The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-21

/ w bile this great nation IS moving oi
/ in population and wealth, Is there an
reason why the seat of governmen
situated at an inconvenient point, an
quite at one side, should not b
moved, also.
But, gentlemen, 1 did not come her
to talk, and will leave the discussion
Of this momentous question to others
Judge James 81. Birch, of Mo.
offered q resolution providing for
committee to prepare an address tt
1.-THE people of the country upon the
subject of removing the capital, tt
! which he made some remarks, takinf
strong grounds In favor of the re.
moyal OF the seat of government
to some point in the Mississippi Val
ley, and fortifying his argument with
statistics showing that the Valley Is
really the seat of Empire, or soon
will be. and urging that the matter
Of convenience alone is reason enough
Adjourned till 7:30 P. M.
The following Committee on Busi-
ness was appointed: John Fishback,
Indiana; James ii. Birch. Missouri /;
Garret Davis, Kentucky; Edward
Russell, Iowa; j. W. Stevell, Illinois.
/ The Convention met again at 7:30,
and after the announcement of the fol-
lowing Committee on resolutions, re-
solved itself into q mass meeting, for
the purpose of hearing speeches from
several gentlemen who had been an
nounced.
The hall was crowded with ladies
and gentlemen, and the speakers were
frequently applauded.
Committee on Resolutions oseph
Medill, Illinois; II. Buckingham,
Oregon; Ed. Russell, Iowa; Il. o.
Stannard, Missouri; Governor Gilpin,
Colorado: FL. King, Kansas; S. B.
Churchill, Kentucky.
The first speaker was Governor
Gilpin, Of Colorado, who gave a very
elaborate description of the great
American plains, and the mountains
beyond their agricultural and mineral
resources, and their capabilities Of
wealth, power, and sustaining popu-
iatiGn.
Marshall Turley, of Iowa, spoke
briefly, giving an account of the mar
velous growth of the West during the
past twenty years. His central idea
was THE United States is the centre
of the world, the Mississippi Valley
the centre Of the United States, and
st. Louis the centre Of the Mississippi
Valley"
John Hogan, of st. Louis, also
that whatever may be done by the |
Convention, We shall have to go to
Congress at last. He dwelt strongly |
on the custom of Eastern Congress-
men to stand united on any question |
the general interests of their |
section of the country, and exhorted |
Western Representatives to follow
their example. The West has or soon |
viii have the balance of power in
Congress, and then the people should |
see that no one was sent there from 1
the West who was not in favor of the |
removal Of the Capital to the Missis-
sippi. Valley. He, too, expatiated at /
some length upon the growth
lad wonderful resources of the
West, and said that no power
On earth could withstand the de-
nands of the people if they would
stand united and make their voices
heard.
Clark Il. Carr, of Illinois. was next
,alIed upon, and said the delegation
rom Illinois came here because they
In the movement; and what
,ver may be the action of the Con-
the time was not far distant
Yhen the seat of Government
would be removed to the Mis-
issippi Valley. Still we must
lot ignore the facts in the case.
We must look the subject straight In
he face. The Capital was located at
by our fathers. Millions
If the public treasure have been spent
ipon it. The removal will cost a
arge amount Of money, and we shall
)e met with opposition from different
)arts of the country. These are facts.
md the questions to be considered
ire, is it proper, is it expedient, is it
moved? He believed it was,
md for the reason that when the Capt.
al was originally located it was
placed there because that was the
hen centre Of the population and
wealth of the country, and was easy
If access; and to prove this he read
'esolution adopted by Congress on
he 9th of August, 1889. while In
session at New York, the main point
n which was that the Capitol should
le located with reference to the centre
IF wealth and population, extent of
erritory consistent with convenience,
md to the commerce of the Atlantic
Ocean and the particular situation of
he Western States. Now, sir, the
march of empire has gone to the
West; the wealth and power of the
country are in the West, and why
cannot the people of this great coun-
.ry, the wealth and power having been
transferred from the Atlantic re-
move the Capital to the Wes.? At the
lime the resolution was passed, our
lnly commerce was on the Atlantic;
put to day this country stretches from
he Atlantic to the Pacific, and we
have both oceans to consider, as well
Is the extent and commerce Of the
Valley. lie believed the
used when this resolution
was adopted are the best arguments
hat can now be used for the removal
Of the Capital 20 our grand valley.
Il may be said that it would
not be convenient for New England,
to have the Capital in the West.
This may be true in a limited
sense, but / wish to say that
the wealth of New England is center
ing daily in the Mississippi Valley.
The same is true of the wealth of
New York and the Middle States. 1t
is being invested in our railways, in
all the internal improvements of our
country, in stocks OF every con-
ceivable kind, and in all works
Of public interest and importance, and
it is to the advantage of the people Of
this country to build up tho West
rather than the country on the Poto-
mac. and this fact will soon be seen
by Eastern people. We have the soil