Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-24
THE CAPITAu-MOVERS
COl. ForBey POurs Hot Shot into their faaks.
a SETTLER

letter to the Cincinnati cspital-mosiog conven-
ton in answer to an invitation TO be present. 1t
II an able and col elusive document, domolish-
ing the removal doctrine with weapons from
the sImory of its advocates:
WAsHINGToN, october %, 1870.
Z. Z. Redris, Esq:
.lG DEAR SIR Thanks for your invitation to
the convention in favor of the removal OF the
capital OF the United States which Is TO assem-
Die al Cincinnati on the 18th inst. Believe me
should not hesitate TO accept if previous en-
gagement did not call Inc to New York on the
same day. l hope, however, that You have
oeen equally liberal in asking others not favora-
Die 20 Your project to participate in your DELHI
GRAFTON, and that some citizen abundantly
qualhed Will undertake to set forth the reasons
against your movement. l should esteem it
hleh honor myself to undertake this task
because believe that plain and candid state
ment OF the facts would be sufficient to induce
your convention to decide by large majority
against An agitation, in my opinion, without the
slightest shadow of justice, wholly unc l,led for
by public sentiment, and calculated to revive
animosities in every respect unhappy and injuri-
Gus. would not appear before your conven-
ton as a property holder in the District o.
Columbia, bat simply to repeat and emphasize
the deliberate Judgment OF Western men. AS
your idea is intended tor the spC cial benefit OF
the West would courteously arraign you before
the bar OF the public opinion of the West. Let
me quote some OF the authoritative expressions
OF men AMI JON mails OF established character
and reputation. 1 begin with w. L. Sherm an
citizen of st. Louis, the Gene raj in Chief OF
our armies, and committed by interest and
affection, not only to your own city, but to the
substantial development OF the Western States.
In letter to Colonel Knapp, one Of the prOprie-
tors of the st. Louis Republican, dated October
''Of cour.e, my opinion on this agItated ques ion
o, 40 better than yours or Of any other
Sns Of m s With Gl. To ,S s , Ssa 70 Know what
the capital of the United States IT remoy ed To the
Sears, viii not 70 to 81 Louis. Cincinnati or Chf
caso because neither 81 these cities woGf or should
the national capital To day, neither you nor any
other citizen Of ct Louis would consent 1r would
the ef TUa
might sgree to have the capital at Carondeet, on
but that is not st. Louis ana it would nece <itats
the building not only Of the vast fire proof buildings
stores &C, Tor the persons COL nected with the pub
"in my opinion, if the capital is changed from
Washington to the West a new place will be chosen
On the Mi, sissi epi river. several hundred miles
bseh'ted ale willing TO make use OF your ST. Louis
influence. to get the idea .tarted have interests
10 81. Leuls and II allowed to vote this u.stion
L would vote against surrenderiIg st. Louis, city
and county, with its yast commercial and msnufac,
turng interests, to the exclusive Jur .sdiction of
Congress thar wOuid make these interests subordi
Snt Womb rig sny uses 81 asdet capital
where 1t had bot exclusive aud ab- GLUE jurisdiction
the Government. Therefore II The csnitsI he
moved at all, II must co to place Wiling to sur
render IT'S former character and become a second
AT a public entertainment in the city of Wash.
ingion, this same frank soldier spoke on the
same subject As follows. Referring to the re-
mOyal question, he said
Outside Of his personal views its present consid-
years to bill that Meet through the House Of
Berresentstiyes, one hundred years TO get one
the tiil by both Housas, one hundred and ears
Mond spent IN Discussing the most elieibl: point
IA lhe Spi valley to which the Capital could
Let me add, by way of respectful comment
81 lntn M att i-I,a
General, that, however eXtravagant IT may
seem at first blush, its probability must be
apparent when we reflect that the dissensions
among your own people as to the choice Of the
new capital would, undoubtedly, be anticipated
ty the d'ssensions among your Representatives
in Congress.
