Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-19
"oUR COUNTRY Right Wrong Country"

Il
The commissioners TO lay out town on the
Delaware reported their proceedings to Con-
gress; but no further steps were taken to car.
ry the resolution into effect.
When the bonds Of union were drawn clos.
er by the organization Of the new government
under the constitution, on the Sd of March,
1888, the subject was revived and discussed
with greater warmth than before. Il was con-
ceded on oil sides that the residence Of Con.
gress should continue at one place, and the
prospect Of stability in the government invest.
ed the question with deeper interest. Some
members proposed New. York, o. being SUI
perioE to any place they knew for the orderly
and decent behavior Of its Inhabitants" 10
this It was answered that it was not desirable
that the political capital should be in a com.
mercial metropolis. Others ridiculcd at the
| idea Of building palaces in the woods. Mr..
Gerry, Of Massachusetts,, thought It highly un-
reasonable to fix the seat OF government in
such position as to have nine States of the
| thirteen to the nOrthward Of the place; while
the South CarOlinians objected to Philadelphia
on account Of the number of Quakers, who,
they said, continually annoyed the southern
members with schemes Of emancipation.
In the midst of these disputes the House Of
Representatives resolved "that the pcrman-
ent scat Of government ought to be Mt some
convenient place on the banks Of the Susquc-
hanna" On the introduction Of bill to give
ctfact to this resolution much feeling was ex.
hibited, especially by the Southern members
Mr.. Madison thought if the proceeding Of that
day had been foreseen by Virginia, that State
might not have become q party to the con-
stitutiOn. The question was allowed by ev.
cry member to be matter of great impor-
tam Me- E,k,, 49,. a..
and wcll.being Of the United States depended
as much on this as on any question that ever
had or could como before Congress; and Mr..
Fisher Amcs remarked that every principle Of
pride and honor, and even Of patriotism was
engaged For time, any agreement appear.
cd to be impossible; but the good genius Of
our system finally prevailed, and on the 2Sth
Of June, 1890, IN act was passed containing
the following clause:
"That district Of territory the river Potomac, at
some place between the mouths Of the eastern branch
aud the Connogochcague be, and the 10 hereby
United States"
The same Act provided that Congress- shonld
hold it's sessions in Philadelphia until the first
Monday in November, 1900, when the govern.
ment should remove to the district selected on
the Potomac. Thus was settled O question
which had produced much sectional feeling
between the States. But all difficulties were
not yet surmounted; for Congress, either from
indifference or the want Of money. failed to
make adequate appropriations for the erection
Of public buildings, and the commissioners
were often reduced to great straits TO maintain
the progress of the work. Finding il impos-
siblc to borrow money 10 Europe, or obtain It
from Congress, Washington, In December
1906, made personal appeal to the Legisla-
ture Of Maryland, which was responded to by
an advance of $40 900; but in SO deplorabIe
condition was the credit Of the federal gov.
erpmcIrt tnAeIha& State required, as guaran.
tee ef psysn6ntt de pledge fthe private cred.
It Of the nHlsslonsr&.
From the beginning Washipgton had advo-
catod.the present seat Of Government It's es-
tablisbment here was due, in large irfeGsire,
to his influence !. \ was bis wisdom ndpru.
dence that computed disputes and settled con.
fiicting titles; and It was chiefly tlIPough his
personal influence that the funds were provi-
dc@ N prepare the buildings for tho reception
Of the President and Congress.
The wings of tho Capitol having been suffi.
ciently prepared, the government removed to
this District on the Eth Of November, 1900;
or, Gs Mr.. w Olcott expressed,it, loft the com.
forts 6f PhiladClphiA ito go TO the Indian
place with the long name, In the woods Of the
Potomac" i will not pause to describe the
appearance, at that, day Of tho place where
the city was to bo. - Contemporary accounts
represent It as dcsolatc in tho extreme, with
its long, unopened avenues and streets, its
deep Iorasses, and its vast area covered with
trees instead of houses. II is enough to say
that Washington projected tho whole plan up.
on q SCALE Of centuries, and that time enough
pok,a me- IN Antlno 0e hfa
cePtion. -
The Senate continued TO- occupy the north
wing, and the House Of Representatives the
south wing Of tho Capitol, until the Gath Of
August, 1914, when the British army entered
the city and burned the public buiidings.-
This occurred during the rcCese, and the Pres.
ident Immediately convened Congress. Both
Houses met 10 q brick building known as
Blodget's HOTEL which occupied part Of the
square now cOyered by the General Post Of
ticC But the accommodations in that house
being, quite insufficient, . number of public.
spirited citizens erected more commodious
building on Capitol Hill, and rendered It to
Congress ; the offer was accepted, and both
Houses continued to occupy it until the wings
Of the new Capitol were completed. This
building yet stands on the street opposite to
the northeastern corner Of the Capitol square.
and has since been occasionally occupied by
persons employed in different branches Of the
public service.
On the 9th Of December, 1910, the Senate
assembled, for the first time, in this chamber,
which has been the theatre Of their delibela a.
tiOns for moro than thirty-nine years, and now
that the striles and uncertainties of the past
are finished, we see around us on evcrv side
the proofs Of stability and Improvement: this
Capitol is worthy Of the Republic: noble
public buildings meet the view on Cverv hand !:
treasures Of science ext the arts begin to &C.
cumllate, A. this aOOrishing city enlarges,
It test1es 70 the wisdom and forecast that dic.
t&ted the plan Of it. Future generations will
not be disturbed with questions concerning
the centre Of population, or Of territory, since
the steamboat the railroad, and the telegraph
have made 0OmInuHicatien Alm0at instAntane,
ons. The spet Il BAcked by thousand mem.
ories, which, aIys9 Amy pledges that tho city
fof WashinEt0R. t8inded: :6y' Eiim and bearing
hisrevoTod mama, with itS beautiful Site boun-
ded by picturesque eminences, and the broad
Potomac, and lying within view Of his home
and tomb, shall remain for ever the political
Capital ofGhe United States
1t would be interesting to note the gradual
changes which have occurred In the practical
working Of the, government Aimee the adop.
ton Of the Constitution; and It may be an.