The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-15
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HWlIAT VIRGINIA
WANTS

report lately made to the Senate by the
Committee on Claims upon the petition of the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company. in
Virginia, discloscs some curious facts.
The object of the petition is to induce Con.
gress to pay to the Railroad Company one hun
dred and twenty thousand dollars. being the
sum which Virginia in 1889 agreed to pay to
the General Government, in consideration of
the establishment of the Seat OF Government
on the banks OF the Potomac. Virginia does
not present this claim for repayment directly.
She has assigned her claim-and the Gardiner
or Galphin claim was not moro baseless-to
the Railroad Company, in whose behalf it is
urged upon Congress.
The report Of the committee goes fully into
the history Of the establishment of the Seat OF
Government 1t appears that its location on
the Potomac was the first of those compromise.
between Slavery and Capital which have 81
marked our history
The representatives of money capital, chief,
from the North, under the lead of Alexande,
Hamilton, were extremely anxious in 1889 t,
induce Congress to assume and fund the Stat,
debts. This was resisted strenuously by the
representatives of the slave capital. At thai
time and on that occasion the representative,
of money threatened secession and dissolution
The representatives Of slavery heard thos,
threats unmoyed and, aided by the Northern
opponents Of money capital, rejected the a..
sumption bill
Hamilton under these circumstances, APP.
pealed to Southern gentlemen to save the as.
sumption BILL and thus save the Union
They took the appeal very coolly. 1t was
SAID upon conference that some mutual conces-
SlonS could he suggested "a the basis of a COM
promise which lcould sare The Un,on The con-
ference took place. Congress had previously
determined to establish the permanent Seat of
Government in Pennsylvania. A bill with this
object had passed both Houses, but had failed
IN consequence Of disagreement as to some
matters Of detail at n late period of the session
The slave States had contended earnestly for a
location on the Potomac, and were greatly dis
contented with the prospect that it would be
liked in free State. They foresaw, and later
experience has abundantIy demonstrated what
vast advantages the slave interest would derive
from the possession of the Seat of Government
Under these circumstances it was not diff
cult to find basis for IL compromise. Free.
State representatives were found To vote for
fixing the Seat Of Government on the Potomac
ana slave'StaIe representatives to vote for the
assumption of the State debts In conformity
with this arrangement hill fixing the Seat o.
Government on the Potomac was matured il
the Senate, passed that body, and received the
sanction OF the House The bill for the as
sumption of State debts was revived in the
House, and finally became a law.
Virginia and Maryland had each agreed to
contribute, Virginia one hundred and twenty
and Maryland sevcnty-two thousand dollars
towards erecting the public buildings, provided
Congress should establish the Seat of Govern
ment ON the Potomac in either State. or so n,
to include parts of both.
ms was no extraordinary hbcralty. New
lork and Pennsylvania had furnished accom-.
modatons for the Government. gratuitouslv
while Its seat WAS within their limits Rail-.
more offered to dctray the entire cxrensc Of tho
necessary buildings should that city Lc sc,oct.
ed. The bill proposing to establish the Seat q,
Government in Pennsylvania, which came 80
near to become law, had required ~ n CON.
dition precedent the payment for the same pur.
pose OF one hundred thousand dollars NV IN,
State or It's citizens
The Seat of Government was established O,
the Potomac Maryland and Virginia witt
some delays. paid the stipulated money, With
in few years past, Virginia has regained, b.
the cess.on of the United States all the TEL
ritory she cedcl and now she comes, throug
Railroad Company, aud asks back the none
thus contributed
II is n remarkable illustration OF chiyalry
The facts which attended the establishment o
the national capital in the midst Of SLAYER,
furnish an illustration equally remarkable 0