Give Washington, DC back to Maryland?

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun says that Washington, DC should be given representation in Congress. I disagree it should be given independent representation.

The District of Columbia is the nations capital and in 1791 when its location was decided it was also decided it would be independent of the states. Originally the District of Columbia was set up at a 10 mile by 10 mile section of land along the Potomac carved out of both Virginia and Maryland. Washington County, DC was located on the Maryland portion, and Arlington County, DC was located on the Virginia portion.

The people that choose to live in the District of Columbia know they give up certain rights by choosing to live in a Federal District instead of a state. Everybody currently living in the District live there by choice, so they are willing giving up those rights.

The founding fathers did not want any state to hold the capital of the nation. I still believe that is a good idea. If the citizens of the District of Columbia want representation in Congress, then I believe the choice is simple. On July 9, 1846 Arlington County, DC was returned to the state of Virginia from which is was carved. The people in Arlington were then represented in Congress as part of the state of Virginia.

The same could be done now to give the people of Washington, DC representation in Congress. Simply return the Washington County portion of the District back to Maryland. They would then have representation in Congress without creating new Senate and House seats.