The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-10-11
WASHINGTON CITY.

WASHINGTON CITY.
| From the Boston Advertiser
The census discloses the fact that the
population of Washington has increased
in the last ten years from 1000 to 6l,.
400. The proportion of the slave popu-
lation Of the city continues to decrease,
the number of slaves now amounting to
only 1914 and as the city takes its place
among free cities, its prosperity aud
growth have new stimulus, and its
share in the general advance becomes
more important and striking. 1t now
has rank among cities of the fourth and
almost of the third class, and deserves to
be named among those, which for mere
size, are counted among our leading
places.
But after all what is a city of sixty
thousand inhabitants, as the capital Of a
a nation of thirty and odd millions -
Washington could be added or substract-
ed from London, Paris or St. Petersburg,
and its presence or absence never notc-
ed suburb Of Berlin or Vienna, would
swallow up the whole population at our
seat of government, and even Madrid or,
in our own hemisphere, Rio de Janciro
take rank far before it As far as con-
Germs what is usually understood by a
national capital, we have none. The city
where our government has its public off
ces exercises no apprcciabe influence on
the opinion of the country; the moment
that Congress adjourns, Washington falls
in Importance to the rank of city of
10000 inhabitants, and it is only for
what may be learned as to the movements
of government Offices that the country
turns to it at all for news Cities of half
ITS size maintain local rress of far more
interest and independent strength, while
Washington, the nominal metropolis of
these provincial towns, boasts of only
two or three firmly established journals,
which, possessing ability and interest
in certain peculiar departments, might
as we'll be published in Baltimore or
Philadelphia as in Washington, so far as
any Independent character of their own
as local press is concerned.
Our government has no doubt done
much for Washington. 1t has in fact
created the city; it had adorned it with
some fine structures, in the imposing
magnitude of which we can really feel
national pride. The capitol is BEGINNING
to assume proportions, such as one might
% thf GantGpl of oenonn1fssdsrata
might have. 1t is disf cured, it is true,
with gawdy ornament such as is an Of
fence to good taste and to every practised
eye, but still the intention is manifest
the government has poured out its money
with hand, liberal enough to have Sc
cured for US what should be model for
future ages; the return has been an ex-
ample of uncultvated profusion, but still
there is a return and one too which is
sufficiently striking. The government
has done its part And yet what is all
that has been done at Washington, in
comparison with what has been done in
the same period for London? And in
turn the Eoglish leading journal says,
what is all that has been done in Lon
don, in comparison with what the pres
ent Emperor has done fer Paris. The
Louvre completed, the Palais de Justice,
the church of ST. Clotilde, public build.
ings, barracks, hospitals, churches, asy-
lums, theatres and other buildings, with
out namber, spacious avenues carried
through the most dense part of the city,
new squares, 1850 houses demolished
and 5000 built in eight years, what is
all that we do or can do, in comparison
with such work Of architectural crea-
tion and revolution as this and what is
Washington to be named in comparison
with the new city, which is rising on
the foundations Of the Paris of the first
Emperor or even Louis Phillippe?
1t is with no feeling of complaint OF
| regret that we survey the contrast which
seems to deny us the right of claimire
the possession of any national capital in
the true sense of the word. A great city,
powerful from its mere mass, and adding
to this the strength Of political influence
, literary culture. and social distinction
; and the centre of intelligence and infu
ence, might, in a country like this be ,
: possession, to be enjoyed only at deal
. rate. The mob at Washington has al
! ready made itself tho cause of uneasine
| at times, and ruin TO our institution.
o would stare us blankly in the face, if tn,
| if the seat of government could obtail
, that influence over our national council.
which European capitals possess. w
e have cast in our lot with system of in
n stitutions which discountcnances all cen
E tralization, aud which recognizes the ne
$ cessity Of an exact balance between thu
!. different members Of the republic; an,
J. We must be content to purchase thi
8 equilibrium at the expense of some of tn
splendors and attractions which grea
!. central power can throw around itself
/. We have government of limited powers
y and aim at frugal expenditure. W,
!. must be content to enjoy this SO ia. a
\ VIC can secure it, sacrificing the sharp
}. decisive activity of stronger govern
r ments, aud the ostentatious magnifcenc,
: of outlay which political exigencies fore
r upon despotic sovereign. In each cas-
!. the sacrifice may be considerable and q
J, times irksome; but who shall venture t
!, estimate the worth of the stability, tn
t security for public liberties and privat
Q rights, which for this price We make ou
q own!