An early (1789) act of the first U.S. Congress provided for the creation of a permanent seat of government on the Potomac River, and there “prior to the first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight hundred, provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress, and of the President, and for the public offices of the government of the United States.”
The District of Columbia was established on land ceded by Maryland and Virginia. The Virginia land included Alexandria with its thriving river port and commercial center. Administration of affairs in Alexandria changed little until the federal government took residence in December 1800.
Soon a bill was advanced in Congress to create a government for the new federal district. Alexandria citizens responded by electing a committee to represent their interests. The members were Buckland founder John Love, Francis Peyton, Abraham Faw, Archibald M’CLean and Walter Jones Jr. For John Love, a lawyer and prominent landowner, selection to the committee marked the beginning of a successful 20-year political career in which he would serve as the first chairman of the District of Columbia Committee of the House of Representatives.
The Alexandria committee presented a memorial to Congress that argued: “That it is unjust and inexpedient, for Congress to assume an exclusive jurisdiction over the District, until the people are assured of a Representative in that body.” Further, “That the bill … is in express contradiction to some of their most important rights.” *
Frequently down through the years, bills have been introduced and failed that would give District of Columbia citizens voting representation in Congress.
For Alexandria citizens, who had advocated so strongly in their memorials to Congress, the issue was resolved in the Retrocession Act of July 9, 1846, which returned Alexandria County to Virginia.
*Library of Congress, The National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser, February 6, 1801, page 3 https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045242/1801-02-06/ed-1