, 1854-12-23

who is equal to the task of solving the
enigma and rendering to the people of the
territory Of Washington u satisfactory So
luton
In my rude way will give you all the
answer, that after much thought, | have
been able to decipher.
1t is zeal to advance the public inter
est which certain gentlemen no doubt hon
estly en,ertan-fanned by local feeling to
its zenith, and provoked to varnish fame
by the opportunities of au ever-prcsent if
IistleSs constituency.
. But sir, if there be truth in rumor there
are those who ascrbe this extraordinary
haste to very different cause Who with
a knowing wink assure you that there is
no use in discussing the merits Of the bill,
that the thing is bird-the die is cast,
and the question OF location a foregone
matter. Farther still, that not the capitol
only but all the public buildings are alrea-
dy located and have been for the last ten
days. Who Nainly boast of their wonder
GUS power, arrogate to themselves al innu-
ence over members Of this house, endcavorI
to prove its existence by our journals, and
insultngly assure you that it is all right,
because master mind will always assert its
supremacy over minor matters
Who, looking to the location of the cap
lto IN this place as the certain realization
of their golden dreams, and conscious of
their mighty power wave the wand. Yes,
the magic wand of power over their will
ling panders, assert the boosted suprema-
cy with which they claim to be invested
and the thing is fixed.
But sir, / do not believe tin my mind,
in truth, they are mistaken. turn with
scoFn, and Indignantly disavow the truth
Of the degrading vaunt. | entertain too
high an opinion of the honor Of the men,
bers Of this body to do otherwise than re-
pei, and that hastily, the disgraceful insinu-
alton.
But sir, it may be proper and ask the
indulgence of this house, briefly to alude
to some of the most cogent circumstances
cited by these astrologers as strictly cor
roborative Of the fact that they are to re-
alize their dreams, and that their predic-
tions will and must prove true.
But, | promised to be brief, and brief
I'll be. They refer simply to the history
OF this bill. Now let us examine the his
tory of the bill and see with what show of
reason their deductions are drawn.
Upon the first appearance Of this bill in
this house, in view of its Importance, upon
motion of Mr. Stiles it was made the order
of the day for the lst Monday of January
next, in order that gentlemen might invest
igate the subject-iniorm themselves wheth-
er the ten acres Of land mentioned in the
bill were a swamp, bed of mud, an un-
even and heavily timbered piece Of ground,
or what it is composed Of. Whether or no
it will exhaust the appropriation made by
Congress in preparing it for the first cor
ner stone of the building, without leaving
farlhing for its erection.
Whether the point is really the most ell.
igible one spoken of for the location of the
seat Of government, and il so, wherefore |?
When this bill first made its appearance in
this house majority of its members
thought they ought carefully to consider
these points. A high minded minority
think so still
The day following, the vote to postpone
till the LIST Monday of January was recon-
sidered, the bill taken from the table, rules
suspended, ordered to its second reading,
aud an attempt made to engross and pass
it to its third. And indeed the history OF
this bill does present novel paragraph in
the proceedings of legislative body.
Now sir, the question is shall we give to
the tongue Of scandal by defeating this mo-
tion, better opportunity still, to Vilify aud
calumnate the action of this house?
Shall we give to an important question
the consideration it demands or shall we
pass it blind
l for one shall support the motion to re-
fer and hope it may prevail.