Evening star., 1869-07-13

inktou Whs OIteh fueEdCeu, and not un Justly.
with the threat that another place should be
selected for the national capital. The provo
cation Tor this threat no longer exists; w ash
Ington Is not now Embedded In regoas of
slavery; the frown Of the slave master does not
insult the friend of liberty and equal rights
The menace has no longer either expedIency
or justice for It's basis, and should be permitted
20 pass away with all other things belonging 10
the day of evil. Yet 1t is still so constantly
repeated as to produce seriously depressing
effec.s upon the minds of the timid. aud to
some degree to paralyzs even the wise and
eLierprising.
The presence of q few thousand bright, in
telligent. and energetic men among but no. of
the comma nifty. has proven both power aud
a cause of'Neaknees in the natioual metro polls;
for they hat in general been men who would
censure but not teach nor encourage the local
government: who would enjoy and yet dispar-
age every privilege; who would often use the
public schools without contributing to their
support, but rather depreciate their merits;
who would unfavorable contrast whatever
hospitality might offer here with the ideal of
the Eden each had voluntarily left else " here.
The desire OF these people 10 continue at the
Capital and live upon the meagre rewards now
paid for their labor-some of them even re-
manning permanently after their Competition
with the Government has ceased-greatly nit
igates the feelings ofthe citizens, who fully ap-
preciates the important benefits derived from
ihe presence and disbursements of so many
families. No change of locality can ever change
this order Of things. The same causes mu,t
perpetuats the same spirit every where, un-
should be sufficient TO dispel all the apprehen-
siOns excited by IL.
Untenable as are the positions taken by those
who talk of removing the Capital, the impress
siUns they have made should be reno yed from
every mind by an exhibition of the vitality and
power of our city itself. This city has been
been aided in making internal improvements
and In endowing schools This district has
been treated as the step child Of the Govern
ment. 1t can acquire Dothing but disgrace by
no rpsn tad hap IN
self-reliance shall be evinced; and the present
is the auspicious moment.
The question in relation to the permanenca
OF the National Capital at Washington was
tsrsely answered by the distinguished Senator
from Ohio. Mr.. Sherman, when he said: - 1t is
simplya question of railroads. Every citi-
zen of Washington must know that il the city
cannot reach forth its hands to grasp the ad-
vantages of the hour il must SINK below even
its past condition of helplessness.
The Loudouh and Hampshire railroad in
vites us to run a lateral track into it, the Poto-
mac road will give us new route to Balti-
more, connecting with the York and Pennsyl-
vania Central route, and with the Wilmington
ana Philadelphia line; q short road to the
Chesapeake bay will be an early consumms.
ton; a road through Western Maryland to
unite with the Pennsylvania system will soon
enable rs to reach Lake Erie, and bring Buff
falo ard Niagara Falls nearer to Washington
than they are to New York. The Point OF
other roads have been proposed, the construc-
ton of which may depend upon the firmness
and fidelity of Congress itself in assertl Z the
power of the nation to traverse the States in
Communicating national purposes, and local
roads about Washington have been carefully
planned; the erection of q mansion for the
by the city; costly sea wall must be placed
along the river front; Boundary street and
other important streets are to be opened
bridges must span the Tiber at several points;
the 1lih street sewer must, in all probability,
reconstr ucted; the improvements for lighting
the city, with the current expenses thereof,
have risen TO sixty five thousand dollars q
year, and will soon reach a hundred thousand:
the withdrawal of the Government steam fire
engines from Washington will entail upon the
city greatly enlarged expenses. Ali these
thirgs are to be keenlv looked to, and no means
should be omitted that can hasten them or rem.
der them advantageous to Washington.
The problem OF the canal, too, and OF 8 sys.
tenn OF drainage, must be practically solved.
In the past great sums of money have been ex-
pended upon grand failures to effec, this obJact.
tbs believed that efforts upon a more liberal
scale will now lead to success.
