The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-01


80 - ~ .ooy0venqod toy,
months SINCE by mr.. u5nnUny, }us an ia,,ae,sna-
en-, ,,a,;.a, ~. ala...S.s 49, -
orally healthful in its tone liberal, without any
kind of relation to the Slavery Question. 1t
seemed to think it possible to get along
without offering a sacrifice TO Slavery. In fact,
it was neutral, as to the "vexed question of
the day But it has become like the rest,
and now lives, moves, breathes, and has its
being, in Slavery General Duff Green, we
learn, occupies the editorial chair, and his great
effort seems to be to unite Shareholders, State
Rights and Compromise men, so that their
unity may secure them the ascendency in the
next Presidential canvass.
Is it at all likely that the Slave Power, en-
trenched as it is in this citadel bulwarked by
the Government and the Press, should ever
dream of a dissolution of the Union rs neces-
sary to its safety?
One aspect of this matter suggests painful
reflection
A member from the North Or West pledged
to free constituency, comes to Washington,
! fully resolved to maintain his independence.
! He finds himself at once confronted with hos
! tile influences, Of whose power he had before
no conception. He is alone among unsympa-
thizing strangers He is bewildered with tao
ties of which he knows nothing He finds the
organization of Congress settled, by powers I'M
SCENTS committees arranged, so as to place
the whole course of business under the control
of Southern politicians He is embarrassed by
a complex code of rules, which seem designed
to fetter, not facilitate freedom of action. In
dependence of position closes up at once the
avenues of Executive favor, and if he is bolC
enough To be true to his constituents, he mus
encounter the icy contempt, or sneering carica
ture, or virulent denunciation of the entir,
Daily Press. The very atmosphere weighs
upon his manhood like lead, and before he il
aware, he finds himself sorely tempted to forge
his constituents and his pledges
In selecting the seat of the Federal Govern
mcnt, Southern politicians manifested then
characteristic insight into human nature They
knew the strength of local institutions and so
cial influences Identified with peculiar sys
TEN, exceptional to the general Theory of oul
Institutions, they felt the vast Importance Of
having the Government dOmiciled in spo
where this exceptional system, was the Law
and they were willing TO make almost any
sacrifice to attain their object. For the fact,
we are about to state on this subject we are
indebted to the second series of Hildreth's His
tory of the United States.
The question in regard to a permanent seat
of Government was first raised in consequence
of the mutiny that drove the Continental Con
grcss from Philadelphia to New York Subse
quently, it was agitated repeatedly, but SO del
icate were the interests involved in it, that the
Convention that framed the Federal Constitu
ton did not venture TO settle it, In fact, il
was a question of power, between the South
and the North 1t came up during the frs
Congress under the Constitution. The Eastern
States were in favor of New York Pennsyl
| Il
South decided on the Potomac The New
England members, doubtful of the result, de
sired postponement; Pennsylvania and the
South, apprehending that the continuance O
the Government at New York might strengthen
its claim, opposed delay. The question being
up, the Northern members came TO an under
standing with the Pcnnsylyanians by which il
was agreed that the seat of Government
should be fixed at some place on the Susque
hanna, continuing at New York meanwhile
till the necessary buildings could be erected
The remark of Mr. Madison, that had thi
days proceedings been ioreseen Virginia would
never have ratified the Constitution, shows how
much the South took this result to heart-hov
vital to its interests it was that the Govern
ment should be seated within its territory A
bill in accordance with the understanding men
toned passed the House, but was returned
from the Senate, with an amendment, still
more dstasteiul to Shareholders substituting
for the site ON the Potomac a district of ten
miles adjoining Philadelphia and including
Germantown. The House agreed to the amend
ment, providing that the laws of Pennsylvania
should continue in force in said district till
otherwise ordered by Congress This made il
necessary for the bill to go back TO the Senate
where, owing, it is supposed, to the increasing
dissatisfaction of the Southern members it was
postponed till the next session
At the next Congress the question agar
came up. BY combination between Pennsyl
yania and the South, resolution passed tn,
House for holding the next Congress at phila
delphia, IL the Southern politicians could sue
coed IN eiicctng even this change, it woulc
! pave the way tor carrying out their ultimate
5 ues'gn The Senate rejected the resolution
Another question of great importance was agi
tat'ng Congress--the proposition to assume tn,
debts OF the States Massachusetts and the New
England States generally, and New York, wer
strenuous for this policy Virginia and tn
Southern States generally were as strenuou
against it, As in a similar case of conflict il
the Federal Convention, member from Penn