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


REMOVING THE CAPITAL.
We to-day accord full hearing TO tnose
who seek transfer of the Federal Metropolis
from the banks of the Potomac to those OF the
Mississippi. Mr.. L. U. Reavis, who thus ad-
dresses President Grant on the subject was
an early and has been not only an earnest put
an indefatigable champion of removal. lie
has worked more, and we Judge to better pur-
pose, than any of his allies and the consider
ations which favor removal have never been
more fully nor more c0gently set forth than
they arc in the letter herewith published.
Yet we think the President is substantially
il not technically right in his position that
the Capital is not to be removed by mere
majority vote I'm each House, majority which
may number less than One-third OF the mem
bers entitled to sit in that House. The Capltai
of a great Nation is not to be mounted on
wheels and dragged hither and thither as
casual majority may dictate. We do not DIS
pute the legal efficacy Of such vote; we only
maintain that Removal is so grave topic that,
though the Constitution does not expressly
prescribe it, something very like COnstitu-
tional Amendment should be required to effect
it. And this is what the President intended
by his casual remarks quoted by Mr. K.
On the next point we are in full accord with
Mr.. Reavis. The Capital question should DO
fully considered and finally settled now. The
westward and southwark extension OF our
area, until it has become many times what
it was in 1887, raises fair presumption that
the Capital needs to be relocated. The fact
(if fact it beg that the Valley of the Potomac
proffered the fittest site in in 1900, by no
means proves that it remains such to this day.
The fair inference is otherwise. Hence we
say, Let us take up the subject and dispose OF
it conclusively-that is, for so long as our coun-
try shall remain essentially what it is. Ii we
shall 90 on annexing, until we rule the entire
continent, it ia probable that New-Orleans, OF
Vera Cruz, or Nicaragua, or Panama, will then
be the spot for our Capital. But, having
auadrupled our original area by additions on
two sides only, and there paused, let US de-
termine whether Washington shall or shall
not remain the Mecca Of our Ofiice-seeklng
pilgrims before we spend another mill in buy
ing costly grounds and erecting buildings at
Washington, which could not be sold for five
Der cent. of their cost in case the Government
shall ever leave them behind it.
But we are not convinced that central To-
cation is so important as Mr.. Reavis esteems
it. Other things being quite equal, such lOca-
ton is expedient; but other things rarely or
never are equal. So London is the capital Of
Great Britain, Paris of France, Stockholm OF
Sweden, and Lisbon of Portugal, though
neither of them is near the center OF the king
dom. Nay, ST. Petersburg, the modern capl-
tai Of Russia, is by no means so central as
was that Moscow which Peter the Great aban-
doned. Rome is not so near the center OF
Italy as Florence is yet the latter is about to
give place to the former. China is o very old,
conservative country; yet Picking, her modern
capital, is not so central to her territory as
her earlier capitals were. In short, we con-
cede to geographical position very subordi-
nate Importance in the location Of q seat OF
government. Mr.. Reavis may wisely consider
that his own st. Louis is not so near the cen
ter of our present domain as Topeka or Fort
Riley, and govern himself accordingly.
We have not doubt that New York Is the
most desirable point in the Union for the loca-
ton of its Capital. Nine-tenths of our own
people whose duties constrain them to reside
or sojoum at the Capital, with ten-tenths of
the Old Worlds ambassadors and other visit
ants, would decidedly prefer it. Art, Literature,
the Drama, Music, and everything that interests
or delights mankind. are more abundantly and
cheaply enjoyed hero than elsewhere in the
New World. Moreover, our politics and
municipal rule are SO thoroughly rotten that
even the presence of Congress and the Federal
departments could not further corrupt them
Yet we do not ask nor seek removal of
the Capital to our City. We are quite content
with Washington, though we are confident that
One Hundred Million Dollars would have been
saved ere this by location which afforded
the denizens of the Federal Metropolis some
what to live on beside the Government That
the present location was very grave mistake
we have long been convinced; and we are not
sure that the blunder is beyond remedy. But
read Mr.. Reavis on this point. and form your
own opinions.