The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-10-22
CAPITAL CITY CONVENTION.
The Resolutions Adopted.

ST. LOUIS, October 2l.-The follow
ing resolutions we're reported to the
CAPITAL Convention by Joseph Medill,
chairman of the committee on Resolu.
tions, and adopted unanimously:
WHEREAS, The present site of the
national capital was selected as the
most central point, when the people Of
this republic, only few millions in
number, inhabited only a narrow strip
of country along the Atlantic coast;
and,
WHEREAS, The population of this re-
public has increased thirteen fold since
then, and spread over Z vast Continent,
of which the States in existence when
the seat of government was located,
form the eastern edge; and, where
as, the present location of the national
capital is obviously inc0nvenicnt
in time Of peace, and the darkest pages
of our national history demonstrated IN
time of war or domestic turbulence, Is
so dangerously exposed as to require
vast ornaments and untold millions OF
money for its special defense; and,
whereas, all the reasons which caused
the location of the seat of government
where it now is, have, by the enormous
u6NGlODlucul vi luC CONhNly anu II w
responding change in the wants Of the
people became utterly obsolete; there
fore,
Resolred, That il is absurd to suppose
that the handful of inhabitants in 11e9,
Just emerging from colonial Vassalage,
before steamboats,, railroads, telegraph
or power presses were over dreamed of,
or mile of turnpike or canal con-
structed, possessed the authority or
desired to exercise the power of fixing
the site of the capital forever on the
banks of the Potomac. against the will
and interest of hundreds of millions
who might como after them.
Resolred, That the people have en-.
dured the present lily located capital
for three-quarters OF century, pa
tiently waiting for the vast territory of
the Union to be peOpled and organized
into States, and until the centre Of the
population, area and wealth could be
determined, when a permanent place of
residence for the Government could be
selected. That time hasicUme. All sec
tional issues are settled; all dangerous
domestic variances are disposed of; a
new era has been entered upon and .
new departure.
ReSolred, That in the language Of
james Madison, in the Congress Of 1889:
An equal attention to tho rights of the
community is basis of republics. Ii
we consider the effects of the legislative
power on the aggregate community, we
must feel equal Inducements To look to
the centre IN order to find a proper seat
OF government. This equal attention
has not been and cannot be given to he
interests and rights of the people so
long as the capital is located in an in.
convenient section of the nation.
pesOlred, That the vast and fertile re-.
sion known as the Mississippi Valley
must for all time be the seat of empire
ON this continent aud exert the control
ling influence in the nation, because 1t
is homogeneous in the interests and too
powerful ever TO permit the outlying
States TO sever their connection with
the Union. This vast place will always
be the surplus food producing portion OF
the continent and the great market for
the fine fabrics and tropical productions
of other sections of the Republic. This
immense basin must have numerous out
let's and channels of cheap and swift
communication by water and rail with
the seaboard for the egreSs of its pro-
Gucts and the lngreSs # its exchanges.
lhereiore, whatever policy the Govern
meht may pursue that tends to multi
ply improve or enlarge those articles of
cohiueree, IL must result in common
advantage TO the whole Union, to the
seaboard States equally with those of
the centre.
ResoIred, That the natural, convenient
and inevitable place for the CanitaI Of
the Republic is in the heart of tbis voJ
ley, where the centre of population
wealth and power is irresistibly gray,
tating: where the Government, snr.
rounded by numerous millions of brave
and Union loving citizens, would be
forever safe against foreign foes or sec,
tional solutions, and where it would
need neither ornaments nor standing
armies for its protection.
Resolred, That while advocating the
removal of the seat of government tc
be Mississippi Valley, we do not mean
20 erve the interests of any particular
local., v, but that we urge Congress tC
appoint y commission fer the purpose
of select;n, convenient site for the
National Cap. tai in the great Valley q
the Mississippi.