National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-06
NATIONAL METROPOLIS.
1DDRESS OFDR. B. BLAKEBEFORE
TIE OLDEST LHHABIPAHTS.

W
9ROWTH-REMlNIsCENC EsOFITS FOUND
RKs-THE OLD SENATE CRAMBER-FoLLY |
OF CAPITAL MOyERs-woRK FOR TIE |
HISTORIAN,
The readers Of TIE NATIONAL RrpuaIlcAN
viii thank ~ FOR layirg before them 5kss morn
Ing the fall text Of theSddress Of our Distinguished
and useful fellow citizen, DR.. John B. Blake, be-
fore the oldest Ehabitants' Association last
wednesday. The paper is full Of historical fact !
and anecaote, ana throughout 1t b-Sathes the at
nOsphOce OfpuIa patriotism.
THE ADDRESS
TN history tf the city Of Washington has never
beeR fully Ttttten. The sallentpoints have been
seized upon ind linked together so as to make an
in some respects interesting mar
Fatve Of It's rise and progress. To write It's true
history requires great reseE-oh, deep reelection,
the power Of discriminating between facts and
aetion.azd freedom from paztiality and prejudice.
SupeFsdded to these, as Ecsntrollng power, must
be a rosolute purpose to state nothing but posi-
tivelyascertained truth, TRexaggerated BY fancy
apdSpsdorned by language that might misleaa
by +heir attractive besUtles from the due apprt-
siatson OF its naked force and power. History Il
hut narration Of facts and the more simple The
7RaFb in which It is clothed, the more imposing
and effective IL Is. FCwrte history successfully
a person must have secular talent for 1t; other
wise patience would forsake him whilst sffsing
the chat in pVrsuitef the grain Of truth. Most
Of the
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE CITY
Of Washington thst I have read strike me as
having been lu1Ffedly written, without proper
effort to ascertain facts, and more as prehtable
occupation thanfrOm q desire to write . truthful
and digni6ed history that would do justice to the
subject and reject credit upon the author. wish
some competent person would write the history of
our city. Tbereds ample material 70 make most
sngTFn and hoOlr he
have transpiTed within it so varied, important,
and often thrilling, that the simple record Of
them, in Border in which they occurred, with
cut any attempt at systematic arrangement and
embellishments, would Of Itself make coveted
volume; bgtTEhen passed throughShe eruoiole Of
= practical and skillful historian, whose good
Judgment and taste would Winnow the inmate,
rial from the substantial and valuable
there S Is no phii history that would prove more
engaging 10 the general reader, and especially
20 the Lover Of the philosophy that teaches by
example. That such a history will be written
before long am encouraged TO believe from the
great space the city is beginning to occupy in
public estimation. The
MANY VISITORS OF CULTURE
who are attracted TO It, and whose admiration it
ELECTS, in their home correspondence portray its
beauties in such vivid cOlOrs that they are
creating q deep interest In It's growth and pros
this means and an enlightened press, it is fast
losing the character Of a local city and becoming
what It really is-tbe nations city. London is
the boast Of every Englishman and Paris the
Frenehman's elysiGm, and why should not Wash
ingtOn be the pride Of every American eitiIen2
10 make it worthy Of that great distinction, and
oTthe universally hOnored name it bears. Con-
Kress during the last three sessions, has in some
measure recognized the obligation Of the Govern
ment by liberal appropriations and other legisla-
tiOn 70 contribute its just proportion towards the
expenses Of improving the city, and TO take a
deeper and an immediate interest in all that en-
Germs the welfare Of the District. The proper re-
lations that should exist between the Govern
ment and the District Of Columbia have become
3 subject Of earnest inquiry, and the able aud
lucid report made at the last session Of Congress
by Hon. Luke P. Poland has removed all doubts,
and leaves no ground in the future for cavil. As
soon as these relations have been established by
some action of Congress, and made to assume q
distinct and perms1ent form, new impulse will
be given to the
MARCH OF IMPROVEMENTS
in the District and the development Of its re-
sources. Laws will be enacted adapted to Us
operating alike upon all, without favor or
prejudice, enforcing prudent economy, Cxacting
lie functionaries rfgidly 70 the faithful perform
ance Of their duties. Under such system OF gov
eminent all the material interests Of the District
will prosper and enhance rapidly in value. The
attention Of capitalists will be directed to It for
profitable investments, 70 open up avenues OF
industry, foster the mechanic arts establish
manufactures, encourage trade and invite com
meTce. This Is no idle fancy. With the General
ever may be its character, acting In concert and
pulling together for common beReht, is 1t not
reasonable to anticipate such results? Good
government, shedding its benign influence over q
people, makes them selEreliant, stimulates TO
