Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-10-20
District of Columbia-why Established

District Of Columbia-Why Established
Hon. w. A. Goode, of Virginio in II re-
cent speech in the federal house of repre-
,entatiycs, thus rccites the history oftbo
adjustment OF the seat of government nj
washington. will be new, perhaps, to
some of our readers:
AT the close Of the war of the rcyolu.
non when our arms were triumphant,
when thcpowcrof Britain was oyerthrown.
and victory had perched upon our ban.
nerS, the army which achieved this glor-
Gus triumph was left in state of destitu-
tion The time had come when that ar
my was TO he disbanded and the veteran
cltlzen>soldier return to his loug-neglected
home. But when he was without pay
without cent Of money in his pocket far
away from his home all tattered and
torn-alI wearied and worn-he was to be
dlsbandod and turned loose upon the
world, without even settlement of ac-
counts. lie knew not what allowance
wohd bc made for him bv the country
whose enemies he had conquered, and
whose liberty he had achieved. Great and
extensive discomfort prevailed, and there
was danger OF mutiny. Neverwas
the address OF General Washington put to
Scrcrer trial; but he finally essayed the
task, and ms efforts were crowned with
success. The spirit OF patriotism was diff
fused throughout the army as an emana-
uon OF ms soul. Order was restored the
army dispersed, the liberties of America
established upon a lasting foundation.
At Lancaster, PENNSYLVANIA, there was
canton olaw recruits who refused to be
gIftI l,,, 4
disJanded, by the terms which were rem
dered indispensable by the actual poverty
OF the government. And venting their
rage, and yowing vengeance, they took up
the line otmarch for Philadelphia, where
the Continental Congress was in session.
Their approach was known in PhiadelI
phia. Congress called on the corporate
authorities TO provide the means OF resist
.anrc and protection. The corporate au-
thortlcs referred the question to the State
authorities and, pending the delay which
ntcrycued, the mutineers had reached
the city. The house in ~hich the sessions
were held was surrounGed by the enragcd
soIdcry. The passways were bloCkGded
with fixed bayomets, and a demand was
made on the Council, who assembled in
the same house, that the accounts should
be settled in twenty minutes and this
message Was accompanied with the threat
that unless their demands were satisfied,
the soldiers would bc turned loose, with
arms in their hands free from all the re-
straints OF the law.
by some means, Of which am no: dis
tinctly informed, the members effected
their escape, and before they dispersed
in confusion theyagreed to re.assemble at
Princeton, and for some time their future
sessions were held there After this morti-
Tying outrage and fragrant insult, Congress
resolved that it was necessary TO establish
the seat Of government in locality and
under such circumstances where they
might exert n power and authority ade.
quGtr to their own protection; and this
determination seems very generally to
have settled down in the public mind
At am early stage of the proceedings OF
the Federal Convention which framed the
constitution Of the United States, reso-
luton was adopted instucting the COM
mittee to insert a clause insuring an ede-
quatc authority in the federal govern
ment for allthe purposes Of elfprotection,
which resulted in the clause now found in
the constitution establishing an exclusive
jurisdiction within this district