American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-03-26
WASHINGTON AND ITS pRosPECTs.

magnihcence and extent, the great Capitals OF
Europe, or even the less pretending commercial
emporiums of this continent. twill be our object
at present to show the absurdity of this vulgar
error, founded in narrow view of the subject;
and we will briefly advert to such circumstances
as point to very different destiny for the
American Capital
Those who jump at the conclusion that Wash
ington can never become wealthy and populous,
have only had in view the fact that its CONNER
cial advantages are inferior to those of neigh
boring cities and without rejecting that some
of the greatest capitals of ancient and modern
times have even been less favored than Wash
lngton In this particular. Rome-which, accord
ing to the most moderate computations of his
torians, contained in its palmiest days more
than million of inhabitants, and, according to
others, many millions-is situated on stream
not to be compared to the Potomac for size or
for convenience as channel of commerce. In
fact, the Tiber is barely navigable by the
smallest class of vessels, such as supply our
city with wood. 1t owed all its magnificence
to the single circumstance of its being the
Capital
In like manner Paris, which is incomparably
the finest city in the world, and one of the
largest, is situated on river which will not
admit OF steamboat navigation. 1t has, for
centuries, been the residence of the Kings or
the Government of France and that is the only
advantage it has over any other spot in the
country. The wealth Of the country has been
concentrated around the Court and has drawn
after 1t whatever Of art or ingenuity the pro-
vinces afford
The capitals of Russia, of Austria, and of
Prussia, are none of them commercial cities
st. Petersburg was planted in morass, and is
forty miles distant from its port, Cronstadt, if
we remember correctly. 1t, of course, owes all
its Importance, like Rome and Paris, to the fact
of its being the seat of Government.
Many of the capital cities of Asia are in the
interior, and have none of the commercial adj
vantages which are supposed to be requisite to
the growth of great city.
The affinity of wealth and power must always
bring them together, in Republic like ours,
no less than in a monarchy. The concentration
OF wealth at the Capital has not yet taken place
In this country, for the reason that we have
comparatively few citizens yet, in this country
whose ample fortunes enable them to retire
from business; or, if they have accumulated
sufficient estates, the profits Of trade and bust
ness are SO much greater here than in other
countries, that the spirit of gain is still the pre-
dominant feeling, and they prefer to accumulate
more, rather than to enjoy what they have
The population of the United States is at
present sparsely scattered over an immense ter
ritory, but every quarter of a century doubles
the number of inhabitants, and increases the
wealth of the people and the facilities for trav-
cling in still greater proportion. In proper
ton as this wealth and these facilities are in
creased, viii the number of yisiters to the seat
of Government be augmented and this con-
slant influx of strangers will of itself be of no
small consequence to the place, to say nothing
of the annually increasing disbursements of the
Government
The progress of Washington has been slow,
hitherto, from several causes, which are every
year lessening in force. When the seat of
Government was located at this place, the coun-
try was poor and thinly peopled; the facilities
for travelling, even in the Atlantic States, were
not superior to those now enjoyed by the people
on the frontiers of Missouri or Arkansas and
the immediate vicinity of the place was one of
the most worn and exhausted spots to be found
in Maryland or Virginia. There was nothing
here, for many years after the foundation of the
place, to attract the wealthy classes from other
sections; and in point of fact until within the
last fifteen years, there was no great amount
of wealth in any part of the Union. But cir
cumstances have greatly changed within few
years in each of these particulars, and the
progress of Washington begins to reflect back
the general prosperity of the country. At no
period has the city given more unmistakable
signs of progress than at present; and, from
present indications, there is reason to antci-
pate greater amount of building during the
current year than has ever been witnessed be-
fore in one season
We throw out these suggestions, which adj
dress themselves to the common sense of every
one, in order to awaken in our fellow-citizens q
proper appreciation Of their own advantages
All that is now requisite to make Washington q
metropolis Of which the whole American people
would be proud, is the energy and enterprise
for which some portions Of our country are SO
distinguished. Among the stimuants to enter
prise should be the reflection that, in proportion
as our city becomes what its founder contem.
plated, great and magnificent Capital, the
chief seat Of the Arts and Literature Of the
country, in that degree will it be endeared to
the hearts Of the American people-and dan.
ger Of the removal of the seat of Government
would cease to awaken the apprehensions Of
even the most timid.
LYNCH LAW.
"a negro in Paulding, Miss, having com