Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-20
HISTORIC WASHINGTON.
CHAPTER |.

IETlON-AN ANBJLAT0RE BQDY-FINAI E0CA
TON OS The .POTOwAACK -IEFFERSONS AC-
Count or HIS FIRST d" LOa-RoLLISG" IN con-
GREsS-NOYEL HHYaEs-LAYIEG OFF TIE DIS
TRICT AND CITY-NAJOR L'ESFANT-ARRIvAL
Or PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS-0PES1SG OF TIN
FIRST CONGRESS HELD IN WASHING FoN-"A
RESIDENCE NOT TO BE CHANGED.
With the surrender OF CORVALLIS at yorktown
the war OF the revolution was virtually ended
On September 3, 1888, treaty OF peace was
signed at Versailles, by which the Unlted states
of America was acknowledged Of Great Britain
to be a free, sovereign and independent nation.
Much, however, remained yet to be done.
The first Congress. known as the sold CONT
mental Congress-. - hich assembled in Philadei-
phia September 5. 1IT4, had not undertaken to
exercise any political powers. me second
10, 1875, constituted the Revolutionary govern-
ment. which continued until March |. 1iSl. when
the Articles OF Confederation were finally rau
fed. Peace was declared and Independence
achieved under the confederation. But this
form OF government was not adapted to the
wants and necessities OF prosperous and
thriving people. The result was that, after an
existence Of eight years and ng-cOntinued
and heated debates on the subject. the present
Federal Constitution was adopted, March 4,
1883.
The city OF New York was the seat OF govern
ment at the time this constitution went into
effect. Prior to this the Congress had been
ambulatory. moving nom place 10 pace as tne
necessities OF war or convenience demanded,
assembling first in Philadephis, removing from
there to Baltimore, then back to Philadelphia
again; then to Lancaster; then TO York return
to Princeton, Annapolis, Trenton; then TO New
York, when the constitutional government was
organized and finally returning Tor the last
time 10 Philadelphia In December, 1879.
The question OF a permanent location for the
seat OF the national government was one OF the
earliest and most important questions that oc-
cupied the attention OF Congress Spirited de-
bales had taken place upon this subject in the
Congress OF the confederation, running through
peTiOd extending from the spring of 1913 10
1870. IN the fall OF 1888 an instruction broke
out In Philadelphia, which the authorities OF
the state were not able to put down. IL was
principally composed or soldiers whose pa
tTtotism was not sufficient 10 restrain them
from making importunate demands for money
due them by the government. Congress, which
was seriously menaced by the muifneerS, be-
came greatly alarmed, ana the question OF Tx
ing a permanent seat of government was given
q fresh impetus The f1rSt proposition was
made by Maryla land when that state offered TO
cede Annapolis Tor this purpose. The first reSo-
luton introduced. looking toward the location,
was Ia the following language:
a. RFSofrtd. That suitable buildings for the
use OF Congress be erected on or near the banks
of the Delaware provided suitable district for
a federal town could be obtained, with right to
the soil aid Jurisdiction vested in the United
States"
A location on the Potomac was put In opposi-
ton 10 the proposed location On the Delaw ware;
but the resolution in favor OF the Delaware
prevailed by a strict sectional vote Voting foe
The Delaware were Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New jersey,
PENNSYLVANIA and Delaware. Voting against tL
and In favor OF the Potomac We're Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
New Hampshire and Georgia were not repre-
scented. This vote was taken october I. 1888.
Thus early did the baleful spirit OF SectioEaliSm
manifest itself In our national legislation. On
the next day motion was made by Mr.. VII
Hanson. OF North Carolina. seconded by Mr..
Reed. or South Carolina, Ito reconsider the
resolution or yesterday by which the residence
OF Congress Is TO he fixed near the falls OF the
Delaware, in order TO fix on some other place
which shall be more central, more favorable to
the union, and shall approach nearer 10 that
Justice which Is due the southern states" The
motion was negatived; but the south, with
Characteristic persistence. was not TO be de-
feated.
