The New York herald., 1876-11-17
NATIONAL CAPITAL ANNIVERSARY.

NATIONAL CAPITAL ANNIVERSARY.
THE SEAT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN NEW
YoRK-THE PERMANENT cAPITAL-AN INDIAN
PLACE WITH 4 LONG NAME--THg END OF A
PRoTRAcrEp AND BITTER CONTENTION.
On the 18th oil November 1So0-seventy-s years ago
to-day. and just the dawn OF the nineteenth century
the seat OF transferable to Washington,
and that city from that the capital OF tho
United States Tho selection OF q suitable place had
been long matter OF bitter rivalry between different
sections OF the country and the final settlement Of the
question was regarded the removal Of serious
cause oil contention New York was, during the first
year OF Independence the capital Of the Republic.
and It was in this city that Washington was naugu-
ratcd. When Congress. after q session OF four
months. ending August IL, 1889, removed from New
York TO Philadelphia, that body passed resolutions
thanking the corporation for the elegant and convent
ent accommodations furnished them during their stay;
and II admitted that the inhabitants were rcmark.
abc for their orderly ana decent behavior
Before tho adoption OF the constitution the sessions
OF Congress held according to the exigences OF
the the convenience of members from differ
ent sections required AT New York, Philadelphia, Balti
more Lancaster, Princeton or York. and for the time
being one or other OF tho places named was consid-
cred the seat OF government During this early period
there appears TO have been great excitement and
rivalry. which continued to the end among the dier
ent States to have the distng guished body in their
midst New York rendered the town OF Kingston Tor
the location OF the capital OF the new nationi
Rhode Island, Newport; Maryland. Annapolis, and
Dor, l7S3 Congress had been insulted in Phade
pha by band OF mutnous soldiers camor-
for theirpay which the State authorities were una
bic queL On this occasion tney adjourned 10 Prince
ton where they held their sessions In the hall OF tho
College and il was probably owing to this disturbance
thut ho "A
taken up and continued to be at intervals the SUBJ
jcct OF animated discussion up 70 tho time OF the ior
nation OF the constitution Alter the adoption OF tho
constitution New York was mentioned as the most
suitable place tor Congress 10 meet and to establish the
seat OF government Objections wero made various
grounds, and both Washington and Madison regarded
the proposition with disiavor However this city
decided upon put y ana no. long enjoy % inc noaor me
the new government. but 1t was discovered that the
Guy Hall, in Wall street, IN which the
meet falling TO decay, and the exhausted City
Treasury furnished means wherewth TO make tho
necessary repairs. In this emergency number Of
wealthy gentlemen advanced tho requisite sum- The
hall was immediately renovated and placed At the dis
posal OF the general government. On tho 4th OF
March, 17S9 the day appointed Tor the assembling Of
Congress,
ana the hall thrown open tor tho expected meeting,
but only handful OF members made their appearance
quorum OF the House OF Representatives ut last
present on tho lst OF April suuicien. number Of
Senators 10 form quorum did not arrive until the
9th On the 9th both houses assembled Ia the Senate
Chamber, and tho votes tor President and Vice.
President were opened and counted when Washington
and Adams were declared elected. messenger
was despatched to Mount Vernon 10 announce tho
suit and another was despatched TO Boston for q kc
purpose in the case OF Adams Adams the lrst to
arrive He reached New York on the 2lst OF April
and met ut the boundary line by Governor Clinton
and military and conducted 10 klpgsbridge.
Here he was received by tho Senate and House OF
and escorted TO the CITY, where he de-
livered his inaugural address Two days later Wash
ingon arrived He by both houses OF Con-
gress the Chancellor Of The State and several other
him TO the residence OF Governor Clinton, Pearl
street. who occupied large double house,
fronting on Cedar street Federal Hall had
not yet been nnished and week elapsed
before arrangements ior tho inauguration
could be completed this tho only balcony OF tho
Senate Chamber looking Broad street was chosen
Congress having that the ceremonies should
take place public and IN the open air. The imposing
took place April So 1885, amidst general popular
rejoicing.
Since the first adoption OF the constitution the coun
try had been ierment In respect Of the location Of
the permanent seat OF government Ine Eastern
States preferred New York. Pennsylvania claimed its
return 20 philadelphia the people Of New Jersey petit
while Maryland, Virginia and other southern Statos
urged the banks ofthe Potomac as the central location
Three weeks alter Congress met IN this city, Virginia
to that body miles square Of ts territory
in any part OF tho State which might bc selected as
the OF government, aud next day similar prong
siticn was presented by Maryland The subject caS .
up for discuss the introduction OF a resolution
that il would be expceient 10 select site which should
be possible the centre OF wealth, OF popu-
laton II territory" 1t was also proposed that
place rs nearly central convenient communication
with the Atlantic Ocean and an easy access 10 tho
Western territories should be selected. Almost all
agreed that New York was not sufficiently ceg-
traL Toe South Carolnians objected to Philadelphia
because OF its Quaker inhabitants who, they
said. wero etcrnaliy dogging Southern members
with Their schemes OF emancipation Others
ridiculed tho idea OF building palaces in the
woods. Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts, thought Il
highly unreasonable TO fix the seat OF government In
sucI position to have nine states out OF thirteen
to the north 0 tha place. and advered 10 the sacrifice
the Northern States were roady TO make in being Will.
ing to 90 as far south az Baltimore Mr. Page said
NEW YORK WAS SUPERIOR TO ANY PLACE
for the orderly and behavior OF its Inhabitants
After fierce and lengthy debates, IN which sectional
feeling strongly manifested Germantown was
actually agreed upon by both houses, but tho bill
failed by slight amendment Later the supporters OF
Baltimore aud Connogochcague on the Potomac were
equally divided Finally an act was passed, July 10
1890. which bad long been under consideration, pro-
vidIng for the establishment OF tho national capital
son tho river Potomac at some place between the
mouth OF the east branch and the Connogochcague.
proposition that the debt OF individual states should
be assumed by the federal government had caused
than ordinary exciting debates. Tho claims adj
vanced by Pennsylvania were not recognized, and TO
soften disa II was agreed that Congress
should first remain for ten years In Philadelphia,
when as Mr.. wolcott expressed 10, srhey 10 90
to the Indian place with the long the Poto.
mac Congress adjourned August IL $780, TO meet in
philadelphia in December following. IL assembled at
the time appointed ana continued It's sessions until the
nnal removal OF the seat OF government TO Washington
November IL, 1900. Now York was the political cap
tai of the Republic for the first year succeeding the
adoption OF the constitution.
Tup JIMpREVTA uOMTCTnE