Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-27
District of COIumbia-Why Estab-
Iished.

Hon. W. o. Goode, of Virginia, in recent
speech in the Federal House of Representati-
yes, thus recites the history of the establish
ment of the seat of Government at Washing
ton. 1t will be new, perhaps, to some of our
readers:
At the close of the war of the Revolution.
when our arms were triumphant, when the
power or Britain was overthrown, and victo-
ry had perched upon our banners, the army
which achieved this glorious triumph was left
in a state of restitution. The time had come
when that army was to be dsbanded, and the
veteran citizen soldier returned to his long
neglected home. But he was without pay
without a cent of money in his pocket-far
away from his home, all tattered and torn
all wearied and wOrn-he was to be disbanded
and turned loose upon the world, without
even a settlement of accounts. He knew not
what allowance would be made for him by
the country whose enemies he had conquered,
and whose liberty he had achieved. Great
and extensive discomfort prevailed and there
was danger OF a general mutiny. Never was
the address of Gen. Washington put toso severe
trial; but he firmly essayed the task, and his
efforts were crowned with success. The spirit
of patriotism was diffused through the army,
as an emanation from his soul. Order was
restored the army dispersed, the liberties of
America established upon a lasting founda-
ton.
At Lancaster, Pa, there was a canton of
raw recruits, who refused to be appeased, and
who refused to submit TO be disbanded by the
terms which were rendered indispensable by
the actual poverty of government. And
venting their rage and vowing yengence,
they took up the line of march for Philadel-
phia, where the Continental Congress was in
session. When their approach was known at
Adv coll Lodi thn
rate authorities to provide the means of resis-
lance and protection. The corporate authori-
ties referred the question to the State authori-
ties, and, pending the delay which inter
vened the mutineers had reached the city.
The house in which the sessions were held was
surrounded by the enraged soldiery. The
passways were blockaded with fixed bayonets,
and demand was made on the Council. who
assembled in the same house, that the ac-
counts should be settled in twenty minutes;
and this message was accompanied with the
threat that, unless their demands were satisf-
ed, the soldiers would be turned loose. with
arms in their hands, free from allthe restraints
of law.
BY some means, of which | am not dis
tinctly informed, the members effected their
escape: and before they dispersed in confusion
they agreed to reassemble at Princeton, and
for some time their future sessions were held
there. After this notifying outrage and
fragrant insult, Congress resolved that it was
necessary TO establish the seat of government
in locality and under circumstances where
they might exert power aud authority ade-
quate to their own protection; and this deter
mination seems very generally to have set
tied down in the public mind. At an early
stage of the proceedings of the Federal Con-
vention which framed the Constitution of the
United States, resolution was adopted in
structing the committee to insert clause in
surfing an adequate authority in the Federal
Government for all the purposes of self
protection, which resulted in the clause now
found in the Constitution establishing an ex-
elusive jurisdiction within this district.