The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-23
From the Charleston Is. CO. Courier, July 90.
Washington as the Seat of Government

GAS for this last city of wax and wafers-which
the British unfortunately would not keep or bury
in the Potomac-the sooner we change it's name
the better for the memory and fame of the Illus
trious Southerner whose patronym it now prosti-
tutes. New names may be found in abundance
there is Sodom and Gomorrah--and thousand
others may be suggested. |"
MEssRs. EDIToRs: The above extract is from
communication in your paper of yesterday. l
have no purpose to make any remarks on the
general views of the author, but the opinion ex-
pressed respecting the character and reputation of
the city of Washington is at once so unchartable
and so unjust, that ! am constrained to say a
word or two in reference to it. I do not know
whether the writer has had the opportunity of
knowing personally the people whom he con-
dennis, but have had that opportunity. There
is no city of its size in the Union having higher
claims to kindness, hospitality, sound morals and
genuine pety. know no city, not excepting
Charleston, where society is more easy and agree
able, where personal merit is more readily recog-
Missed, where information is more diffused, and
superiority in intellect and learning more highly
appreciated. The absence of a great commerce
preserves it from the vices which commerce en-
genders. The moderate scale of living exempts
it from the competitions in luxury and fashion,
which the great incomes of other cities produce.
Its being the centre of national interests, as the
seat of Government, draws to it continually
every man or woman, foreign or native, of celeb
rity or Importance. Even the much-abused
climate is decidedly better than that of Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, and the
situation is one at once of beauty and magnif-
cence.
| hope that it may continue forever to be the
seat of Government The name is appropriate.
1t is within sight of Mount Vernon. 1t was Sc
ected by Washington 1t was founded by his
hand. This alone gives it peculiar character,
which no other city can possess. 1t will forever
constitute part of the nations gratitude to its
founder, to preserve his city sacred to the pur-
poses for which it was selected and established by
his hand and choice.
The objections to it, on the ground of not being
central, are every day becoming less and less inn
portant. Railroads reduce difficulties arising from
distance to nothing. The permnnency of great
nations capital is of more moment than any
consideration of convenience or distance. doubt
if be mentioned of change in the
capital city of great nation which was not fol-
lowed by evil consequences and did not prove to
be mistake. 1t destroys the prestige of cherish
ed and old associations. The change from Rome
to Constantinople ruined the Roman empire. That
from Moscow to St. Peterburgh was the whim of
a despot and has secured none of the coveted adj
vantages In our case / am inclined to believe
that the change Of the Republics capital would
endanger the stability of the Republic, and prove
to be as mschevous in its consequences it is in
all respects unnecessary. JUSTICE.