The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-03


surprised that the Government finds Itself
caught with the sl5.00s,000 debt, we
shrewdly suspect that the statesmen that
passed the law of June 20, 1874, not only did
"have an idea" that it would involve
a debt. but felt that such debt
was inevitable. Yes, that is the truth. The
people who live in Washington could never
make their city suitable national capital for
40 great q Government as ours if compelled
to make their own improvements. The
Government must make these. The
Government must keep up It's national gran
jcur along with lis power. 1t was lovely to
talk Of honesty and eimplctyin days bygone.
There was then some show Of strength OF a
vigor of simplicity combined with virtue.
The usages Of pomp and luxury, the AFRO.
gaDce and grandeur OF political power,
were restrained By the cpergy and jealousy
Of the local State authority aud the genius
of local and personal independence. But
power and Capitalization Of means and forces,
| by consequence OF growth and national
| pOScl, uhfC juauESU tuiG, ohN sE"N p'eSN
restraining virtue Of "loctilics" Is over
come, and we see no reason to hope that IL
| is not tnaliy overcome. Increase Of Gen.
tralized power but increases the tendency to
national grandeur and to arbitrary power ;
and We shall never cease to float away far
| Their and farther from the simple and honest
days Of the Republic il it's purity.
| There "a . sectional consideration bearing
NOON the case of the capital at Washington.
For some years there aas been frequent
introduction Of the question OF moving the
| Federal capital to some more central cty-ln
the West. S.. Lcu:s, upon the border OF the
great plains, and locking upon the overflow
| inc tide OF tie greatest river Of this CONT
ncnt, has nccG urged With great zeal upon
the countr: a. The best plsCc for the seat OF
Government on The ground that it would ac-
commcdatc tie largest number OF people Oh
the Union, and be better secured from
foreign enemies, &c, than any other. Gene.
raj SHERMAN has moved the War Office to
that city, which has given some tone to the
acitaeon il favor Of the removal Of the seat
of Government tAithcr.
We call lar;icuIar atlenton to the fact that
when the agitation fer the removal was
wnrmcst The schemes for improving Wash
ington becsmc especially extensive and splen-
did, 1t scented to Us that the general feel
ing in the Atlantic States and cities became
;ncl!uLd It. increase the magDifccnce OF Wash.
iugton - one way Of increasing the difficulty
OF removing the capital thereffoH. The plan
of grading Tic city was one without example
in This country, involving an expenditure
which ali could see WAS beyond the
financial ability Of the citizens Of that place
IN their simple corporate capacity. Yet Con-
gress ccteG towards them with this full
knowledge il 4 manner that as well eE-
couraged A. authorized the grand improve.
mcnts. they must have known that they
were to be p.Q frr out Of the Federal Trca-
surg and it was plain that the unprece-
denied progress thus made in the condition
OF the capital was to tortify it more fcrmi-
daby than ever against the attacks Of COM
munitius who might desire to change The
seat Of Government.
This strategy 70 strengthen the position
was also entirely c0rsonant With the natural
Developments in and around the capital. 1t
could not fail TO reflect the progress and con-
sequence Of the Government itself. All,
| indeed, how tnany things there are in Wash
ington now which :the fathers Of States.
rights fought against inch by inch Judge
ROBERTSON could not tolerate the idea Of his
being buried in The congressional buryiDg-
ground at public expense, and we are sure
that Mr.. TUCKER secs much TO bcStoW CEN
sure upon. The spacious flowcr-gardens
and lighthouses maintained ut national ex-
pcnse must send forth spicy gales that often
offend, By their latitudinous " and scduc-
tive fragrance, the powers OF the Constitu-
ton.
Alas, Nj. BAyARD, it will be of no avail.
Pay the interest on the debt of the Federal
capital, YOU must. 1t is indeed the Federal
city, and Congress will as surely take ii un-
der Federal protection and Federal care-to
improve it and acorn it-as that it will dc
anything else that it may deem necessary for
the Comfort, convenience, and submity of
The Government and it, officers.