Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-23
The First Big Combine.

A letter from this city 10 the Nashville,
Tenn, american, says:
"Mr. Edward Hughes is the proprietor of
the Alexandria House, in this city. His
grandfather kept an inn on the Fairfax road,
between Alexandria and Mount Vernon.
At that inn was arranged the first important
political combine in the history of the
United States, and one which has never
been exceeded in magnitude This was the
combine by which the site of the Capital
of the United States was chosen, and which
enabled Alexander Hamilton, Washington's
Secretary of the Treasury, to push through
Congress his pet scheme for settling the pub
lie debt. When, after the inauguration OF
Washington, the first Congress met, the two
matters of paramount interest which came
before it were the settlemt nj of the big debt
of the new Republic and the choice of q
permanent site fer the National Capital.
Alexander Hamilton had concocted 8 plan
for the settlement of the debt, and was very
proud oft. He was heartily supported by
the Federalists, under the lead of Thomas
Jefferson. After long fight In the House
of Representatives, one of the sections OF
Hamilton's bill failed to pass, lacking three
votes of majority. The whole measure
was then dropped temporarily. But Hamii.
ton did not give up hope, He saw way
by which to get the measure through name.
ly. deal, the basis of which was an appeal
to State pride. While the funding bill was
under discussion nearly all the Representa-.
tives of the original States were working
hard to secure the Natioral Capital site
within the borders of their States. The New
Yorkers, Virginians, and PennsY YlVanians,
were the leading competitors. Virginia was
especially desirous to get the Capital. The
whole Virginia delegation WAS opposed TO
Hamilton's Treasury BILL No argument
could change their votes, and when the first
session of Congress was adjourned the MEM
bers went to their homes leaving the two
great questions of the day unsettled. Dur
ing the recess Hamilton formulated his
scheme to gain the votes necessary to pass
his bill. He determined to trade off the
New York delegation, which was entirely
under his control, for three Virginia votes,
through an arrangement by which New
York would support Virginia in its claims
for the National Capital if three of
the Virgnians would vote for his bill.
at the time Mr.. Hughes's grandfather kept
the old Fairfax inn, and it was popular
resort for travellers. Washington and his
Mount Vernon visitors often stopped there
for refreshments. During the summer fol-
lowing the adjournment of Congress one Of
his visitors was Alexander Hamilton. He
had not come down to Mount Vernon solely
for social purposes. He had his combine"
In view. He had been corresponding with
certain nti.Federalst Virginia Congress.
men, whom he knew cherished a strong
State pride, and he wanted to have talk
with them The meeting place was at
Hughe1's inn. There Hamilton met his men,
and the back porch where the discussion
occurred is to this day pointed out by the
Hughes family. 1t overlooks the Potomac
and Washington city. The news of the
meeting did not come out for many months
sfterward But its effect was perceived
sooner. When Congress came together
again everybody except Hamilton, the Vir.
ginia Congressman, and probably President
Washington, thought the old fight on
the two questions would be resumed.
But it was not so. Hsmilton's bill came up
again and three Virginia Representatives
who opposed it before voted for it, and 1t
was passed in Its entirety. This was 8 sur
prise but the surprise became greater when
the Capital site matter came up. Pennsyl.
vania was very confident of winning the
prize in fact, the State was assured that
New York's vote would eventually come
over TO it. But when the vote was called
New York voted solidly for Virginia. That
settled the matter. Virginia took the bun,
and the present site of the Capital was
chosen. The old tavern in which the COM
bine' was effected is still in good state of
preservation. 1t is built of bricks imported
from England, which came over in the same
vessel that brought the materials for the
building of old Christ Church in Alexandria,
where Washington regularly worshipped
during the later years of his life."