The New York herald., 1868-02-24
The Removal of the National Capitni-Sig-
niRcnnt Vote In Congress.


A resolution to remove the seat Of govern
ment from Washington to the valley of the
Mississippi was recently submitted to the
House of Representatives by Mr.. Paine, OF
Wisconsin. 1t was voted on and rejected; but
it Is a significant fact that seventy-seven mem-
bers voted for it and that it was lost only by
majority Of twenty against 1t. The Western
people and their representatives in Congress
have for some time past manifested desire
to remove the capital to their section of
country. They believe, with good reason. that
the star Of empire tends westward, and that the
vast and rich valley of the Mississippi must
become the seat of our republican empire.
venience have inspired the wish to have the
seat of government where the majority of tho
population and power will be located. There
is, too, . manifest purpose to carry out this
object This Is seen plainly in the seventy
seven votes for the removal OF the capital.
The question Is, then, looking at this significant
vote and at the rapid growth Of the West, how
long will it be before that section Of the
country will have members and Senators
enough in Congress to pass q bill for this pur-
posef Not many years, certainly, II the West
be resolved to have 1t 30 and other consider
ations should not influence Western members.
Some might think that the cost and value OF
the public buildings in Washington will have
weight in preventing the removal Of the capi-
tai. A hundred millions have been spent from
first to last, probably, on the public buildings
and improvements in Washington. But what
Ii that 10 great and rich nation 1t is hardly
q dfth Of one years income OF the govern
ment at the present time. In forty years or
less there will be in all probability hundred
millions OF people in the United States, and
sixty millions Of these in the valley Of the
ssssippi. or what consequence will be .
hundred millions of dollars to such nation
Still 1t might seem to be o pity to abandon
the magnificent structures at Washington to the
bats and owls and to turn the city over to
desolaton for that would be the end, as
Washington has nothing to sustain il but the
government As people, too, we have little
veneration for the past or historical associa-
tions. Washington will not be retained ss
the seat Of government because Of Its name,
because 1t was established by the fathers or
because Of Its historical associations.
But the question arises, what necessity Is
there OF. will there DO for removing the seat
Of government! Railroads and telegraphs
have annihilated space. II takes but two days
to 60 from St Louis to Washington. and II
will not be long before We shall be able
to cross tho Continent from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific In four or i've days
Washington or in the valley OF The Mississippi
will be in instant communication with every
part Of the republic by means Of the magnetic
telegraph. Besides, the States on the Atlantic
side Of the Alleghanies will always be popu-
lous and OF great importance. New York is
and must continue 10 be the commercial and
financial metropolis and II, with the other
mighty cities skirting the Atlantic are inter-
ested In having the capital near them. The
| trade, ideas and civilization Of Europe pass
through us, and il is Of some importance
to the government to be in convenient
contact with the rest OF the civilized
world. Looking at the matter In every
i pVms " 'aSWt shcu, w sVv nv hCNOoshs
for the removal Of the seat Of government TO
the valley Of the Mississippi, but rather an In
convenience or injury by Its comparative iso-
latiou in that section. II was placed where It
Is with view partly to keep Congress and
the administration away from the influences
and excitcments Of q great or turbulent popu-
lation and II this idea be abandoned in our pro
grsss toward Capitalization and arbitrary rule,
let New York, the metropolis Of the country,
be also the seat Of government But we think
tho Western Congressmen had better let the
capital alone, and con6ns themselves to pre-
serving the constitution, and TO giving Us q
good and cheap government
The RISE or GoLD-Wall street. OF course,
shared and 10 . certain degree indicated the
| general 8xciiement Of last weeks news from