but where is the express power to define and punish crimes committed in any State by its official officers in violation of the…

The paragraph, part of a quotation from Mr. Bingham's speech of 1866, names among the express powers of Congress "exclusive legislative power within this District"; only Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 fits.

…before, from the present agitation about home rule in the District, because there you run into a constitutional prohibition _the which has not only constitutional but also historic reasons why the Congress should exercise, as the Constitution requires, exclusive legislation over the Disthis trict of Columbia.

The paragraph names the requirement of the Constitution that Congress exercise exclusive legislation over the District, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

It is important to remember that the power of Congress to exercise exclusive legislation over the District under article I , section 8, clause 17, of the Constitution will not be affected.

The paragraph cites article I, section 8, clause 17 of the Constitution by number.

…have been able to make, I do not believe that was an oversight because it seems to have been contemplated that this territory known as the seat of the Government, not to exceed, as the Constitution says, an area 10 miles square would be sort of a no-man's land, and that no one could interfere with its administration other than the elected Representatives of the people who serve in the Congress of…

The paragraph names what the Constitution says of the seat of government, a district not exceeding ten miles square, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

Out of these came the present provision, clause 17 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution.

The paragraph cites clause 17 of section 8 of article I of the Constitution by number.

Congress is and under the Constitution must remain the supreme legislative power of the District of Columbia.

The paragraph names the provision of the Constitution making Congress the legislature of the District, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

Section 8, clause 17 of article I of the U.S. Constitution provides as follows:

The paragraph cites Section 8, clause 17 of article I by number and introduces its text, quoted in the paragraph after next.

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever , over such district (not exceeding 10 miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts , magazines, arsen a ls , dockyards, and other needful buildings.

The paragraph quotes Article I, Section 8, Clause 17, introduced two paragraphs before.

The Constitution provides the Congress shall have exclusive legislative jurisdiction over the District Columbia.

The paragraph names the provision of the Constitution giving Congress exclusive legislation over the seat of government, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

The amendment which the Senator from New York has submitted, on behalf of himself, the Senator from Maryland, and myself, does · not change the constitutional provision which leaves within the Congress exclusive legislative authority over the District of Columbia, but it gives the District of Columbia citizens an opportunity to have representation in the Congress, which has this exclusive legislative jurisdiction.

The paragraph names the constitutional provision leaving to Congress exclusive legislative authority over the District, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

Also I knew that every home rule bill which had been presented in the previous 10 years had included a provision to recognize the basic constitutional provision that Congress is given the exclusive legislative jurisdiction for the District of Columbia.

The paragraph names the constitutional provision giving Congress exclusive legislation over the District, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

The Constitution of the United States provides quite clearly that Congress will provide laws to regulate the conduct of business in the District of Columbia.

The paragraph names the power of Congress under the Constitution to legislate for the District of Columbia, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.

So they wrote the constitutional provision for the establishment of a seat of national government with no police power interposed between Congress and the peop l e, so that the police power at the seat of government would be the police power of the Federal…

The paragraph names the constitutional provision for the seat of government under the legislation of Congress, which is Article I, Section 8, Clause 17.