The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.

} ingly as the Capital OF the Federal Govern
, ment Ii is at the heart of the future seat OF
the political power of the Confederacy. The
vast population of the American Valley will
one day control the destines of this country.
st. Louis is accessible from all parts Of the
Union. in winter as well as in summer. Rail
roads are now in process of construction to con-
meet her more intimately with the North,
Northeast, and the East"
The seat of Government, we presume, will
never be removed Steam and the Telegraph
have obyiated the objection to Washington
as not being central enough. 1t is as near to-
day. for purposes of travel to st. Louis, as it
was to Boston twenty-five years ago; and for
purposes of intelligence, ten times nearer
While sufficiently near to all parts of our coun-
try. its position on the seaboard secures it rapid
communication with Europe-and it will scarce
| ly be pretended that our foreign relations are
50 insignificant az to make this matter of no
Importance,
Besides, it will be impossible we think, ever
to combine interests enough to effect its re-
moval The Atlantic States, North and South,
will act together against removal, while the
Mississippi States, however much they may de-
sire to have the Capital beyond the mountains,
cannot agree upon the location. The South
western States would not consent that it should
be in free State; the Northwestern, that it
should be in a slave State.
Slavery. it is true, exists in Washington, but
its influence is constantly on the wane. Free
dom of speech and of the press is fully recog-
Missed here, and Anti.Slavery sentiment is as
openly avowed as in any city of the Union
Should the Anti-Savery sentiment of the coun-
try ever become strong enough for the removal
of the Capital, such removal would be unne-
cessary, for freedom by that time would be es-
tablished as one of our domestic institutions.
The necessities of the public service now
accommodated by the many edifces, in which
the Government has invested vast sums of mon
ey, will always constitute with practical men
a conclusive reason against removal. Why
should they sink the millions of the Peoples
money already laid out upon such buildings,
and expend as many millions more, in laying
the foundation of a new Capitol, when the old
one answers all present purposes, and may east
| ly be made to answer all future ones?
To our Anti-Slavery friends at the North, we
show better way There is good land in the
District, easily cultivated. The climate is pleas
ant and salubrious. The market is good, and
constantly increasing You can farm with
free labor, and so little serve labor is there in
the field, you will be in no danger of losing
caste. Your influence and example would tend
to speedy extinction of slavery. Try this: il
will pay better than agitatng the impractca-
BILE project of removal Of the seat of Govern
ment.
The Burlington (Vt) Courier keeps the flag
of Hale and Julian flying at its masthead. The
National Era is the only Free Soil paper which
throws cold water on the proposition to nomi-
nate Hale by reclamation, and enter mt once
on the campaign of 1856.
Wisconsin Free Democrat.
We presume the Free Democrat overlooked
the following paragraph, in the Era of the 9Th
ultim0:
awe cannot see any reason for a National
Convention. The Free Democracy has its plat.
form, put up only fer months ago, and nobodg
proposes 10 amend IT, IL has ats candidates, too
# Il please TO regard Hale and Julian an The
field The papers that favor them can go to
work just AZ well as if National Convention
were to meet tomorrow. As for opening the
campaign, that can be done without such
Convention. The Free Democratic press seem,
to be agreed that the organization should b,
! kept up, and the work prosecuted. What NOR,
is wanting! Now for the Principles Aims
and Reasons, of the Anti-Slavery movement
Let the people have light, And, in the way
of practical action, the thing TO be attended t.
is, State organisation SO it seems to u.s."
The Free Democrat, we fear, is little in
clined to find fault needlessly 1t says tina
Washington advice came near swapping tn,
Free Democracy at the last canvass" If th
remark be pointed ut the Era all We have Il
say is that Mr. Hale and the Era concurreC
entirely in their views of policy fsom the be
ginning to the end of the canvass.
The Free Democrat is kind enough to be
: lieve, that we will always be found on the sid
of Freedom, in the exercise of our own dscre
ton" Quite likely-and the same may be pre-
dicted of the Free Democrat
There seems to be- in some quarters an un
necessary jealousy Of Washington influence
What is meant by this There is no Contra
Committee here, organized with view to con
: troll or bias the movements of the Free Democ
racy. As to ourselves, we do not recollect tina
. We have written more than two or three politi
: cal letters for the six years we have been il
r Washington nor have We, during that time
0 attended u single political Convention, or an
: swered single letter of invitation to he pres
: ent at any kind of Convention.
0 As to the Free Democratic members of Con
s gress, what are they sent here for! To erer
! influence. to influence the course Of Legislation
s and public sentiment, and to exert healthfu
influence on their own organization, rs well a
to represent its principles, Is it their influence
Q We are to be jealous Of! Will you set to worl
to defeat the very end for which you send then
! here
Shall We make suggestion to our frien'
r of the Free Democrat Suppose hereafter, we
s who are working for one object agree to b
, very tolerant to allow to each other freedom
: Of thought and expression and not make dif
ference Of counsel ground for censorious com
ment, Would it not promote good fellowship