The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-25
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.

HON. N. SARGENT.
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL.
Of the Committee 60 Remove
tho Capital "a the "shoais''-Rec-p.
tien BY MAYOR Bowen and tho city
Authoritie( rhe speech OF Mayor
Bowen-RepIy by Major General
Van Dusenbury - Interview with
General Grant-Removal Inevita-
bio.
On yesterday morning Mayor Bowen re-
ceivcd dispatch from Major General Peter
Van Duzcnbury, informing him that the
committee appointed by the immense mass
meeting Of free and enlightened American
citizens at the "Shoals" to repair to Wash
lugton for the purpose Of removing the pub.
lie buildings to that place, would arrive In
the evening train.
Regarding the removal of the capital as a
hxed fact, and desiring to be the mayor amer
Its removal, Mayor Bowen concluded II to be
his best policy to pay the most hattcring at
tcntlon to the committee during Its stay at
Washington. He Immediately called Joint
meeting Of the Boards OF Aldermen and
Councilmen, and requested their cooperation
In showing such attention. After discussion
II was unanimously voted to tender the free.
dom Of the city to the committee, and to ask
our citizens to extend their hospltalitlcs TO
them during their sojourn among US,
1t was further resolved that the services
Of the Marine band be secured for the occa-
sion, aud that the city authorities, headed
by Mayor Bowen, should be at the depot TO
receive tho committee on Its arrival. + As
the hour for the arrival Of the evening
Western train approached, the whole city
seemed to be In unusual commotion. The
Mayor and the other city dignitaries were
promptly at the depot. At length the cars
appeared. The one containing the commit
tee (Which had been furnished by the prcsi-
dent of the Baltimore and Ohio road, who
owns the side switch to Washingtou) was
decorated by numerous American nags. On
arriving at the depot national salute was
fred from the battery stationed on Capitol
Hill.
A procession, headed by the Marine band,
dressed in their magnificent red uniform,
was formed under the direction Of the mar
shall Of the District. Mayor Bowen and
Major General Peter Van Duzenbury walked
arm -in-arm, entertaining for each other the
highest respect and admiration.
Arriving at the portico of the City Hall,
the Mayor thus addressed The committee:
GENTLEMEN; II was with the most pro
found satisfaction that read the proceed
ings Of the immense meeting (whose or.
gan you are) as copied into the REPuBLr'
CAN, from that celebrated paper, the Dog
Fenaei Gazette.
The reasons given for the removal OF the
Capitol by that distinguished gentleman,
Brevet Brigader General Ebenezer Bulgud-
cry, who addressed the meeting at the
"Shoals," In that most mastery effort, were
entirely satisfactory to me, and should be to
the whole nation, not excepting the dealers
In city lots at St. Louis. In all my reading
Of Congressional speeches do not remem.
Der of seeing anything more convincing thar
his eagle argument When | read 1t, i'm
mediately determined to propose to the hon
orable committee to offer to serve the re
mainder OF my term us mayor after the re
moyal, and to be n candidate for reelection
Nothing could give me more happiness thar
to be the first mayor Of the new seat Of Gov
eminent.
While you remain in this city making tn,
necessary arrangements for the removal o
the public buildings, hope you may lndulg
In the largest liberty, as invited by the unan
imous vote of the city authorities, whose or
gan am proud OF being. Applause by tn
city authorities
At the conclusion of the eloquent and YER
appropriate speech of Mayor Bowen, Majo
General Peter Van Dusonbury, chairman o
the committee, rose to reply. His appear
ance on the portico was recognized and wei
coined by tremendous cheering on the par
Of the crowd which filled up the space be
tween Fifth and Sixth streets, and dow
-Four. and-a-half street to Pennsylvania ave
nue.. AMER the cheering had ceased, tn
General replied to the speech OF the mayor
1t was evident from his appearance that h
was deeply effected by the manner In whlc
he aud the committee had been received.
As sovn ds lie could recover from tn
emotion, which almost oyercame him, he sale
In substance;
Mr.. Mayor, Councilmen and Fellow-cit
zeus would be considerable more or les
than man If l were not profoundly an
deeply affected by the reception with whic
the committee, whose chairman | have th
! honor 10 be, has received at the hands of tn
citizens OF the late capital Of the Unite
States. am glad that no III feelings hay
been engcndcred by the action of the pcopl
OF the mighty West, whose representative
am proud to be. The removal OF the capita
was the result of tho memorable logic o
events as Illustrated Ia the superior fitness o
the "shoals," as indicated by nature and tn
American eagle
admit that, as, after proper machinery /
established at the "Shoals," the wheels O
government are TO be driven by the immens
water power at that place, q less number O
ofiice-holders will be required, which ma
be a disappointment to some Of that class o
our respected and patriotic fellow. citizens
Their services, however, will be temporari
necessary; and when discharged they ca
enter into iron-making and coal-digging a
the "Shoals," much more healthy an
profitable employment.
A donation of five thousand acres of LAM
! made at the "Shoals," ION which to p,at
! the public bulldings,) being ten times Il
number OF acres offered by the. ;pIserly cit,
lot spectators of St. Louis, must be r
I, garded US a most generous contribution
, the nations weuire; and such land, to-
about which he IIoosier bard many yea
ago wrote!
, "CoRs to the lovely, luxuriant Far West,
and recline with me under my bower,
Where white pigeons coo and the dove bull
Z her nest.
: In this land OF the shade and a,wer;n
|, and the people did come. Great applause
As TO the proposition of the gentlcma
who so ably presides over the City Council
to remain the Mayor of the seat of Cover
ment after its removal, eau only say tina
a so far as l am concerned, II will afford IN
= any amount Of pleasure to use my innuenC
: TO crafty his wishes. On the subject, how
ever, Of a continuance of the City CounC
ldOOW WNlch NC sdId HOhlny) L wish 10 7
main non-commlttal, as the complexion of
q portion of that dgniied body might not su
4 the delicate senslbillties OF the free, @
y ligh.ened and patriotic people of Il
d "Shoals." On that point | would rath
u not give an opinion.
T. In contemplating the eternal fitness
4 things In selecting the Shoals as the pc
manent seat OF Government, cannot r
=, frain from saying;
| while stands The Shoals Ameries shi
: stand;
when falls the Shoals America shall fall
T And when America fslls-the world"
t Yes, fellow citizens, in the language
d prophecy, proclaim that when London shi
!, be an habitatlon OF bitterns; when S
z Paul's and Westminster Abbey shall star
II shapelcss and nameleA ruins In the mid
$ of an unpeopled marsh when the pyrami
C of Egypt shall become but crumbled hea
i of sand, then shall the ''shoals" stand
Y an eternal monument OF the wisdom OF tho
who selected Ii as the seat Of government
T.. the worlds mightiest republic. 1.-THE mo
y unbounded applause greeted this sentlmen
" mingled with the exultant shouts; "tl
7. | Shnala thu Shoals fnreypriOl