The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02

to agtste the question of changing the seat Of gov
ernment IL might not. be proper to do 80 at the
present time, bat the general reasons urged by the
senator from South Carolina would give IL eter-
nifty Of locailpsat this point and il 10 that idea
that he (Mr. Al objected. The senator had
alluded to the example Of other nations OF
the wohd-to those ancient monarchies whsre
the location of the capital was a matter de-
pendent upon the caprice Of the court. and not
the convenience Of the people Was it to
supposed for a moment that such examples were
proper for the imitation OF this eonfederaeyi No.
lie thought that the United States should on that
very ground adopt different policy. The location
OF the OF government near the seaboard In the
vicinity Of the commercial cities gave TO those cities
preponderating influence In the counses of the
Congress Of the United States 1--WE hundred fold to
one over the influence exerted by a corresponding
number of people situated in the vast interior.
They had no committees from the banks of the
Missouri, the Mississippi, or even Of the Ohio, "lob-
6ying" IN those halls TO regulate tariff duties. No.
They had no companies OF individuals in those
western regions, and delegated to the Capitol with
the view OF obtaining laws TO meet the wishes Of
individual and sectional interests, instead Of the
wants and wishes Of the great mass Of the nation
The whole tendency Of the government since It's
foundation had been to place itself exclusively un-
der the control Of the commercial interest and this
ZION OF the seat ofgoyernment the great inhuen
tial commercial cities the seaboard. He might
present many illustrations OF this fact. Before the
teegraphic communication was established, when a
bill was introduced into Congress, Wall street had
notice oslt, If necessary, in kfteen hours, and in
fifteen hours more the cars brought delegation
from Wall street TO regulate the details of the bill
Thus had their tariffs been formed-thus had the
commercial interests oyerruled all others from their
proximity TO the Capitol. The great mass Of the
people-four.h fhs Of them-liyed on the SOIL and
obtained from 1t subsistence II was in their centre
that the seat OF government should be located.
These were his opinions and he stated them not as
having any immediate bearing on the bill before the
House, but in opposition to the views expressed by
the senator from South Carolina, whose remarks
were always entitled To high consideration and
red with them great weight
Mr.. CALHOUN again rose and stated that IL
happened, that at the Memphis cow ention-a body
Of six hundred members, possesse d Of
great intelligence, and representing almost exclusive
ly the interests Of those who lived upon the soil y
resolution was offered recommending change Of the
seat OF the general government most exIaordi-
nary sensation was produced, and when the reso-
luton was submitted, there was one loud-toned
overwhelming, mo" opposed TO the solitary voice Of
the mover
Mr. ALLEN. Where was that
MIR. CALHOUN. At the Memphis conSen-
ton.
Mr. ALLEN. All That proves nothing. The
only difficulty has been the choice Of another SITE
and the contestng claims have been numerous,
that the change has not been, ere this, seriously
mooted.
Mr.. WESTCoIT was in favor of the bill, be-
cause il relieved the people Of Alexandria from a
CALLING acknowledgements of which he knew some
thing by experience.
Mr. ARCHER advocated the bill in long and
able speech.
Mr. HAYWOOD opposed the bill, and in an ell
oquent manner contended for the sacred immunity Of
the constitution, and the wise arrangements Of the
sages Of the revolution. He also argued the con-
situtonal question at considerable length, and with
ability.
Mr. PENNYBACKER replied.
Mr.. BREESE regarded the bill as unconstitu-
tional.
The bill was then reported to the Senate; and
the yeas and nays being called for on the question Of
orderiIg It To be engrossed for third reading, they
were ordered, and being taken, resulted as fol-
lows:
YEAs-Mesrs. Allen, Archer Ashley, Atehson Atherton
ton John NJ. Clayton, Corwin Crtenden Davis Day.
ton, Fairfield. Greene Hannegan, Jarnagn, Johnson Of
Maryland johnson OF Louisiana Lewis Morehead, Penny
hacker Rusk SEWER simmons Turney Westcoti and Yu
NAYs-Messrs Breese, Bright, Dickinson, Dix Evans,
Haywood. Houston, Huntington, Mangum. Miller, Niles,
Phelps. semple, and sturgeon-A
So the bill was ordered to third reading.
Mr.. ARCHER asked that the bill be put upon its
third reading noto.
No objection being offered, the bill was read
third time, and passed
The title Of the bill as passed is follows--viz;
An act to retrocede the county Of Alexandria in the
District of Columbia, to the State Of Virginia"
On motion, it was
Resolved That when the Senate adourns IT be to Mon
lay next-the 4th Of July intervening
On motion Of Mr.. HAYWOOD, the Senate then
proceeded TO the consideration Of executive BUSINESS
md, after some time spent therein, the doors were
gain opened, and
The Senate adjourned.