Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-07
Address of Vice President Breckinridge,

committee 10 whom You cOnnVcl TIE arrdhSc-
ments of this day, with the duty Of expressing
some IF the reflections that naturally occur
in taking final leave of Il Chamber which has
so long been occupied hv the Senate. In the
progress of our country and the growth Of the
representation. this room has become too con-
tracted for the representatives OF the States
now existing and soon TO exist; and accord,
ingly you are about to exchange it for hall
at1ording accommodations adequate to the
present and the future. The occasion sug-
gests many interesting "reminiscences: and II
may be agreeable, in the first place, tooccupy a
few minutes with short account of the va
rious places at which Congress has assembled,
of the struggles which preceded the perma,
nent location of the seat of government, and
of the circumstances under which It was final
" established on the banks of the Potomac
The Congress Of the Revolution was some
times IL fugitive, holding its sessions, as the
chances OF war required, ut Philadelphia
Baltimore, Lancaster, Annapolis, and York
town. During the period between the con-
clusion of peace and the commencement OF
the present government, it met at Princeton,
Annapolis, Trenton, and New York.
After the idea of permanent Union had
been executed in part by the adoption OF the
Articles of Confederation the question pre-
sented itself of fixing a set 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
confcdcracy. was the only point common to
the eontending parties, Propositions Of all
kinds were offered, debated, and rejected,
sometimes with Incorporate warmth. AT
length, on the eth of October, 1888, the Con
gress being ut Princeton, whittier they had
been driven from Philadelphia by the insults
of body of armed men, it was resolved that
building for the Use of Congress be 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 residence Of Congress
might alternate between those places. But
the question was not allowed to rest, and ut
length, after frequent and warm debates. 1t
was resolved that the residence of Congress
should continue at one place: and commits
soners were appointed. with full power to
Law out Il district for IL 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 unremitting i'll eXcrtlons Tor
their respective localities.
On the 23d of December, 1884, it was re-
solved to move to the city of New York, and
to remain there until the building on the Del
aware should be completed: and accordingly
on the | lth of january, llSj, 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 town on
the Delaware reported their proceedings to
Congress: 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 govern
mcnt, under the constitution, on the Sd of
March 1889, the subject was revived and dis
cusscd with greater warmth than before. 1t
was conceded on all sides that the residence at
Congress should continue AT one place. and
the prospect of stability in the government
invested the question with II deeper interest.
Some members proposed New York. IL be-
ing superior 10 any place they knew Tor the
orderly and decent behavior OF Its nhahi-
tants." 10 this it was answered that it was
not desirable that the political capital should
be in Il commercial metropolis. Others ridi-
culed the idea of building palaces in the
woods. Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts, thought
it highly unreasonable 10 fix the seat of gov
eminent in such Il position rs to have nine
States Of the thirteen to the nortlwarI OF the
place: while the South Carolinians objected
to Philadelphia on account of the number ri
Quakers. who they said. continually annoyed
the southern members with schemes of eman-
cipation.
In the midst of these disputes. the ll"uS" of
Representatives resolved that the permanent
seat of government ought to be at some con-
venicnt place on the banks of the Susquchan
na" On the introduction Of a bill to give eff
feet to this resolution much feeling WAS eX-
hibitcd. especially by the southern members.
Mr. Madison thought if the proceeding Of
that day had been forcscen bv Virginia, that
State might not have become Il party To the
constitution. The question was allowed by
every member to be Il matter of great impor-
lance. Mr. Scott said the future tranquility
and wel-being Of the United State, depended
~ much on this rs on any question that ever
had or could come before Congress: and Mr..
Fisher AmeS remarked that every principle
of pride and honor, and even of patriotism,
was engaged. Fora time, any agreement APP
poared IA be impossible: but the good genius
of our system finally prevailed, and on tn"
2Sth of June, 100. an act was passed contain
ing the following clause:
That Il district of territory on the river Poto-
mae, at some place between the mouths of the
eastern branch and the Connogochcaguc. he. and
the same il hereby, accepted, for the permanent
seat of the government of the United States
The same act provided that Congross should
hold its sessions at Philadelphia until tho first
Monday in November, lsOU. when the govern
mcnt should remove to the district selected on
the Potomac. Thus was settled u question
which had produced much sectional feeling
between the States. But all difficulties were
not vet surmuuntcd; for Congress. either
from Indifference or the want of money, failed
to make adequate appropriations Cor the cree
tion of public buildings. and tho commission
crs were often reduced to great straits 10
maintain the progress Of the work. Finding
it impossible to borrow money in Europe, or
to obtain it from Congress, Washington. in
December, 1896, made a personal appeal to
the legislature of Maryland, which was re-
sponded to by an advance of 500. 900: but in
50 deplorable condition was the credit Of
the federal government that the Stats re-
quired. as Il guarantee of payment, tine
pledge of the private credit of the commits
sioncrS.
From the BEGINNING. Washington had advo-