Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-22
THE CAPITAL
THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.
HE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.

- he kON'S hoNs
HE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The s.Center, Of Population Argument
Congressional Csmmissioa to duut Up
the Pace in the Valley Of the Mississip.
Pi-The Asitatisa t. be Kept Up.
The Na,ional Capital Convention At 81.
Louis was yesterday engaged ali the morning
in discussing a series OF resoa utions reported
BY Joseph MedllI. (of the Cnicsgo Tribua.) Of
the Committee on Resolutions. which were
amended, and finally unanimously adopted.
They are as follows:
"WLereas ths present site of the national cap.
It,l selected as the m ost central point wn+ n
the people Of this Republic were only +. w
million: in number anu iSsao,,so 1aiy narrow r~
whereas the population OF this Republic has
increased thirty fold since tnen, and spread
over this vast continents and whereas the
present location Of the national capital Is noto-
liousiy incon venient In times OF peace, and As
the darkest pages Of our national history de.
monsrrates that in time Of war and domestic
turbulence it Is so danseroesiy exposed as to
money for its sps cial defense; and whereas all
the reasons which caused the location OF the
seat Of Government where It now u, have by
the enormous development OF the country, aud
a corresponding change In the wants Of the
people become utterly Obsolete therefore,
RESOLVED, That IL - absurd 70 suppose mat q
handful of inhabitants IN l9s9, just emerging
from Colonial vassaleGe, before steamboat t.,
rail ways, teiegraphs. or power presses We're
dreamed of, or q mile OF turnpike or canal
constructed, possessed the authority or desired
to exercise the po.ssr OF ns,ng me capital for
will and interest OF hundreds or millions who
might come after them.
Resolved, That the people have endured the
pres ent iil-Iocated capital for three quarters of
a century, patiently waiting tor the vast terri.
tory Of the Union TO ID peopled and organized
into States, and until the center Of population
and wealth be determined, when permanent
place OF residences Of the Government could be
selected; that the time has come; sectional
issues are settled all dangerous domestic va.
frances are disposed OF new era has been
entered upon, and new departure taken.
Resolred, That in the language of James
Maais on, in the Congress Of l7S9, an equal a..
tention 10 the rights Of the community is the
basis Of the Republic. II we consider the
effects Of RSTs1 on the
LOOK to the center in order to ind the proper
seat of Government. This equal attention has
not been, and cannot be given, as long as the
capital IS located in an inconvenieat section Of
the nation. If#
Resoyred, That the vast and fertile region
known as the Mississippi valley must for all
time be the seat Of empire on this continent,
and exert q controlling influence in the ma.
and too vast to permit the outlaying States to
sever their connection with the Union. This
vast plain will always be a urplus food pro.
ducing portion OF the continent, and the great
market for the fine fabrics and tropical pro.
auctions of other sections Of the Republic
This universal basin must have numerous ont.
lets and channels of cheap and swift commu.
nication by water and railway seaboard for
the egress of its production and the ingress of
its exchange. Therefore, whatever policy the
Government may pursue that tends 70 multi.
ply. improve, or enlarge these articles OF
commerce must result in common advantage
to the whole Union, to the seaboard States
equal to those OF the center.
Res0lced, That the natural, convenient inevi.
table place for the capital OF the Republic IL in
the heart OF this valley, where the center OF
population, wealth, and power is irresistibly
gravitating; where the Government, surround.
ed by numerous millions OF brave and Union.
loving citizens, would be forever safe against
foreign toes or sectional seditions; where it
wound need neither armaments or standing
armies for its protection.
Resoired, That while advocating the removal
OF the seat OF Government TO the Mississippi
valley, we do not mean to serve the interest Of
any particular locality; but that we urge Con-
gress to appoint a commission for the purpose
vf selecting convenient site for the national
capital In the Valley OF the Mississippi.
ReSotred, That in urging the removing the
capital from It's present inconvenient, out OF
the way, and exposed locality, or extreme Dor.
der Of the Union, we are in earnest, and that we
shall not cease our efforts till the end is accom-.
plished. firmly believing that the absolute ne.
ssity otremoval will be more apparent every
DAY, and tnat majority OF the American PEG.
pie Will not long permit their in terests and con.
venIence to be disregarded.
Resolved, That the removal Of the National
Capital being emily question OF time, we EN-.
for the enlargement of the old Government
buildings and the erection of new ones a. the
present seat OF the National Government as a
useless and wanton waste OF the property of
the people.
The following resolution, offered by Hon
Sidney Clarke, Of Kansas, was, after discus.
sion, laid on the table:
Resolred, That this con vention do recommend
and request all Congressional nominating con.
ventions in tine several States to INCORPORATE
in their platforms a demand for the removal
of the capital to more central and convenient
locality.