National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-08
Tho Capital City.


In selecting the present site for the
National Capital it was The purpose Of
Washington and his coadjutors hat it
should attract large resident popula-
ton. 1t was the design that members of
Congress and Government officials should
lG' surrounded with the comforts, luXu-
res, and social advantages not to be found
elsewhere than in large city. In this
view the city limits were made to en-
brace an area of nine and onc-half square
miles, although occupied ut the time only
by the denizens of two small hamlets
at Observatory Point and the Navy
Yard. In this view also this extensive
area was laid off upon magnificent plan
into upward of thousand blocks and
squares, vide streets, spacious avenues,
extensive parks and public rcscrya-
tons. In this view, and upon no other
consideration, the then owners were in
duced to give to the United States in alb
solutc ownership not only the land COW
cred by streets, avenues, and public res
ervations, amounting to more than half
of this extensive area, but also one-half
of all the city lots and squares designed
for residence and business purposes. The
lots and squares so donated were
aftcrward sold by the Government
to private individuals, and the money
received therefor went into the Treasury
of the United States. The citizens who
are now asking for water adequate for
their daily use and for the protection of
their health against the pestilence-breed-
ing swamps along the Potomac derive the
title to their city homes either from the
original owners, who gave TO the Gov
eminent thrcc-lourths of the land on the
sole consideration Of promised benefits to
the other fourth, by Il direct purchase
from the General Government of land
donated 10 it for that purpose. In what
it has hitherto done to make the city
attractive and hcalthful Congress has
only been fulfilling an obligation fairly to
be implied from these historical relations
Of the Government to its inhabitants.
In its origin and its history MS well ms
| by the express provisions of the Consti-
tuition Washington is essentially and
distinctively Il Federal city. 1t belongs
to the Government and people of the
United States. That people, through that
Government, rule it with IN absolute
unlimited authority, Its inhabitants
sustain to it no such relation as that eX
listing between other cities and their in
hNbitants. They are here from al
parts Of the country, by invita-
ton of the General Govern
ment, TO enjoy the advantages
of Il national capital, In most cases they
have not come in search of wealth, bu
in the expectation of contributing to th'
improvement and advancement of thi
Capital by the expenditure of wealth &C
quired elsewhere. They have no vote,
in their own government. They canno
determine the character or extent of an,
city improvement. Not even an alley
way can be changed except by permits
sion of the representatives of the peopl
of the United States, They are taxed q
the viii of Congress, and yet have III
representation in that body. They d.
not complain Of this They only asl
that Congressman, in legislating for thi
District, shall remember these fact
kand bear in mind that power bring