The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-21

<T0W t~s 1seeo x0Sk O0SerreT.
History or the Federal Seat or Govsynment
tits becoming SO common for every person
who travels at all to visit the city of Washing
ton, that the following analysis Of paper read
some time since before the New York Historical
Society, by Mr.. Jos. b. Varnum, jr, ON the
History Of the Federal Seat of Government, .
and which appears in a report Of their proceed
ings, will be read with interest
Before the establishment Of the District of Co
lumbia, Congress occasionally met, according to
the exigencies OF the case, or the convenience OF
members. at Philadelphia Baltimore, Lancaster,
Yorktown, Princeton, Annapolis, Trenton, and
New York. The different States in the mean time,
coveted the honor of the national city. New York
offered the town OF Kingston; Rhode Island, New
port; Maryland, Annapolis; and Virginia, Vii
liamsburg.
On the 2lst October, 1873. Congress, insulted at
Philadelphia by band of mutineers whom the
State authorities were unable to quell, adjourned
to PRINCETON, to the halls Of the college; circum-
stance which doubtless led to the agitation of the
question Of permanent seat Of Government, which
was taken up at this time and continued to be dis
oussed till the formation Of the Constitution.
solution OF Mr. Gerry, 7th October, 1888, was
adopted, that district be chosen on the banks Of
the Delaware the Potomac, Georgetown,
which underwent various notifications, Zone of
which was that both sites be selected,) till it was
repealed in the following year. On the 3Oth Octo-
Der, 1854, the subject again taken up at Tren-
ton, and commissioners appointed with powers to
lay out district on the Delaware, within eight
miles above or below the FALLS make the necessary
purchases, erect public buildings reserve exclusive
jurisdiction. &c. The question to place re-
vived in Congress in l739'90, with the view OF Sc
curing a central position. site the Susque-
hanna was talked of, and finally the present Dis
triet determined on, which was commonly referred
to az Conogocheague, the name of the stream be-
tween which and the Eastern branch the act pro-
vided that the site should be selected
The friends Of the new site numbered the names
OF Washington, Madison, Lee, and Carroll, and
their choice governed by these considerations
l. 1t was not desirable that the political capital
should be in a commercial metropolis. 1t was
necessary for the independence of the Government,
and its proper security, that its Jurisdiction should
be exclusive, and that it's officers should not be
der the influence of the ctizens hence the elective
franchise was to be given up, which no large city
would yield. Party feeling, which then ran high,
was to be avoided the natural influence Of wealth
the spot was feared, and the examples of London
and Westminster, in the importance of their six
members in Parliament, was quoted. Experience
had shown the danger to be apprehended from the
mob, in times of stagnation in business political
excitement. The expenditures in commercial
city, with the direct influence it's wealthy men
might exercise over the Government, would give it
an undue advantage over other cities, and make it
an object Of jealousy; while its varied intercsts
would call for much more local Legislation than
Congress could attend to without neglect to the
public business. 1t desirable that the simpli-
Of living should not be contrasted with the luxury
of great city, or be compelled to submit to its
costlier charges.
2. As this would be the only city under the ex-
elusive control of the nation one should be laid out
expressly with view to all possible future wants
Of the Government, which could not SO we'll be an
tcipatcd in city already built.
3. With respect to tho position, while central
point was certainly desirable, it ought to be remem
bered that there is no common centre. The centre
of population il variable and to establish the capt.
tai on that basis for this generation, might place it
In very announcement position for the next. The
same remark might be made here with regard to
territory; for, with the rapid increase of States,
the scat OF Government would have to be removed
every fifty years to keep it in central position.
Mr. Madison then said that, elf it were possible
to promulgate our laws by some instantaneous
operation, Il would be Of less consequence where
the Government might be placed"-a contingency
which now seems to be supplied by the ''magic
wires" of Morse, which communicates intelligence
mot merely with the swftness Of lightning but
"by lightning itself.''
The centre of a seacoast line, with easy commu-
nicaton with the western country, was considered
the most worthy of regard, being more conveniently
pie, than an equal array ofinland country. Being
moro liable to invasion on that quarter, Govern
ment should be near to protect it.
It 10 the interest of the back country to have gov
eminent near the sea, to inspect and encourage
commerce. by which their abundant produce will
find an export. The growth Of the western terri
tory was anticipated at that day, and depicted in
glowing colors In the spccc - OF some Of the men,
that when the central line between the northera
and southern cxtrcmities was fixed, no person in
the western territory had ever wished any thing
farther than that Congress should establish their
seat as far back this line az convenience o f
maritime commerce would allow. This centre of
a seacoast line falls between the rivera Potomac
and Susquehanna. The place between the Poto-
mac and the Eastern Branch would admit OF a
Il ~ -
tected from sudden attack. The Potomac, by
means Of Mill creek and other streams, could, by
lock and canal navigation, be connected to the
Ohio river, a project which the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal was designed to accomplish.) These
advantages would give healthy trade to the then
hourishing towns OF Georgetown and Alexandria,
which would operate to the advantage Of the Fcde-
raj city, without the inconvenience referred to as
attendant upon seAports.
Such were some considerations which led to the
passage in 100. by vote Of thirty-two to twenty
nine, Of the act to establish the permanent sea of
Government of the United States. The decision
of the funding of the public debt, which was then
contemplated. Il was thought, "as the seat of Co
vernment would concentrate the public paper, the
South would be benefited by having it in their
midst, rather than at the North, where was the
capital;' and, consequently, the southern members
united on the subject, and succeeded by constant
exertions in efiecting compromise with suffi-
Gent number of the opposition TO carry the vote.
Atsontion was CaHco Dy ur. VarnuIn 10 the TACT
that, by mathematical computation of Dr. Pat
terson, Of the United States mint, the predictions
of Mr.. Madison this occasion, relative to the
progress Of the centre of population have been sim
gulary verified BY this table it appears that the
average progress westward has been thirty four
miles every ten years. In 1910 the centre of popu
lation was near Harrison county. Virginia; and if
we consider the progress as being at the rate of
fifty miles every ten years, it will take one hun
dred years to carry it five hundred miles, or as far
MS Nashville, Tennessee
In relation to the site selected letter of encra
Washington to Mr.. Jefferson describes the terms
upon which he had succeeded in securing cession
from the proprietors of the land. These were that
the proprietors gave the Government all the prop
erty required for streets and avenues for lots taken
for public purposes they were to be paid at the
rate Of E25 per acre.
The first cornerstone in the District of Column
bia was laid at Joness Point, near Alexandria
18th April, 1871, with the imposing Masonic cere-
monies Of the time, and quaint address by Rev.
James Muir By the retrocession of Alexandria
the stone is no longer within the limits of the Dis
trict.
more beautiful site for city could hardly be
obtained. From a point where the Potomac nj a