The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-22
ST. LOUIS.
The national Capital Convention.
ST. I,ntyIS Ont. 81.

ST, LOUIS, Oct. q.
The National Capital Convention has
been engaged all the morning In dis
cuBslng lengthy series OF resolutions
reported by the Committee on Resolu.
lions, A few verbal amendments have
been made and the platform will proba.
bly, be adopted before adjournment.
This afternoon the delegates will visit
the suburbs and all places OF note In
and around the city, and hold another
session tonight.
The following are resolutions report
ed 10 the Capital Convention by Joseph
Medill, Chairman OF the Committee on
Resolutions, which were adopted unRni.
mouBly:
WHEREAS, Thhs present site of the
National Capital was selected As the
most central point when the people Of
this republic, only o few millions In
number, inhabited only q 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 vast continent,
OF which the States In existence when
the Seat Of Government was located,
formerly the eastern edge; and, where.
az, the present location OF the National
Capital is notoriously inconvenient In
time Of peace, and the darkest pages OF
our national history demonstrate that
10 time OF war or domestic turbulence,
It Is 80 dangerously exposed as to re-
quIre vast armaments and untold mill.
ions OF money for its special defense;
and whereas, all the reasons which
caused the location Of the Seat Of Gov
ernmeut where 1t now is, have, by the
enormous development OF the country,
and change In the wants OF the peo-
pie have beaome utterly absolute;
therefore,
ReSolved, That II Is absurd to sup
pose that handful OF inhabitants In
1850, just emerging from colonial vas-
salage, before steamboats,, railroads,
telegraphs or power presses were ever
dreamed OF, or mile OF turnpike or
canal constructed, possessed the au-
thority or desired 10 exercise the pow
er OF fixing the site ofthe Capital forev.
or on the banks Of the Potomac against
the will and interests OF hundreds o1
millions who might come after them.
RESOLVED, That the people have en- .
dured the present lily located Capital
for three quartera OF century, patient
lv waiting for the vast territory OF the
Union to be peopled and organized into
States, and until the centre OF popula-
ton, area and wealth, could be deter
mined, when permanent place Of res
idence for the government could be
selected; that time has come; all Sec
tional Issues are settled, all dangerous
domestic varlances are disposed Of, q
now era has been entered upon and d
new departure.
ReSotved, That, In the language oi
James Madison In Congress in 1850,
AN equal attention 10 the rights OF
community is the basis OF republics.
II we consider the effects Of Legislative
power on aggregate community, we
must feel equal Inducements TO look to
the centre in order 10 find proper
seat OF government. This equal atten.
tion has not been and cannot be given
TO the interests and rights Of the people
so long as the Capital is located in an
inconvenient section Of the nation.
ReSotved, That the vast and fertile
region known rs the Mississippi VAL
ley, must for all time be the seat oi
empire on this continent and exert a
controlling influence In the nation, be-
cause II Is homogeneous in interests and
too powerful ever 10 permit outlying
States 10 sever their connection with the
Union. This vast plain will always be
the surplus food producing portion ol
the continent and the great market for
the fine fabrics and tropical productions
OF other sections Of the republic. This
immense basin must haYe numerous
outlets and channels Of cheap and swift
communication by water and rail with
the seaboard for egresG OF Its products
and ingress Of Its exchanges. There
fore, whatever policy the Government
may pursue that tends TO multiply, I'M
prove or enlarge those articles OF com.
merce, must result In the common ad'
vantage TO the whole Union, to the sea
board States equally with those Of the
centre,
ReSoived, That tho natural, cOnven'
lent and inevitable place for the Capt.
tai OF the Republic is in the heart o.
this valley, where the centre OF popu.
latiou, wealth and power is lrreslstably
gravitatlng; where the Government
surrounded by numerous millions O.
brave and Union loving citizens, would
be forever safe against foreign foes Of
sectional aeditions, and where 1t would
need neither ornaments nor standing
armies for Its protection.
RESOLVED, That while advocating thl
removal OF the seat OF government t
the Mississippi Valley, we do not NEAR
to serve the interests Of any particular
locality, but that we urge Congress t
appoint commission for the purpose
Of selecting convenient site for thu
National Capital In the great valley o
the Mississippi.
ReSOlved, That In urging the remova
OF the National Capital from It's pres
ent inconvenient out OF the way anC
exposed locality on the extreme bordej
OF the Union, we are In earnest ant
that we shall not cease In our effort
until the lend is accomplished, firmly
believing that the absolute necessity o
the removal will become moro appar
ent every day, and the Majority o
American people will not long permi
their interests and convenience 10 b,
disregarded.
Resolved. That the removal OF tht
National Capital being only II question
OF time, we emphatically oppose ant
condemn all expenditures OF money TO
the enlargement OF all government
buildings and erection OF new ones a
the present seat OF the National Gov
ernment as useless and wanton vast
OF the property OF the people.
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