Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-03-30

THE REMOVAL OF TIE STATE CAPITAL.
The question of removing the State Cap
ital to Philadelphia, is again being urged
by some few members of the Legislature,
who appear to think that their morals
might be affected by influences about the
city of Harrisburg. If these members are
NOT satisfied with the present location of
our State Capital, and are dcsirous of ex-
pending some ten or fifteen millions of dol
lars of the peoples money for their own
qualification, their constituents should
let them know that their services are no
longer required, and that there are others
who consider themselves less liable to fall
into error through the corruptions of IIar-
risburg, and therefore more able to fill their
seats. If there is to be a removal of the
Capital from its present location, we think
the people, who will be compelled to foot
the bill ofexpcnses, should have a voice in
the matter in regard to its necessity as well
as its future location. If the question were
left to the voters of the State, we feel very
confident that the Capitol would never
be moved to Philadelphia, but would be
placed in more central position, and fur
ther away from Philadelphia influences.
Most of the Legislative corruption has its
inception in Philadelphia, and if the Le-
gislature were located there, affairs would
grow from bad to worse very rapidly. But
says some of the Philadelphia papers, ''re-
fined society,"" intellectual and moral ad-
vantages" ought TO be taken into conside-
ration by members of the Legislature.
Well, if Harrisburg society is no longer
good enough for any of the members, they
have the remedy in their own hands-that
is, decline serving and move to Philadel-
phia, and we feel confident that their con-
stituents will be gamers rs well as them
selves. AS far as the intellectual and mo-
raj advantages" are concerned, Philadel-
phia has no more to boast of than Harris
burg. 1t is true, perhaps, that Philadel-
phia may have more visitors than Harris
burg, but it has never been presumed that
men are sent to the Legislature for the pur-
pose of taking look at the visitors. In
fact, all the arguments advanced by the
Philadelphia papers are miserably lame,
and will scarcely admit of a consideration.
We admit that the present Capital build
ings are somewhat out Of keeping with the
dignity and wealth of the Commonwealth
and should give place to a building that
would be expressive of the greatness of the
State, whether on the present site or some
other. There would scarcely be a division
in the public mind as to the erection ofnew
Capital buildings, but as to the renewal of
the Capital to the city of Philadelphia, the
weight Of sentiment would be decidedly
against it, as there is no assurance that
there would not be more corrupt influences
to contend with if located in Philadelphia
than in the interior of the State. In fact,
judging from present appearances in rela-
tion to the morals of our large cities, the in
ference is that the evils complained ofas ex
isting with our Legislature, would be aug
mented immeasurably by such removal,
and the people, who foot the bill, would be
increasing the evil at heavy expense. As
regards centrality of position, the advan-
tage is decidedly in favor of Harrisburg, as
the greater part of the travel TO Philadel-
phia, is compelled to pass through Harris
burg to reach that city.
We are of the opinion, however, that
there is no hurry in this matter, and that
the members of the Legislature would bet
ter consult their constituents before taking
any action, or else leave it for the voters to
decide whether to move the Capital to Phi
ladelpha or not.