New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-28
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.

'iISi In FAVOR OF READVAIr-llISICSI oF
The CAPITAL neutrality-suspicious. or AMEEI-
CAN MISUNDERSTANDING DxMASD FOR
REMOVAL.
To rs Ef,eeJnesey ULYSSES g. GRANT Presiaet Of tho
SIR: The friends Of Captalrc.noval would have
been content, during the preliminary discussion,
with yonr silence upon the subject Until you deemed
IL OF sufficient Importance TO give il your special
consideration in al official way But as you hayo
from time to time during the agitation intmatcd
your marked friendship for the people OF Washing
ton City, and the eternal retention of tho Capital at
that place, and manifestly shown indifference TO-
ward the West, especially by your recen. Official aud
individual action in virtual opposition to the re-
moval, it becomes the imperative duty OF tie friends
of Capita-Tcnoyal to hold you alike responsible and
subject TO the same criticism invoked by those who
do not comprehend the magnitude of tho question.
shall therefore assume to call you ~ account upon
this great subject vital to our national life and
| arraign you before the great men Of the Republic,
both living and dead, who have stood in Different
quarters Of the country and beIeld alike with pro-
phetc eyes the rising glory and greatn,as Of tho
nation, and foresecn tie coming changes in the gov
ornamental dominion aud tine rehabilitation Of poti-
cal and material power over the wide domain Of the
continent.
shall bring to bear for your consideration an
ray Of facts and arguments, bearing directly and
enable man viii dare attempt an answer. That the
public may be fully advised Of lie melting eause
that called ont this discussion, and that you be re-
minded of the grounds upon which it Is based, here
insert your words as found them in the dispatches
from Washington City, bearing date of Dec. 81,
1870, as follows:
"wELcoMg CoyGRPss
"A large number Of citizens, inc!YIns Boys in Buo
and members OF tho Fire Department, had hight
oh IN riy n well N
They marched to the Executive maIlioa, and commit
tee was met by the President In the yesbale. Judge
Barrett addressed tie President saying they 20
tender their respects to HIN, the whom every true
American delighted to honor.
"PREsIDEST's SPEECH.
"The President made the following reply: cannot
thank you appropriately for the honor you have done
IN calling this cold night would .etain
those outdoors hear speech, knowing that they
to make calls at other places, and gentlemen who TO
doubt, will thank them in appropriate terms vii only
say has always been ny desire to see this great nation
built up in manner worthy of great ard growing lie.
public like
"As to the removal OF the Capital think lmrroba-
BILE in the extreme; do believe the removal should
be subject to majority OF tho Representatives OF
the people, elected for single term think the qGcs-
ton Of the removal ever presented shond 90 through
the process. at least amendments 10 the Con.
tuition, IL there is constitutional power % remove IL,
which ia settled. This language aay seem unpopu.
lar for person coming from that part of the country
where belong but it is nevertheless expressed with
earnestness and without Gentlemen. / thank
you for your attention and Kindness"
Now, Mr.. President, what you think on the sub
jet of the removal of the Capital is simply the ex-
preston of an incOnsderate individual opinion. Is
it possible that in your oiice position would
express himself SO loosely 50 great subject az
the under consideration You say as 10 the re-
moval Of the Capital. you think it improbable in tho
extreme. This expression is unquestioned evidence
that you have not weighed Che snbiect in yonr MIND
Do you think it improbable that tie Mssissippiis
larger than the Potomac Do you think it irrreaa
bic that Missouri is larger than all the New
England Statesi and do you ihink it
improbable that she possesses more valuable
resources than thoy doi and that the National
Debt could be dug out Of her soil
much sooner and in greater abundance than it could
be taken from the mountain system of TIE West
you declared in your message one year agof You
say you believe the removal should not be subject 10
mere majority of the representatives of the people.
This expression. Mr.. President, still more betrays
your inconsiderate action on the subject. Do you
forget that this is Government Of majorities thas
the popular will of the people expressed in tho
ballot-box by their representatives in Congress,
is the governing attribute and law OF the na.Olf IL
was for these principles that you SO brayely con-
tended on the battlefield and by the exercise OF this
principle you were elevated to your present official
position.
pt - "a NOT my chico. Mr. President 10 address
D 80 80 -. -. =. -, 49,.
you Win analysis ana ciiuSlsh' ouo 10 Ni'uicd'o
your oppositon the cause of Cauital-remOyal
by systematic and irrefutable argument. ia the fol-
lowing manner:
I. THE RIGHT OF DISCUSSION.
The right discuss all questions relating % The we'll
-, -. CO, 1t, a, ,,hor,n.. :. % d, ,,r,y
oeng VI lhis Pcope anu ha.'oi - ii'"oiii', - ~
10