The Feliciana Democrat., 1859-02-05

Senator | have been charged by the committee to
whom you conidcl the arrangements of this day with
the duty of expressing of the reflections that
nj aiurally occur in taking final leave of chamber
which has SO long been occupied by the Senate. In
the progress OF our country aud the growth the rep
rcsennton. this room has become too contracted for
the representatives of the State existing and
to exist and accordingly. you abou, to exchange
| il for hall alording accommodations adequate to
the present and the future The nccason suggests
many interesting "reminiscences and it may be agree
able in the first place to occupy 4 few minutes with
n short accent Of the various places at which Con
gres has assembled, Of the struggles which preceded
the permanent location of the seat of government and
of the circumstances under which IT was finally estab
/ lishcd on the banks Of the Potomac.
The Congress Of the Revolution was sometimes
fugitive holding its sessions. the chances Of
required. at Philadelphia. Baltimore Lancaster. An.
napolis and York.--Durng this period between the
conclusion of peace and the commencement Of the
present government, il met at Princeton Annapolis.
| Trenton and Now York
After the idea Of permanent Union had been ex
ccntcd in part by the adoption oflhe Articles Of Con
federation, the question presented itself Of fixing
seat OF government, and this Immediately called forth
intense interest and rivalry
| That the place should be central, having regard TO
the population and territory Of the Confnderacy.
the only point common to the conicnding parties
Propositions Of all kinds offered. debated and
rejected sometimes with Incorporate warmth. At
length on the 7th Of October 1888, the Congress be-
ing at Princeton whittier they had been driven from
IPhadclphia by the insults Of body Of aimed men
/ III was resolved that buildng for the Of Con-
grcss he erected the falls OF the Delaware. This
was after modified by requiring suitable build
ings to be also erected the falls of the Potomac
that the residence ofCongrcss might alternate between
those two places. But the question was not allowed
to rest aud at length after frequent and warm de-
bates. resolved that the residence of Congress
should continue az place; aud commissioners were
appointed with full power to lay ont district for 4
town the fall Of The Delaware Aud. III the mean
time, Congress assembled alternately at Trenton and
Annapolis but the representatives, of other States
were unremttng in cNcrlon for their respective ia
lcalitics.
On the 23l of December. 1854 II was resolved to
remove 70 the city O NeW York and 10 remain there
until the building on the Delaware should be C0mplet.
ed and. accordingly on the llth Of January l7S5.
the Congress met a New York. where they continued
10 hold their session until the Confederation gave
place TO the Constitution.
The commissioners 10 lay ont federal town on the
Delaware reported their proceedings TO Congress
but 10 nrher steps were taken TO carry the rcsoln
tion into effect
When The bonds Of union were drawn closer by the
organization of hr new government under the Con
siiutiOn the 81 Of March. 1850. the snh hact NA-
revived and discussed with g-eater warmth than be-
fore it was conceded on all sides that the residence
of Congress should continue al one place, and The
prospect Of stability in the government invested The
l9nrsiiun with deeper interest.
Some members proposed New York being d" su
peror to any place they knew for the orderly and de
cent hrhavon of its inhabitants" To this il was an
swcrcd that it was not desirable that The political cap
iial shoulG be in commercial metropolis. Other,
lr1icncd the idea Of building palaces in the woods
Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, thought It highly unrea
sonabe TO fix the seat Of government in such posi-
ton as to have nine States the thirteen 10 the north
ward of the place; while the South Carolinians oh
jecied 10 Philadelphia accnTnt of the number o
! Quakcrs, who they said. continually ANNOYED thu
Southern members with schemes Of emancipation.
In the midst of these disputes the House Of Repre-
sentativcs resolved: That the permanent seat o
government ought 10 he mt some convenient place
the banks Of the Susqnehanna." ON The Introduction
of bill to give effect to this resolution much ieclinI
! was exhibited, especially by the Southern members
Mr. Madison ihongh If tho proceedings Of that da,
had been foresecn by Virginia. that State might no
have become party TO the ConSt tuition. The gues
ton was allowed by every member to be matter o
great Importance. MIR. Scott said the future Tranquil
iiy and wcll-heing Of the United States depended n
much on this as on any question thai over had o
could come before Congress. And Mr.. Fisher Anne
remarked that every principle Of pride aad honor
and even Of patriotism. wcrn engaged. For TIM
any agreement appeared TO be impossible; but h
good genius of our system finally prevailed. ana OF
the 18th Of July. 1890 an act was passed contaning
the following clause:
THAT a district Of Territory moi exceeding tel
miles sqnafe t. be located hereafter directed ol
the river Polomnc, at some place between the mouil
of the Eastern Branch and Cynogochcaguc, be, AM
Inc same ls htfeDy accepted, Tor me permanent sea
OF the government Of the United States
. The same act provided that Congress should ho
its sessions at Philadelphia until the first Monday Il
November, 1900, when the government should remos
- to the district selected the Potomac. Thus wa
settled question which had produced mnch sectlona
feeling between the States. But all difficulties wer
not yet suimountcd; for Congress. either from ind
ference or want Of money, failed to make adcqnat
appropriation for the erection Of public buildlng
= aRd the commissioners were often reduced to grea
straits to maintain the prngress of the work. Find
ing it impossible to borrow money in Europe, or
obtain ii from Congress, Washington, in December
o 1896, made personal appeal to the Legislature
Maryland, which was responded to by an advance
e 100000 bat in so deplorable a condition was I'll
credit of the federal government. that the State II
= quired as n guaranty OF payment The pledge OF til
private credit Of the commissioners. H
O. From the beginning Washington had advocated IL
"a present seat OF gOvcrnment-its establishment hc
was due, in large to his influence thai Il
funds were provided to prepare the buildings for Il
= reception of the President and Congress.
The Wings Of the Capitol having been sufficient
n prepared the government removed to this District
The l7th of November, 1900 Or. rs Mr.. Wocolt c
pressed il, left the comforts Of Philad phia to go
g. the Indian place with the long name in the woods G
IS, the Potomac will not pause 10 describe the NJ
pearalcc at that day of the place whore the city WI
n, TO be. Cotemporary accounts represent II as des
Date in the extreme, with It's longunopencd avenue