Il permitted to represent this before your
convention, is Hon. Thomas Ewing, the oldest
ext nited States Senator alive; - years OF age
on the 2sth or December last; western pioneer
while Ohio was still a part of Virginia; a prac-
ticing lawyer in 1876; Senator in Congress in
le3O; member of the Cabinet in 1911, and again
III 1913; and still again Senator in Congress
from $50 to 1851. Read his words Of friendly
adm0nition:
AS for the removal of the capital, 1 se, no good
res on Tor IT. IL i well where IT s OF easy
and II cons.Cts different sections Of the Union which
epsht to he thus united and if the agitation for its
r,moysl were ended II would steadily improve,
70 meet al the wants Of seat Of government, which
are not extensive, hut peculiar.
a. IL removed, Fort LeavenwOr h would be the most
engnG point n Il net gui tar enough west t. be
swer for pub c Offices, and the United States has
soil aud jurisdiction over space enough for camping
well to cit down and the and profit of the
sT8pG.sd CAPITALIZATION al, east OF lire drawn
accommodated than they will be when capital
moved to Fort Lesvenworth or Omaha, or the more
line there are probably ten IL ard person. " no
'ist tie sest Of government annually on bu.iness or
more railroso tEan they would pay IL il were
oeniralizo making an aggregate excess OF $1,000
IL rot central.
- To remove it the United States mus. sacrifice at
,stc # slO1oOG.S-twenty times the excess paid by
VIII ors from the Far West-besides immense sac
rihce Of private property fixed there in the faith of
the peInapency of the capital and our noble ediice
q When M 'yety american traveller !. proud, would
,ept as ace for foxes to litter and snakes aud
resoIn vi, a n g1nqet rR
rroIoSiii would quiet the agitation hch is doing
some evil ard II would be acceptable to the
ing portion of the community
The Hon. Cadwallader Z. Washburn, OF Wis
censln, one of the ablest and boidest and most
lncorruptb'e men in Congress, said on this sub
ject. on The 22d OF January last:
q" Illinois having twice spoken to day on the sub
all propositions the removal Of the ration al cap.
ltaI, G me irtm What quarter trey may l am in Ia
Fa.her q his Country. and where to protect and
maintain II the best blood Of the country has been
SHOULD it ever be determined to abandon this
CAPITAL from that day will disunion and disntegra-
which exists will be but to realize the fable Of the
PHEASANT, the climate mild and heathful, and its
public buildings the purest in the world; and by
means that were unknown when the Gov eminent
Was Established. through teiegraphs end rail
roads, sur constituents are brought almost TO the
door OF the apitol, and any who desires r can
come here even from the far OF shores OF the Pacific
Vial more ease and almost as the fathers Fl
the Republic could come here from New York city
when the capital was established.
The r. val Of the capital means the taking from
The people by taxation Ito GO establish new
capital and erect public buildings equal to those We
pow possess. Ii means more than that. 1t me ans
Sso1totC0 OF private opery in this city DESTROYED
Believing that my constituents satisfied that the
capt. al should main where is ard their jGdR
m.nt accords with my own, 1 shsll oppose ali
'chent Tor its disturbance OF removal"
The Ohio State Journal, published at Column
bus. said in November of 1862:
:" III the site Of the capital of ths country were
chsnged to day, IL would be quarter Of centu y
tefore suitable buildings could be erected for the
scc"mmo datfon OF the governments different de-
raIiments Buildings like the national Capitol
TIE most magnificent structure Of the kind In the
vorid-can not be built in q day. The Cologne and
StTafburg cathedrals have been more than two Cen
turtles In building End unfinished yet. The best
81 our public buildT gs have been from thirty %
iorty years In process OF construction. II our Capt.
toll Patent ofiee, Post Office. aud Treasury build
laRs are abandoned now, more than half a century
OF IsbSr viii be wasted. Forty to nifty millions Of
Iropsry OF assets OF the government will be virtually
Cast INTO the SEA. Before become regardless of
e1p nses we had better pay debts IL il maxim
fbaro ha in hate ba