eXertion ELECTS enterprise, produces cOntentment
and directs them into paths that almost ineVita-
bly, lead to success and fortune. Who can pre-
diet the
GIANT GROWTH OF WASHINGTON
with such teeming prosperity in and around It
ODIy three iSpItns Of century ago the surface
Of corn and tobacco, and with but little aid from
The Goyernment and sParee and poor popull-
many obstacles to surmount, expanded to its
present size, with its magnificent buildings and
many other attractive beauties, and q popula-
ton that ranks it in size as the twelfth largest
city in the country. If under such adverse cir
cumstanees it has grown to It's present dimen-
sOns who can prescribe limits 70 its growth under
the favorable auspices that will smile upon il
when tie parent Government shall assume its
Just relations to 1t and share proportionately the
expenses for fits support and improvements? 1t
does not require the eyes OF q seer to look into
The future, some forty OF my years hence and see
every foot Of ground within the bounds Of the city
brought into useful and profitable requisiion, all
the squares cOmpaetly built up, q dense and
occupations, and the whole giving assurance
Of an
ENTERPRIsING, PROSPEROUS AND WEALTHY
community. Most Of us are too old to witness
sEch contamination, but that 1t will be realized
by those who are to succeed US we have every
reason 10 hope and believe from present indica- |
tions. During our Revolutionary struggle, and
the intervening period up TO the adoption Of the
Constitution, the seat Of GOvernmenth had no local
hsbitatiOn, no abiding place 1t was an itinerant,
ever and anon changing its residence. Philadel-
phis, Baltimore, Lancaster, Annapolis, York
town, Princeton, Trenton and New York were
seVerally and temporarily used by the Govern
ment for its deliberations and the transaction Of
public business. This versatility in the seat Of
Government was owing to the agitated and IN
Setlea eoholtion on the country; " had 70 seek
the approach Of the enemy or mob violence. In |
the ordinarily quiet city OF Philadelphia Congress
was insulted by an attempt to OveraWe it, and in |
order to maintain its independence Of any i'm |
proper influence its actions Il left sthe Quaker
City" and repaired to Princeton. where it could |
carry On its deliberations without the apprehen-
sion Of any effort to intimidate it. Congress sub
sequently removed to New York, and continued |
stItutiOD, when Philadelphia was adopted as the |
temporary seat Of Government until the perma- |
nent seat Of Government was ready to be occu-
pied. Whenever the question OF
PERMANENT SEAT OF GOVERNMENT
was agitated in Congress, owing to the advan- |
tages supposed to accrue TO the location that might
be selected, it OeeasiOned great excitement, |
which led to warm and animated dis |
eussioB, sometimes SO piquant as 70 Dor
der on an exhibition Of lI-temper. Even the |
serene and PhilosoPhie James Madison, on the |
passage Of resolution looking to the selection Of
some point on the SUsquehanna for the seat Of |
Soyernment, was warmed up TO such degree !
the proceeding Of that day, might not have be- |
come party to the Constitution. The sober |
second Lhought at length obtained control Of Con.
Erets Gnu taxing an exclusively patriotic view Of
the subject they relinquished their individual |
preferences and passed the following act which /
allayed all unpleasant. feeling and received The |
general aequiesence Of the country: THAT a dis
Irict OfterTtory the river Potomac at some place
between the mouths Of the Eastern Branch and |
tie Counogoeheague, be and the same Is hereby |
accepted for the permanent seat of the Govern
ment Of the United States" General Washing
favored this site, and Il was supposed that his
EellknoEn preference determined Congress 10 |
adopt it. He took the greatest
INTEREST IN ITS PROGRESS,
and did everything in his power to facilitate it.
The finances Of the Government at that time |
were at q low ebb and its credit bad. Money |
oould not be borrowed abroad or at home on the |
faith Of the Government TO erect the necessary |
public buildings, and In this strait Washington |
made an earnest, personal application to Mary
land for . loan which was successful, and hun |
dred thousand dollars was advanced for the pur-
pose, not, however upon the credit Of the Govern
ment, but upon the individual responsibility of |
The commissioners whom he had appointed in |
purEuance Of an act Of Congress, to take charge |
Of the city while in its inchOate state and exer-
clse suen functions as might be delegated to them
By the Executive and ConSress. He laid the cor
ner-stone Of cur msgnihcent Capitol, September |
Is, 1853, which covers area OF more than three
and hall acres and Is unsurpassed by auy simi- |
lar building In the world. The gaVeI used on tie
occasion Is in the possession Of the Potomac Ma
sonic LoogeI Georgetown, ID. o., and has been |
used In laying the cornerstone Of number Of the
nneEt
MASONIC AND OTHER BuIIDIUgR