American telegraph., 1851-05-26

the natural influence of wealth on the spot was
feared, and examples Of London and Westmn-
ster, 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 or political ex-
element. The expenditures in a commercial
city, with the direct influence its wealthy men
might exercise over the Government, would
give 1T undue advantage over other cities, and
make 1T an object of jealousy; while its varied
interests would call for much more local legisla-
ton than Congress could attend to without neg-
lect to the public business. 1t was desirable
that the simplicity of the members of Govern
ment in their style Of living should not be con-
trasted with the luxury of a great city, or be
compelled to submit to its costier charges
2. AS this would be the only city under the
exclusive control of the nation, one should be
laid out expressly with view to all possible
future wants Of the Government, which could
not SO well be anticipated in a city already built
3. With respect to the position, while a CEN
tral point was certainly desirable it ought to
be remembered that there was no common cen
tire. The centre Of population is variable, and
to establish the capital on that basis, for this
generation, might place it in very inconye-
nient position for the next The same remark
might be made here with regard to territory;
for, with the rapid increase Of. States the seat
OF Government would have to be removed every
fifty years to keep it in a central position.
Mr.. Madison then said that, ''if it were pos
sible to promnlgate our laws by some instan-
taneous operation, it would be of less conse-
quence where the Government might be placed
"a contingency which now seems to be sup
piled by the magic wires" of Morse, which
communicates intelligence "not merely with
the swiftness of lightning" but "by Lightning
itself"j r.s .1
The centre of the seacoast line, with easy
communication with the western country, was
considered the most worthy Of regard, being
more conveniently accessible, possessed of more
wealth, and more people, than an equal array
Of inland country. Being more liable to inya-
sion on that quarter, Government should be near
to protect it.
1t is the interest Of the back country to have
government near the sea, to inspect and encou-
rage commerce, by which their abundant pro-
duce will find an export. The growth of the
western territory was anticipated at that day.
and depicted in glowing colors in the speeches
of some of the members which Mr.. Varnum
quoted. 1t was alleged that, when the central
line between the northern and southern extrem-
tiles was fixed, no person in the western terri
tory had ever wished any thing further than
that Congress should establish their seat as far
back on this line as convenience, of maritime
commerce would allow. This centre of a sea-
coast line falls between the rivers Potomac and
Susquehanna. The place between the Potomac
and the Eastern Branch would admit of navy
yard, and was yet so far inland as to be pro-
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, Ia project which the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal was designed to accomplish
These advantages would give healthy trade
to the then iourishing towns of Georgetown
and Alexandria, which would operate TO the
advantage of the Federal city, without the in
convenences referred to as attendant upon sea-
ports. a;
Such were some considerations which led to
the passage, in 1890, by vote of thirty-two to
twenty-nine, of the act to establish the perma-
nent seat of Government of the United States.
The decision was FASTENED by another impress
sion growing out of the funding Of the public
debt, which was then contemplated. 1t was
thought, a.as the seat of Government 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 uni
ted on the subject, and succeeded by constant
exertions in effecting compromise with a suffi-
cient number of the opposition to carry the vote.
Attention was called by Mr.. Varnum to the
fact, that by n mathematical computation of Dr.
Patterson, of the United States Mint the pre-
dictions of Mr. Madison on this occasion. rea-
tive to the progress of the centre of population.
have been singularly verified BY this table it
appears that the average progress westward has
been thirty-four miles every ten years. In
l840 the centre of population was near Harri-
son county, Virginia and if we consider the
progress as being at the rate of fifty miles every
ton will faE Ea
carry it FIVE hundred miles, or as far as Nash
vile, Tennessee.
In relation to the site selected, a letter of
General Washington to Mr. Jefferson describes
the terms upon which he had succeeded in Sc
curing cession from the proprietors of the
land. These were, that the proprietors gave
the Government all the property 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 Co
lumbia was laid at Jones's Point, near Alexan-
dria, on 10th April, 1871, with the imposing
Masonic ceremonies of the time, and quaint
address by Rev. James Muir. BY the retroces-
sion of Alexandria the stone is no longer within
the limits Of the District.
A more beautiful site for n city could hardly
be obtained. From point where the Potomac
at distance of two hundred and ninety y-fve
miles from the ocean, and flowing from north
west to southeast, expands to the width Of
mile, extended back an almost level plain,
hemmed in by a series of gradually sloping
hills, terminating with the heights of George.
town; the plain being nearly three miles in
length, from east to west, and varying from a
quarter Of mile to two miles in breadth
bounded on the east by the eastern branch Of
the Potomac, where are now the navy yard
and congressional cemetery, and on the west
by Rock creek, which separates it from George
town. The small stream from the north,
over which the railroad bridge now passes on
entering the city, emptied into n bay or inlet
of the Potomac about four hundred feet wide
which iutted in from the west 10 within
anil nnnrlN a