Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-11
THE FEDERAL TERRITORY HlST0RI-
CALlY DESCRIBED.
Events Relating to Its Selection as the Per-
manent Seat of the American Re-
pubIie-Ths Rome Of To-Day
the Mother, and Wash
ington the Maiden
ofCapitals.
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, February 10.

the rebellion.
The treasure expended, and the blood
spilled in its defense, have made it seem
to patriots
Sacred as Shrine.
"To want to know all about it," is ma
tional longing, and to crafty this in
some degree, will be the design Of Sc
ries OF letters that shall appear in the
REGISTER from time 10 time, as the
writer Of this may prepare them.
Nowhere, probably, can there be
found SO small territory embracing as
many objects OF interest as are con-
tanned in the District OF Columbia, and
yet the average citizen has but faint
conception Of the value OF the seat OF
government, and foreigners still cling to
the belief that the distances between the
public buildings exceed their magniii-
cence.
No American citizen should remain
contentedly ignorant Of the history Of
the District OF Columbia, and the events
which led to its selection for the perma.
nent seat OF the Federal Government.
The seat OF government OF the Uni
ted States OF America has been 'appro-
priately called
"The Virgin Capital"
A territory under the exclusive iuris.
diction of Congress had early received
the attentionof the legislators OF the
new Republic; indeed, before the
clamor OF war had fairly ceased, or the
standard OF England had left its shores.
The possession OF such a territory was
an important feature in the debates
upon the framing of the constitution;
and it was precisely iorty.eight days al
ter the last act Of the ratifica.
ton that the Federal City
of the American Republic was by
solemn enactment OF the young Com
gress of the Thirteen Free and Inde-
pendent states located on the beautiful
eastern shore OF the broad Potomac. 1t
might be added, that not only is Wash
ington the only virgin capital in the
world, but its foundation was stimuli.
taneous with the Inauguration OF the
permanent form OF government of the
nation. OF being synchron Gus it lacked
less than two years. The idea and The
execution were
Essentially American.
1t was founded as the capital OF the Re-
public. 1t sprang out OF the virgin sol,
and its growth and magniicence were to
be measured by the progress and taste
OF the people who constituted the gov
ernment OF which it was to be the pplti.
cal head and centre and the permanent
residence.
Among the capitals OF the great ma
tiOns OF modern times, in this particular
Washington stands alone. st. Peters
burg. now the seat OF the imperial
residence OF the autocrat OF all
the Ru Ssias, rose out OF the
morasses of the Neva at the will OF the
great Peter. 1t was long what its found
er called it, look out upon Europe,
before the ancient capital of the Cars,
in the fertile Moskoa, left the sheltering
walls of the kremlin for the banks OF
the Neva. Versailles, the queen OF
royal residences, sprang from a fayorte
hunting lodge OF Louis NH.
A Monarch
like his successor was alone capable OF
an exhibition OF extravaganza such as
this. The genius OF lie Brun and lie
NOtre aud the expenditure Of tw0hun-
dred millions Of dollars. did not make
Versailles a capital. Its name and its
associations are synonymous with the
recklessness OF a luxurious and dssolute
court. Rome, the city of over twenty.
SIX centuries, was government and cap
Ital, when Romulus, with his handful, OF
Latius on the western slope OF the
Palatine; Tatius, with his Ssbines on
the Capitoline and Quirinal; and the
Etruscaus on the Caelan and Esquiline,
gathered around the forum, and
hid the foundation OF that career OF
greatness and power, which justly earn.
ed the proud title OF mistress OF the
world. But republican Rome rose on
the ruins Of the earlier kingdom OF the
Tarquins. Imperial Rome superseded
the colossal fabric OF the Republic OF the
Consuls, the Tribunes, and the Trium.
viri. Pontifcal Rome reared herself
upon the
Crumbled Throne
of the Imperial CAESARS. The Rome OF
to-day, the capital OF United Italy,
therefore, may well be said, to be the
mother, while Washington is the
maiden, OF capitals.
The Federal Territory, or District OF
Columbia, is situated on the left bank OF
the p, tomac River, at the c)nauence OF
the ADacostia or Eastern Branch OF that
stream. The district comprises 81
square miles. 1t lies entirely within
the State of Maryland, and is bounded
on the north by Montgomery county,
on the east and north by Prince George
county, and west by Potomac River.
The Federal territory, as originally To-
Gated by President Washington under
authority OF the Constitution OF the
United States and National and State
legislation, formed square OF ten miles.
The bounds were proclaimed by the
President on March 80, 1891. On Fri.
day, April 18th, OF the same year, the
municipal authorities Of Alexandria
Va, repaired to the house in which the
commissioners of Washington were re.
siding, and after uniting with them in
a Glass of Wine
to the sentiment, MAY the stone which
We are about to place in the ground re.
main an immovable monument OF the
wisdom and unanimity OF North Amer.
lea, the company proceeded to place
called Jones Point, where the corner
stone OF the District OF Columbia was
planted. From this initial stone the
lines Of boundary were laid down, which
were marked by square mile stones
with appropriate inscriptions on the side
ilcirg the I, T,rritory, Jurisdiction OF the
United States" facing the State, "vir
ginis" or Maryland" according to
location; facing the North, 1872,
the year in which planted; and facinl
the South, the position OF the magnetic
needle. Many Of these stones arr
doubtless still standing, but lost sight o
amid the accumulation OF decayed yege
tation. 1t has been wisely suggested
that the Government should define tn,
lines OF the Federal territory OF thi
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