Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-15
THE REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.

THE REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.
General Logan gave notice on Saturday that
ne would to-day offer q resolution in the
House. providing for the removal of the Capital
from Washington for reasons stated portion
OF the press OF this city affect to see nothing
m this but the sensation movement of a parti-
zan, and abuse Mr.. Logan after that intemper-
ate style Of denunciation that the papers in
question habitually use In dealing with Con-
gressmen- II may be noted, parenthencally,
as asingular fact, that papers ssuming to rep
resent the interests of Washington seem to
think 1t good policy to assail Congress in every
form OF imperative abuse calculated TO ex-
cite prejudice, make The social atmosphere un-
pleasant, and the city and its people repulslve
to the members.
The IntcJSeencer habitually uses such bill
Ingsgats a. this in speaking of Con ress and
its members:
NOISY and ignorant demagogues"
Their whole business IL to contriye the
means OF perpetuatIng an asceudency of cor
ruption and extravagance and they do not
scrupie Al any expedient, however desperate or
disreputaole IT may be, that can promote that
This bold and bareiaeed iniquity eranates
most properly from Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada.
who has introduced bill to that effect at the
instance OF the defeated Candidates Nothing
more mean or monstrous has yet been con-
Ceiyed here"
"These destructiyes have thus far not stopped
a. any act OF violence or excess of authority in
order to carry out their selfish plans" /.
"Let them be warned in season, that such
Pracuces Will not be longer borLe, and that
those who undertake to persist in this system
OF yillainy must expect to take the con.e-
Quences"
Another city paper uses such Language as tia
following:
"No words can characterize the infamy of
this attempt Of 8 legislative body to legalize
o. crixa lar f,la
There is not a tyro in a law class, in any
part OF the country, who cannot at glance
perceive the utter unconsttutionality and
injustice OF the proposed act of Congress"
sit is IN itself a monstrosIty and
only monsters could conceive or support such
This paper, after thus denouncing Congress
collectively as infamous monsters, applies its
powers Of expletive to General Logan charac
terizng him as the Lodbrog Barrere of the
House, ridicules him personally, and concludes
as follows:
'These big threats about the removal of the
Sapitoi whenever the people of Washington
dare TO REJECT the shackles offered to them by
such as Logan, may scare children, but to
grown-up men they are like the story of Jack
the GIant Killer They only make the mover
ridiculous"
This question of the removal of the Capital
Is one not to be dismissed with q wave of the
hand, or contemptuous pooh pooh. 1t is one
that must be seriously entertained by the PEG.
pie of Washington as a contingency possible to
happen, and to be thoughtfully guarded against
from this time forth Not long ago we pointed
out the growing frequency of movements in this
direction, and also their increased strength.
resolution looking TO the removal of the Capt..
tai offered by a Missouri member lately re-
eeired sizty rotest II has long been the IVES.
tern idea that the Capital of the Nation should
be In the Valley Of the Mississippi. As
the West increases relatively over the East
IN population and wealth, year by year this
idea takes hrmer hold IN that section and the
puohc mind there Is getting famiharized with
II as an event that must happen at NO distant
day. Upon the present ratio of growth of tho
West they hold that in . few years their sec.
ton, aided by the votes Of those in other quar-
tiers Of the country, who are from one cause or
another dissatisfied with the present location
OF the seat Of Government, can effect its
removal Here, then, is a positive growing
power, working steadily for the removal of the
Capital, not to be slighted or overlooked
On what do we rely to oppose this move
ment! Mainly upon the ss7,OOO,OOO Of Gov
eminent property here; upon the rivalry of
western cities for the National Capital neptraI
izing the effort for its removal: upon historic
associations prevailing to keep it where il is.
But the western men have given these points
Seeoy' Ahcy nave even CALCULATED what III
will cost TO remove every stone of the Govern.
ment buildings worth removing, and set them
up again in the West. General LOGAN, we
believe, estimates that the Government
property could be removed to the West for
less than TIN millions Of dollars Other
Western men figure ont that by selecting
only me best materials Of the present build
ings, the removal could be effected for
five millions. They propose for instance. 70
take only the new wings and the iron dome
OF the Capitol. leaving the inferior material
<erumbiing sandstone) Of the old central Dor.
ton Of the building untouched The same
course would be taken with the Patent Onca
and Treasury Department buildings: the sand.
stone Of the original buildings not being deemes,
of any value. The General Post Once in held
10 De worth removing entire. The White
House would be left behind, and a new build.
ing erected for the Chief Magistrate of the Ma
ton, at the new Capital, on a scale more in
accordance with national pride and credit.
western men say that if the expense of re-
movh stands In the way, that any one Of the
gn1t States Of the West will readily assume
the cost OF getting the National Capital within
ats borders, in view Of the prestige, and the ad
vantages arising from the large disbursements
OF public money. They smile at the idea that
the jealousy Of different Western cities con-
testing for the Capital will stand in the way of
an object In the interest Of all the Great West
A Commission, they say, will settle all that.
Historic associations they laugh at as having
sny weight with the mereurial, change blowing
American people in keeping the Capital in its
present locality.
Quite certainly the Western men are IN ear
nest in this thing; and the question again
arises how shall we oppose them in q project
that means ruin to Us Obviously by making
Washington city so attractive as a place Of
residence. Its soeietyoo congenial and agree
able, and the relations Of the municipal gov
eminent so much in harmony with Congress
that there shall be no motive for q removal.
Congress has undisputed sovereignty over
this DiStrict. II meets here for its own con-
venience, not ours. Is it a wise or a suicidal
policy that prompts 10 make the city, and Its
people, and every association about il, a un-
PLEASANT - Congress as possIbiei WHAT is
our present '.City Hall muss- with its
al tsserfm Mayor, squabbling Councils, and all
the rest Of the tom foolery, but an attempt to fy
in the very teeth Of Congressional legislation
Congress said Enthusiastically that u. s. soldiers
should not vote here; we say they shall and like
the earthern pitchers IN contact with the iron
ones. we not only get the worst Of it but leave
Congress IN . state Of irritation with US, any
thing but advantageous to our interests. or
Ill 49, L.