The hour is here in which the effort to serve
and save our city must be fearlessly made
The city government will be found equal to the
emergency, and the people Of Washington will
applaud the courage and the decision of that
government.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS T.. CONNOLLY
APPLETON p. CLARK.
Washing gton, July 12, 1859. Committee.
Mr.. Moore moved 10 amend the tax bill as
follows:-I In the first and third sections in
five' as the rate Of assessment for general pur-
poses. ,. In the sixth section insert the word
ment for gas for the public lamps. 3. In the
seventh section insert the word sten" in lieu
of s'thirteen' as the rate of assessment tor tn.
Metropolitan Police. 4: In the eighth section
insert words 'thirty.eigh." IN lieu OF "twenty.
five" as the assessment for the support of the
public schools. S. In the ninth section insert
'five" in lieu Of '.hfteen" as the assessment for
the erection Of school houses. 6. In the tenth
section insert '.nve" in lieu of "twelve" as the
sinking fund authorized under the late ac.
directing the issue Of S5OO,UOO in Corporation
bonds.
MIR. Moore said the committee had put down
the total Of the assessment at S75,OOO, 600 when
would in fact be nearer Se0.OOO,OOO. The rates
year, when the total Of the Assessment was only
Si6,00,0OO. He proceeded at some length to
arg ne in favor of the amendments ne proposed,
stating that the revenue derived from the re.
duced rates proposed by him on the increased
assessment would be sufficient for all purposes
He characterized the bill In the shape reported
by the committee, as unjust to the taxpayers.
brief debate took place, Mr.. Emery speak.
ing against the high rates OF taxation proposed
as being likely to damage the Republican party,
and to retard the progress of improvements.
an aggregate tax Of 81 25 on the hundred dollars
would raise a revenue Of hve or six hundred
thousand dollars more than last year, which
would be ample for all purposes.
The amendments offered 6y Mr.. Moore were
severally voted on and rejected, as follows:
The first and second were rejected by the FOL-
lowing vote: Yeas-Messrs. Emery, Moore,
Morsell, and McCathran-i. Nays-Nessrs
Baker, Champion, Chase, CLARK, Connolly,
DAVIS, knight, Slater, and the President
lCrocker)-9 The vote on the third stood:
Yeas 3, nays 9-Mr. Emery having voted in the
negative, and Mr.. Baker being absent. THE
fourth amendment was Withdrawn by Mr..
Moore. Messrs. Emery and McCathran voted
against the NTH amendment-leaving only two
votes (those OF Messrs. Moore and Morsell) in
Its favor. The vote on the sixth stood: Yeas 3,
(Messrs. Moore, Morsell, and McCathran)
nays 10. Other amendments proposed by Mr.
Moore were rejected; when Mr.. Connolly pro-
ceeded TO earnestly advocate the passage OF the
bill as reported by the committee. as the only
cure for the financ.AI difficulties which have ,
beset the Corporation for years, and njured its
credit.
After further debate, the bill was passed.
Seas-Messrs. Baker, Champion, Chase, Clark,
Connolly, Davis, knight, Slater, and President
Crocker, Q. Nays-Messrs. Emery, Moore
MOrsell, and McCathran,4.
Mr.. Connolly reported favorably on the bill
for the appointment OF q disbursng officer for
this Corporation, which was passed; also, a
bill appropriating Sl,0O0 to pay the Corpora
ton Attorney for special services, and fixing
his salary at S2,0OO per annum; passed. Coun.
Gil bill making an appropriated Of 81, ,72i Is TO
pay expenses OF the last registration, aud other
election expenses, was passed. Mr.. knight, Of
the Seventh Ward, was relieved from serving
on the committee appointed TO examine into
for the Improvement of the city, and Mr.. A.
p. Clarke was appointed in his place. Mr.
Morsell was also relieved from serving on the
special commute appolnted to Consider reso.