Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-24
CONGRES0IONAL.
TIE CAPITAL REMOVAL QUESTION
COnelu2i01 HatuRiaYea RrooQA1fnGn


Conclusasn Saturday. Proceedings.
HOUSE.-After our report closed
Mr. Logan continued his speech on the cap
ital rem oval question At great length. He dis
claimed being actusted BY any spirit Of revenge
said he intended at the proper time TO introduce
resolution embracing three important propo-
sitions, to wit the constitutionality, prsctica-
bility and expedieAcy OF changing the seat OF
our General Government. He then proceeded
TO consider these three points seriatim first civ
ing sketch Of the history Of the location of the
capital on m, TIE potomas' IN which he admitted
sled from point to point, "felt there was a ne
cessity for fixing upon some central and conve-
nient point with view to Per~a.e.ey."
Logan contended that the power Of Congress
was not exhausted by their act in fixing upor the
Dstrict Of Columbia Is the capital as has been
cSntended. and that Congress can sepeal the act
and nx the capital at any other locality. He
argued that permanent seat of Government is
not re 1uired by the Constitution; and Congress
by the use Of the word permanent" in their
S noS locf H the capital, transcribed their
ton was confession of the weakness Of the
Claims Of Washington in other respects. Refer
ence was made in this part Of his speech to the
retrocession of Alexandria, as a point against
the constitutional argument
Proceeding to the question of feasibility, Mr..
Logan argued that as the rough blocks of stone
chusetts and Virginia to build the public build
ings, the same stone dressed could be transported
TO the West and put in place there, and said he
could find dozen firms to take the contract.
But it was not necessary to remove these build
ings, which are not of dimensions and arrange
ments suitable to the rapidly increasing growth
There were quarries west Of the mountains as
well as east of them, and these buildings could
be left to Maryland for her capital. The papers
and documents could be transferred even to
and oil xoIs To- a. r.-Ak~
Coming to the question of expense, Mr.. Logan
did not think the money spent here should be
used As an argument against the removal of the
Capital. They were not legislating for the pres
ent only but for the future generations also; and
without entering into detail Of the various
ten that in twenty five years it will be found the
removal has really cost the Government moth
ing: The changes, repairs, new buildings, &c,
that viii be necessary here to meet future wants,
viii in the end cost nearly or quite as much as
An entire new suite of necessary buildings in the
West The income from the sale Of lots and
grounds at the site Of the new capital will offset
a considerable portion Of the expense. A conf
dence in regard to permanency will be felt there
that cannot be entertained here.
He argued thatremOval was expedient, quoted
should be centrally located, contended that ex-
perience shows there has always been feeling
of distrust in regard to the permanency at this
point; insisted strongly upon the necessity for
central position as TO population, and commended
that that centre is and will be forever i'm the
valley of the Mississippi. He then proceeded to
compare the West with the East as to area, pop
ulation, mineral wealth, rivers and railroads,
and agriculture, greatly to the advantage of the
former, and concluded by saying: ga new Re-
public has arisen upon the DID, not on its ruins,
but by its redemption. 1t has been baptised
with the blood Of more than POO, 900 patriots.
Then let us plant our capital IN the centre of
the lnation at the commencement of the new
epoch. The ashes of the martyred Lincoln have
aS a ard nfa rnpir OF
us Follow them, was about to say, with the re-
mains of Washington. But no. Brave hearts
met the foes of our country as well here as there
The honor of the victory is as much due to the
East as the West. Joined heart and hand in
the great battle of freedom, We will remain thus
joined in our efforts to perpetuate it. Let the
1ather OF the old Republic, remembered and
honored by the people, rest quietly beside the
old homestead of the nation; while the father of
the new Republic sleeps near the new home of
empire"
MIR. washburn (wis) SAID: Illinois having
twice spoken to- day on the subject, only wish
to say that L utterly dissent from all PROPOSE
lions for the removal of the national capital,
come from what quarter they may. 1 am IN
favor of its remaining where it was established
by the Father OF his Country, and where to pro-
tect and maintain it the best blood of the coun-
try has been shed on a thousand battle-felds.
Should ii ever be determined to abandon this
capital, from that day win disunion and disin-
corruption which exists will be but to realize the
fable of the fox and the flies. The situation of
Washington is pleasant, the Climate mild and
beautiful, and its public buildings the purest in
the world; and, by means that were un-
known when the Government was estab-
lished. through telegraphs and railroads. our
constituents are brought almost to the door OF
the Capitol and any one who desires il can come
here, even from the far-off shores of the Pacific
with more ease and almost as soon as the fathers
Of the Republic could come here from New York
city when the capital was established The re-
moyal OF the capital means the taking from the
people of 800 .0s0 zoo to establish a new capital
and erect public buildings equal to those We now
possess 1t means more than that: il means
$500, 900 geo Of private property in this city de-
stroyed. Believing that my constituents are
satisfied that the capital should remain where il
is, and as their judgment accords with my own,
shall oppose all schemes for its disturbance or
removal. Adjourned.