The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-22
ST. LOUIS.
National Capital Convention Pre-
ambles and RESOLUTIONS.

ambles and Resolutions.
ST.. LOUIS, October 21.-The fol-
lowing are the, resolutions reported to
the Capital Convention By Joseph
Medill, Chairman of the Committee
on Resolutions, and adopted unani
mously: a... .1r,,,. I.-
WHEREAS, The present sIts OF The Ns-
tional Capital was selected as the most
central point when the people Of this re-
public were only a few millions ia NUM-
beTs, and inhabited only q marrow strip of
country along the Atlantic Coast: and.
WHEREAS, The population of this repnb.
lie has increased thirteen-fold since them.
and spread over a vast continent. OF which
the Stats Ia existence when the seat OF
government was located, form Only the
Eastern edge; and,
WHEREAS, The present location OF the
National Capital is notoriously tnconve-
nient in times of peace, and as the darkest
pages of our national history demonstrate
In times OF war or domestic Turbulence. Is
so dangerously exposed as to require vast
armaments and untold millions OF money
forits special defense; and,
WHEREAS, AIIthe reasons which caused
the location OF the seat of Government
where 1t now IS, have, by the enormous
development OF the country and 3 COR
responding change in the wants of the
people, become utterly obsolete; there
Resozvsd, Fnat It is absurd to suppose
that the handful OF Inhabitants IN 1889,
just emerging from colonial vassaiage, be-
fore STEAMBOATS,, railways, telegTaphs, or
power presses We're dreamed of, or q mile
of turDpike or canal construction pos
sessed the authority or desired TO exercise
the power OF fixing the site of the capital
forever on the banks OF the Potomac,
against toe will and interests OF the hun-
dredS OF millions WhOs might come after
them.
Ieesotped, That the people have endured
the present lily located capital for three
quarters OF acentury, patiently waiting for
the vast territory OF the Union to be peo-
pied and organized 1nto states, ana until
the center of the pOpU.at11n, AREA and
wealth could be determined, and when
permanent place for the scat OF Govern
ment could be selected. That time has
come, and all sectional issues are settled,
all dangerous domestic vartances are dis
posed OF, a new era has been entered upon,
and new departure taken.
ResO'Ued, That in the language of James
Madison, in the Congress OF 1889, ian equal
attention to the rights of the community
is the basis of republics. II we consider
the effects OF legislative power on the ag-
gregate community we must feel equal in
ducementS to look to the center in order
to find the proper seat of government
This equal attention has not been and
cannot be given to the interests and rights
OF the people as long as the Capital is ioca-
ted ia an inconVenient section OF the
Un1on,
Resolred, That the vast and fertile region
known as the mississippi Valley, must, for
ali time, be the seat of empire of this con-
tinent, and exert the controlling influence
ia the nation, because 1t Is homogeneous
in its interests and too powerful ever to
permit the outlying States to sever their
connection with the Union. This vast plain
Will always be the surplus food and 1bre
producing portion sof the continent and
the great market for the fine fabrics and
tropical productions Of the other. sections
must have numerous outlets and channels
of cheap and swift communications, by
water and rail, with the seaoOafd, for the
egress of its products and IngTess OF its ex-
changes. Therefore,
ReSotUed, That whatever policy the Gov
eminent may pursue that tends TO multi
nj those 81
commerce, must result in common advan-
tage to the whole Union, and 10 the sea-
board States equally with those Of the GEN.
tire.
-Resosved, That the natural, convenient,
and inevitable place for the capital of the
Republic is In the heart OF this valley,
where the centre of population, wealth,
and power Is 1rreststtbly grayttattng:
where the Government, surrounded by
numerous millions of brave and Union
loving citizens, would be forever safe
against fore gn foes or sectional Sedttions,
and where 1t would need neither arnla-
ments nor standing armies for Its protec-.
tOn.- ss-A - lAa-e - -
ResoIUcd, That while advocating the.
removal OF the seat OF government 10
the Mississippi Valley, we do not mean
to serve the interests of any par
ticular locality, but that we urge
Congress to appoint a commission for
the purpose of selecting a convenient site
for the National Capital in the great Val
ley of the Mississippi
!. ReSolCed, Thattn urging The rsnaoyal Of
the National Capital from its present in
convenient, out OF the way and exposed
locality, on the extreme border OF the
Union, we are in earnest; and that We
shall not cease In our efforts until that
end is accom- plished, firmly believing that
become more apparent every day, and the
majority OF the American people VIII not
long permit their interests aud conYeu-
ience to be disregarded.
ResolUed, That the removal of the Ma
tlonal capital being only question of
denim all expenditures OF money for the
enlargement OF old Government buildings
and the erection of new ones at the pres
useless and ws.Dton waste of the property
of the people. Lts ttAs
The following resolution, offered by
Hon. Sidney Clark, of Kansas, after
some discussion, was tabled:
Reso'ved, That this Convention do re-
commend aud request all Congressional
Nominating Conventions in the various
States 10 inc srporate in their platforms
demand for the removal OF the National
Capital to more central and convenient
The Convention met again at 7:30.
The President announced the follow
ing National Executive Committee.
whose functions are to be to keep up
the agitation of the question of
the removal of the National Capt.
tai, aud to put such measures into
operation as will effect this object:
@. D. Carr, Illinois; G. Z. Maganp,
Iowa; j. +. Miller, Oregon; L. w.
Reavis, Missouri; John Coburn. In
diana; 81. Yarmouth, Louisiana; q.
n. Stuart, Alabama; VIM. A. Pile,
New Mexico; j. B. Jeggie, Pennsyl-
yauia; A. j: Kellar, Tennessee; S. B.
Churchill, Kentucky; VIM. Gilpin.
Colorado f. S. Hubbard, Alaska:
! Thomas Moonligt, Kansas; Alvin
Saunders, Nebraska; Thos. Z. Tutt.
Montana; Q. E. Forshe, Texas; c. II.
Hempsted, Utah. This committee
consists OF one delegate from each
State and Territory represented IN the
Convention, and among other things