Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-11
ADDRESS.

the U. S. Senate just before they vacated their
old hall, in order to take possession of the new
; Senate-chamber:
senators:-I have been charged by the COM
mittee to whom you confided the arrangements
of this day, with the duty Of expressing some
of the reflections that naturally occur in taking
final leave of a Chamber which has so long
been occupied by the Senate. In the progress
of our country and the growth Of the represen-
tation, this room has become too contracted for
the representatives Of the States now existing
and soon to exist; and accordingly you are
about to exchange it for a Hall affording ac-
co%mmodations adequate to the present and the
future. The occasion suggests many interest
! ing "reminiscences; and it may be agreeable, IN
the first place, to occupy a few minutes with
a short account of the various places at which
Congress has assembled, of the struggles which
preceded the permanent location Of the seat OF
! Government, and of the circumstances under
which it was finally established on the banks
Of the Potomac.
The Congress of the Revolution was some
times a fugitive, holding its sessions, as the
chances of war required, at Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Lancaster, Annapolis and Yorktown
During the period between the conclusion OF
peace and the commencement Of the present
Government, it met at Princeton, Annapolis,
Trenton and New York.
After the idea of 4 permanent Union had
been executed in part by the adoption OF the
Articles of Confederation, the question present
I'd itself Of fixing 4 seat of Government, and
this Immediately called forth intense interest
and rivalry.
That the place should be central, having re-
gard to the population and territory OF the
Coniederacy, was the only point common to the
contending parties. Propositions OF all kinds
were offered, debated and rejected, sometimes
with incorporate warmth. At length, on the
7th of October. 1888, the Congress being at
Princeton, whittier they had been driven from
Philadelphia by the insults Of a body of armed
men, it was resolved that q building for the use
| of Congress hc erected near the falls of the
| Delaware. This was soon after modified by
| requiring suitable buildings to be also erected
near the falls of the Potomac, that the resi-
dence of Congress might alternate between
those places. But the question was not allowed
to rest, and at length, after frequent and warm
debates. it was resolved that the residence OF
Congress should continue at one place; and
commissioners were appointed, with full power
to Law out 4 district for q Federal town near the
falls Of the Delaware; and in the mean time
Congress assembled alternately at Trenton and
Annapolis; but the representatives Of other
States were unremittins in cxertions for their
respective Localities.
On the 23d of December, 1854, it was re-
solved to remove to the city of New York, and
to remain there until the building on the Della
ware should be completed; and, accordingly,
on the 1lth Of January, 1855, the Congress
met at New York, where they continued to
hold their sessions until the Confederation gave
place to the Constitution.
The Commissioners to lay out a town on the
Delaware reported their proceedings to Con-
gress; but no further steps were taken to carry
the resolution into effect.
When the bonds Of union were drawn closer
by the organization Of the new Government un-
der the Constitution, on the Sd of March, l1S9,
the subject was revived and discussed with
greater warmth than before. 1t was conceded
on all sides that the residence of Congress
should continue ut one place, and the prospect
of stability in the Government invested the
question with 4 deeper interest, Some mem
hers proposed New York, as being superior
to any place they knew for the orderly and de-
cent behavior ofits inhabitants Tothis it was
answered that it was not desirable that the polit-
lCul CIIllll SuOUlu NC III Il INN Sh' AhSSNIo
lis. Others ridiculedthc idea Of building palaces
in the woods. Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts,,
thought it highly unreasonable to fix the seat
of Government in such a 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 eman-
%cipation.
In the midst of these disputes, the House of
seat Of Government ought to be at some convc-
nicnt place on the banks of the Susquehanna."
On the introduction Of u bill to give effect to
this resolution, much feeling was exhibited,
especially by the southern members. Mr.. Mad
ison thought if the proceeding Of that day had
been ~loreseen by Virginia, that State might
not have become 4 party to the Constitution
The question was allowed by every member to
be n matter of great importance. Mr.. Scott
said the future tranquility and wcll-bcing of
the United States depended as much on this as
on any question that ever had, or could, come
before Congress; and Mr.. Fisher Ames remark
ed that every principle of pride and honor and
even of patriotism were engaged. For a time,
any agreement appeared to be impossible but
the good genius Of our system finally prevail
ed, and on the 2Sth Of June, 1890, an act was
passed containing the following clause:
"Tha; u district oil territory on the river Potomac,
branch and the Connoeocheague, be. and the same
i. hereby. accepted, for the permanent seat Of the
Government Of the United States"
The same act provided that Congress should
hold its sessions at Philadelphia until the first
Monday in November. 1900, whom the Govern.
ment should remove to the district selected on
the Potomac. Thus was settled Il question
which had produced much sectional feeling be-
tween the States. But all difficulties were not
vet surmounted; for Congress, either from indif-
ference. or the want of money, failed to make
adequate appropriations for the erection Of pub
lie buildings, and the commissioners were often
reduced to great straits to maintain the pro-
gress of the work. Finding it impossible to
borrow money in Europe, or to obtain it from
Congress, Washington, in December, 1896, made
apersonal appeal to the Legislature of Maryland,
which was responded to by an advance Of
800, 900; but in so deplorable a condition was
the credit of the Federal Government that the
State required, as a guarantee Of payment, the
pledge Of the private credit Of the commits
%sioners.
From the beginning Washington had advo-
Gated the present seat Of Government. Its
establishment here was due, in a large measure,
to his influence; it was his wisdom and prudence
that computed disputes and settled conflicting
titles; and it was chiefly through his personal
influence that the funds were provided to pre-
pare the buildings for the reception of the
President and Congress.
The wings of the Capital having been suf.
fciently prepared, the Government removed to
this District on the 18th of November. 1900
or as Mr.. Wolcott expressed it, left the COM
forts of Philadelphia ITO go to the Indian place
with the long name, in the woods on the Poto-
mac viii not pause to describe the appear
ance, at that day, Of the place where the city
was to be. Contemporary accounts represent it
a.. dacola4a In thn artro,no With its long nnn.