The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-11

| COuHNJs Anu btokihPuJ VI w hohlhktOn
qualities no man for q better discharge OF
his public duties. IL the national capital
was located in New England, its situation
would compel an acquaintance with manu-.
features and foreign commerce Of the United
States but if tho capital we're transferred
TO the Mississippi Valley, its location would
insure better knowledge Of western aRri.
culture, mineral resources and domestic
commerce. Before the lapse of quarter
of century, the latter will be the over.
shadowng and supreme interest Of the con-
tnent, aud hence the seat OF government
should ba placed where its educating inhu
ence will make members Of congress more
conversRnt with them.
These remarks fail, under existing condi
tons, TO be equally true in their inverse ap.
plication to the west because Washington,
secluded from the business of the country,
does not afford those opportunities Of per
sonal observation which would fit public
men for the better performance Of their
duties, and because the leading men Of the
west are, from their frequent trips of bust.
ness and fashionable resort, we'll acquainted
| with the commercial and manufacturing
wants Of the east. Old countries are apt to
! be indifferent to young communities. Europe
has always felt too little interest in America
to acquire full and exact information about
| it. But the members of young states are
impelled by lively curiosity to visit the
seat Of old civilization, to behold scenes
memorable in history, to crafty their taste
| by ilustrious works of art aud architecture,
and to explore the sources of social and
material greatness. Something Of the rela
ton between the old and the new world
exists bytween the Atlantic and the western
states. Summer resort and the frequent ne.
cessly Of visiting the manufacturing and
importing cities viii always keep the central
states familiar with the leading interests of
the seaboard but the presence of the ma.
tional capital on the banks of the Mississip.
pi is necessary TO acquRint the Atlantic
states with the wants OF this great valley.
Again the central location Of the seat Of
government would strengthen the fraternal
| feelings Of the states. In a double sense,
| the capital would then be nearer the heart
of the country. 1t lie hardly probable that
| the south will again attempt TO shatter the
unity Of the nation. The result of the first
effort will not encourage a second resort to
arms. Besides, the social system which
| bLluluihkNA Nib ltbEAIlDA ~ nv" ONNlhhlONus
Civil society is at last freed from this
chronic source Of faction and from the only
obstacle to homogeneous union. There is
no longer any intrinsic cause Of hostility
between the south and the north. The south
will become imbued with the spirit Of free
institutions and vital with new energy. Dis
honored toll will become a dignity. Intelli
gent aud compensated labor will establish
manufactures and create new industries.
Polytechnic schools will mpsrt the princi.
pies of practical science and teach southern
youth how to develop tho wealth of region
rich in natural resources. When the pas
sions of the hour have subsded, the south
will awake to its grander destiny and act in
accordance with the spirit of the age. 1t
will be bound to the rest Of the country by
common interests and homogeneous institu.
honB. With its clearer views of political
economy and its rich fruition Of tho profits
Of free labor, it will then recognize the truth
that the preservation of the Union is essen.
tial to its brightest material welfare. 1t will
prefer TO share the protection, prosperity aud
greatness of an undivided country. No ap.
prehensiOn of another southern rebellion
need be entertained. If ever unhappily the
standard Of the revolt is again raised, this
second effort to establish separate nation.
atty will probably be made by the Pacific
states. This belief rests exclusively upon
physical grounds. During the civilwar, the
course Of the Pacific states was eminenty
patriotic. Not a symptom of disloyslty dis.
hOnored the historic record. But they are
walled off from the rear of the country by
the ranges of the Rocky Mountains and
Sierra Nevada. Tho massive barriers Of
nature permit but few channels Of commune
cation. In this coming time, millions of
inhabitants will people the Western slope OF
the Rocky Mountains. Their sense of isola.
ton will be increased by the remoteness of
the seat of government. The breadth of the
continent will intervene between them and
the Executive Mansion. The Pacific coast,
in the days of its future prosperity and
, power, may think itself as Justly entitled to
capital as the fair Atlantic border. If
ideas are the parents Of action, may that
thought die chidless. We profoundly hope
that the mere supposition ofsuch pOssibili.
ty does injustice to the Pacific states. But,
at all events, central location Of the ma.
j tional capital would tend to ally the United
States in closer unity and brotherhood.
The shorter the ties the stronger the bands
Of the Union. The constellation of states
Z now revolves around an eccentric sun the
movement would be more equable and the
perturbatons less violent if that sun was
central. In the civil as we'll as in the solar
system distance and GOODNESS are synonymous
terms. The states of the Union naturally
. gravitate towards a geographical centre.
! The heart Of the country would inspire a
: | att Nhop tba 4; ou
. The transfer Of the capital to the Mississippi
d Valley would excite in the Pacific commune
. ties liveler personal interest in the seat Of
i government, equally attract all the states
y toward the common centre in tiial loyalty
e r to the Union, and strengthen their feelings
y of fraterDal regard for each other.
= Even if the public buildings at Washing.
ton were a total loss to the treasury, we
should still advocate the removal of the seat
of government in the west. There would
be an ultimate economy in the transfer.
But the capitol could perhaps be used for
National Museum, for naval and military
schools, the officers Of the Nautical Almanac
and Coast Survey, and for the photographic
and other bureaus which it might still be
convenient for the government to retain near
the seaboard.
If ever the seat of government is moved
from Washington, St. Louis, with its health
: ful climate, beautiful highlands, and metro
politan character, with its central situation
in the midst of our greatest industries and
equally accessible to all parts of the
country, with its geographical security
against foreign invasion and the capture Of
the national archives--St. Louis, with this
rare and exclusive combination Of adgan-
tsges, should be made the Capital of the
United States.
Washington University, Nov, 1868.
F. Emerel, New York citizen, wants
well here's what he wants: