Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-01
sov the Federal Capital Came to be Located on
the Potomac

gov the Federal Capital Came to be Located on
the Potomac.
The first movement on the subject appears
n have been made In April, 1883, upon a
nroposition of Mr.. Williamson, of North Car
alma, to postpone some subject before Con-
sess until that body should fix on some place
where they may have some kind OF jurisdic-
ton without being exposed to the influence of
sparticular State. Meanwhile, Maryland
had rendered Annapolis, and New York the
cession of the town Of Kingston. An event
now occurred that startled Congress aud the
country. That body was in session at Phila-
delphia, in the State house. The Executive
Council of Pennsylvania was sitting in the
same building. On the 2lst of June, 1883, an
anonymous paper was presented to the latter
toly purportlng to- emanate from the nom
commissioned officers and soldiers of a body of
the State troops collected in the city, demand
ing Of the Council authority to appoint com
miSsioned officers to command them, and
generally redress of grievances, declaring, "you
will Immediately issue such authority and de-
liver it to us, Or otherwise we will Instantly let
n these injured soldiers upon you and abide
the consequences. You have only twenty min
uteS TO deliberate on this important matter,
&C. The injured soldiers, whose grievances
consisted of arrearages Of pay, had mu,inousy
marched from their barracks in military array,
and at that lime some three hundred stood
with fixed bayonets around all the doors of the
State-house, where they remained three hours.
Congress Immediately passed resolutions pro-
testing against this Insult, and calling upon
the Executive Council of Philadelphia to take
eHec,usl means to support public authority,
and suggested that, unless such measures were
promptly taken, Congress would adjourn to
meet elsewhere The Commander in-Chiei
vas Immediately apprized Of the situation, and
desired to despatch such force as he may judge
sxpedient for suppresslng any disturbance that
may ensuc The Council was timid and
diiaioyy, aud Congress, in disgust, suspended
their ordinary deliberations and separated. "
The Commander-in Chiet was more prompt.
As soon as he received what he called his
first information of the infamous and outrage
Gus muti,y OF a part of the Pennsylvania
troops he despatched three regiments Of
cavalry and infantry toauellsthe tinsubordina-
ton. The disturbance had ceased before their
arrival, and Congress had resumed its session
at PriDceton, New jersey, and although in.
yited toreturn to Philadelphia, refused to do So.
This occurrence created an auxlety4ln Con.
gress to have place of meeting which: should.
be under their control and removedt from all
State influence. From that time 1889 up to;
lIS7, various propositions were offered in Con
geSs on this subject, but without any definite
result. 1t, was found impossible 10 procure
harmonious action. The banks of the Della
vare near Trenton, and OF the Potomac, near
Georgetown, were both considered. Then the
idea was presented by Mr. Gary that buildings
should be erected at the two places named for
the alternate residence OF Congress. !" This
dual scheme was finally abandoned. The only
definite legislation was the appropriation iot
$780, 600 for the erection Of buildings without
any determination as TO the place The sub
iect was thus pending when, the Federal Cqn-ss
7eption assembled. It was considered in that
body, and it was provided sfollows: Article
|, section s. y" That Congress shall have.pow
er to exercise legislation in all cases Whatsoever.
over such district (uot exceeding ten miles
Auare), as may, by cession OF particular
States, and the acceptance OF fCoDgress, become
the seat of the Government OF the United
States," &C. - @7
The prevailing ideas we're, that tie seat of
Government should be central, and with a
riparian situation. In, 1889, In the Senate,
the subject Of a location again came up a
cesslon often miles square was offefed in Penn
syivania to include Lancaster; Wright 81 Ferry
On the Susquehanna, Harrisburg on the Sus-
quehanDa Carlisle west of the Susquehanna ;
Reading the SchuylkiIl, and Germantown
IN the neighborhood of Philadelphia. In Sep
tember, 1899, the House of Representatives.
passed resolution In favor OF permanent
seat OF Government, and at some convenient
place on the banks of the SuSquehanna, and
sent 1t to the Senate for concurrence The
Senate amended the till by substituting Ger
mnantown, near Philadelphia, as the seat of
government, by a vote of 10 to I. When re-
turned to the House it was adopted by a vote
OF 81 to q, but accompanied byan amendment
proposed BY MIR. Madison, declaring the laws
and jurisdiction of Pennsylvania should be con-
oaued over the proposed district until by law
Congress provided otherwise. This simple
amendment anne proved fatal to Germantown: In
r5'sl the subject, was again brought. before
congress, and the permanent seat of Govern
alen' was determined, fixed and accepted 'on
we RIVER Potomac, at some place between the
mouths Of the Eastern branch and Cenogo-
eSeeesue.' It passed the Senate'by a vote Of
TO TO TO 10, the House by vote of 32 to 2e.--
Ines Inc same act provided that Congress. should
Wd aWJid ITS sessions at Philadelphia until the first
To-day In November, 1900, when the Gov
..uu!ent should remove to the district selected
W LIE Potomac. 1t embraced about sixty
siquaTe iqe miles of Maryland, ceded 10 l7sS,. and
raUfsy square miles of Viroinie -cefied fH-1 iS9.
l"E !a'ter was retroceded to Virginia ID 1916.
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(lRAND OPENING. OF 90
NEW SELECTED STOCK tg
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