The Washington critic., 1889-05-10
THE FIRST BIG COMBINE.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, May O,--mf. JOnU
NJ 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, Washing
tons Secretary of the Treasury, to push
through Congress his pet scheme for
settling the public debt.
When, after the Inauguration of
Washington, the first Congress met the
two matters of paramount interest
which came before IL were the settle
ment of the big debt of the new Re
public and the choice of permanent
site for the National Capital. Alex
ander Hamilton had concocted n plan
for the settlement of the debt, and was
very proud of IT, lie was heartily sup
ported 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 tempo
rarily. But Hamilton did not give up
hope. lie saw way by which to get
the measure through; namely, q deal,
the basis of which was an appeal TO
State pride.
While the funding bill was under dis
cussion nearly all the Representatives
of the original States were working
hard to secure the National Capital
site within the borders of their States
The New Workers, Virginians and
Pennsylvanians were the leading com
petitors. Virginia was especially de.
sirous 10 get the. Capital. The whole
Virginia delegation was opposed TO
Hamilton's Treasury bill. No argu.
ment could change their votes, and
when the first session of Congress was
adjourned the members went to their
homes, leaving the two great questions
Of the day unsettled. During the re-
cess Hamilton formulated his scheme
TO gain the votes necessary TO pass his
bill. He determined to trade off the
New York delegation, which was en-
tirely under his control, for three Vir-
ginia votes, through an arrangement by
which New York would support Viz
ginia in its claims for the National
Capital If three of the Virginians would
vote for his bill.
AT the time Mr.. Hughes grandfather
kept the old Fairfax Iun, and IL was a
popular resort for travellers. Washing
ton and his Mount Vernon visitors often
stopped there for refreshments. During
the summer following 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 anti Federalist Virginia Con.
gressmen, whom he knew cherished a
| strong State pride, and he wanted tC
have talk with them.
The meeting place was al Hughes
| 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 afterward. But
its effect was perceived sooner. When
| Congress came together again every
body except Hamilton, the Virginia
Congressman, and probably President
Washington, thought the old fight on
the two questions would be resumed.
But II was not so. Hamilton's bill came
up again and three Virginia Represeta
tivcs who opposed il before, voted fol-
II and II twas passed in its entirety. This
was surprise, but the surprise became
greater when the Capital site matter
came up. Pennsylvania was very con.
fdent 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 set
tied 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 a good
state of preservation. II 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 wor
shipped during the later years of his
life.-lSpecial to the Nashville Ameri
| can.