TWO SEATS OF GOVERNMENT PROPOSED.
On the 21st OF october, 1888 it was resolved
that there should ''be two seats OF government
and that buildings be likewise erected for the
use OF Congress at or near the lower falls OF
Potomac, or Georgetown, and that until the
buildings TO De erected on the banks Of the Della
ware and Potomac shall be prepared TOR the
reception OF Congress their residence shall be.
alternately. at equal periods OF not more than
one year and not less than six lno4thS, in Tren-
ton AID Annapolis Committees were ap-
pointed 20 view the two locations and report
districts; but the resolution did not proceed
ON the 9Th Of March. 1883, the first Congress
under the present Federal Constitution was as
sembled at New York. The city appropriated
It's public buildings TO the use OF the new Con-
greSS. Mr.. White, OF Virginia. presented TO the
House resolution OF the legislature OF that
state, Offering to the Federal Government ten
miles square OF territory in any part OF the state
which Congress might choose to accept, - TO be
occupied and possessed by the United States as
the seat OF the government Mr.. Seney OF Mary
Land, offered similar resolution, passed by the
legislature OF his state. Both were ordered TO
lie on the table. On the 9th OF AuguSI, in the
same year, Mr.. Scott. OF Pennsylvania, moved
the following:
.'ReSOlred That permanent residence ought
10 be fixed for the general government OF the
United States at some convenient place as near
the center of wealth. population and extent OF
territory as may Be consistent with the conve-
nience to the navigation OF the Atlantic ocean.
and having due regard 10 the situation OF the
western country"
This was made the order for the following
Thursday at which time Mr.. Scott said: THE
principle or Union, in which we are bound, Is
The principle OF equal and reciprocal justice;
link il the chain OF the federal system. The
peace OF the United States depends as much
upon this az on any other question which can
come before Congress. No man In the western
country ever Wished anything further than that
when the central line between the northern and
the southern eXtremities was tlXe1, Congre- s
should establish their seat as far back on this
line as the convenience or maritime commerce
one OF the objections TO Philadelphia came
nom South Carolina, because OF The number
OF Quakers who were eternany logging toe
southern members With their schemes for eman-
cipation."
Mr.. jackson, or Georgia, said:-''The exist
ence OF the Union depends on this subject" Mr..
stone, or Narylan Sald:-"FhiS will be very
important business. No question viii so fully
Try the temper OF this body as the present. Mr..
AmeS, OF Massachusetts,, said:-'I believe It VIII
Involve as many passions as can reside in the
human heart. Every principle Of local intere SC,
OF pride and honor, and even OF patriotism It.
self. is engaged"
ON the Sd O September the House was In CON-
mittee OF the whole upon Mr.. SCOTS resolution.
Public interest was intense, and the halls and
galleries were throDged with anxious on
lockers. Mr.. Goodhue, OF Massachusetts,, said
the northern aud eastern members had made
up their minds on the subject and were OF
opinion that Congress should fix It's permanent
residence on the eastern banks OF the Susque.
hanna; and proceeded TO introduce resolution
10 that effect. Amendment after amendment
was proposed AID rejected, until Mr.. Lee, OF
Virginia. (the grandfather OF Gen. Robert T..
Lee, moved to substitute ''Potomac1 for ''Sls-
QUehanDa,n which gave rise to a debate contln.
Uing til near O'Clock In the morning.
HOT DEBATE.
On the 9Th Of September MIR. Goodhue'S reso
luton, liking the permanent seat OF govern
ment On the Susquehanna, was finally passed
by the House. This was a victory for the
northern states, and the temper OF the south al
this defeat may be collected from the r, lark oil
Mr. Madison, who said In the debate: II verify
believe that had prophet started up In the
convention and fGretOld the proceedings OF this