Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-25
the NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Gen. Shermau.s vieus


Gen. Sherman has written the following Let :,
ter 70 Col. Knapp, one Of the propristors OF the
81 Louis Republican, giving his views In 70.
gard 10 the removal Of the capital. He demon.
suatss very forcibly what We have heretofore
pointed out in The STAB that NO business
CITY OF the West can AFFORD to come under the
exclusive Jurisdiction Of Congress for the
doubtful advantage OF having the national cap
atal. A General sherman says, Congress Will
never place IL capital where ft cannot exer.
else 'exclusive and absolute jurisdiction for Its
own protection and that Of the employees OF the
Government" Imagine the city OF st Louis
win all its important business interests put.
hng itself Voluntarily In the position of having
10 wait for dozen years the tardy legislation
OF Congress- as Washington dos. To enable It
nuisance, or street nuisance! Here 10 Gen.
Sherman's letter:
HsApo'Rs AIRY or TIE UNITED SrAfns,)
Warrington, u. o., Oct rs 1859.
Col George knapp, Sc. Louis:
cerned At what am reported TO have said M 4
supper party here, about the removal OF the
capital. did not know that the matter Wa
reported at an, nor do I know what words
belieye the capital would be removed in our
day, and that the public buildings here could
not be torn down and re-erected elsew here, 60.
i preferred q resldence In 81 Louis to one in
Warrington, because 10 was city full Of life.
conmerce, and manufacture, instead Of mere
place os ONCE routine.
or course, my opinion on this agltated uues.
non Of removal sno better than yours, or OF any
otner private individual; but il you want to
Know what think OF 1t / am willing to saw
mat, IN my Judgment, the Capital OF the ~ Ited
States, II removed to the valley Of the MissIs.
sippi within the next twenty years will not
60 70 $. Louis, Cincinnati, or Chicago, because
neiiner or these cities would or should surrend.
er me extensive jurisdiction necessary for the
National Capital. To-day, neither YOU nor snv
other citizen Of st. LOUIS would psent nor
would the State Of Mi-eour consent, to give q
St Louis county TO the absolute Jurisdiction OF
Congress. You might agree 10 have the CAM.
iai al Carondolet. or on the Jefferson Barracks
tract below the Des Peres; but that is NOT 81
Louis and IL would neceesitate the BUILDING
not only OF the vast fire. proof buildings fer the
Stores &c, Tor the persons connected with the
public service.
In my opinion, il the Capital is changed
rom washington to the West, a new piaee
vii De CHOSEN on the Mississippi river, sew
eral hundred miles above St Gouis. and the
parties to be Immediately benefited are vii.
ling 10 make use Of your St, Louis infIuencss
to get the idea started. I have interests in ~
Louis, and. If allowed to vote on this q uestion.
would vote against surrendefing Sc. LOUIS
city and county, win its vast Commercial and
n an ufacturinE Interests. to the exclusive in.
risdictlon Ga a Congress that would make these
interests subordinate TO the mere poiitieai uses
of Federal Capital. Nor would any National
exclusive and absolute jurisdiction, for its
own protection and that of the employees of
The Government Therefore, If the Capital be
moved at ali, IT must 90 70 a place willing to
surrender its former character and become q
second washington City. Yours,