Show The District of Columbia The tract of land known as the I District of Columbia which is co co- coextensive coI coextensive coextensive I extensive in area with the city of Washington was acquired by the federal government in 1789 from Maryland Maryl nd in pursuance of Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution which provides Congress shall have power to exercise exclusive legisla legisla- legislation legislation legislation tion in all cases whatsoever over such district not exceeding 10 miles square as many by cession of par par- particular particular particular states and the acceptance of congress become the seat of gov gov- government government government of the United States Maryland in 1788 and Virginia in 1789 passed acts together to cede 10 miles square for the seat of gov jov- government gov- gov government of the United Unit States d- d But Butin Butin Butin in 1846 the tract of land south of the Potomac ceded by Virginia was upon petition of the inhabitants re re- receded receded re- re receded ceded by congress to the parent state |