The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-01-20
HOW NEW JERSEY LosTTHE NATION
AL CAPITAL.


AL CAPITAL.
The following is news to most, II not
all our readers. We are inclined to be-
lieve the writer has COMPOUNDED Lamber-
ton, (now part OF Trenton) with Lam
bertvile, and that ''the falls" referred to
are those of Trenton, and not "Wells'
Falls" below this city. However, the
article is well worth reading:
1t is not generally known, think, that
New Jersey came so near as she did to
having the seat of the National Govern
ment within her hands. This item OF
early history is, therefore, submitted as
Of probable interest to some of your read
ers.
In the summer of 1888 the Federal Con-
gress, then in session at Philadelphia,
was 80 insulted and intimidated by body
of mutineers from the camp at Lancaster,
that 1t fed to Princeton and resumed its
session in the college. The humiiating
occurrence was well calculated to impress
Congress with a sense of homelessness,
and the question of a Federal town was
brought forward 10 July. In October a
resolution was passed to purchase site
and erect the necessary buildings Ten Il Q
banks of the Delaware not far from the
falls. This action was strongly opposed
by the Southern members as locating the
seat of government too far north, and,
two days after its adoption they endeavor-
ed, but failed, to have 1t reconsidered.
A little later in the session compromise
measure was adopted calling for the cree
ton Of two towns, one on the Delaware,
the other on the lower falls OF the Poto-
mac, near Georgetown.
The following year however, December
1784) the whole matter was reviewed. and
the plan for the two capitals revoked, af-
ter very determined opposition from
Virginia, and an ordinance was passed di-
recting commissioners to secure the site
and lay out the town on the banks of the
Delaware, near Lambertvills. The tract
purchased was to be not less than two,
nor more than three miles square. and
buildings were to be put DIP for Congress
and the executive departments. Resi-
dences also were to be built for the Presi-
dent and Secretary Of Congress, and the
secretaries of war, foreign affairs, and
marine Each State was expected to pro-
vide a suitable home for its own delegates.
Phillip Schuyler, John Dickinson and
Governor Morris were appointed commits
sioners to carry this action into effect.
For the land and Federal buildings $780,
900 were appropriated, sum which may
now provoke smile, but which did not
so affect our fathers, who bitterly de-
neunced Congress for its high handed ex-
travagance.
Nothing farther seems ever TO have been
done 10 this direclion--a matter not sur
prising when we consider the desperate
situation OF our country at that time.
Heavy State and Federal debts, indivd-
ual want, an unpaid seldiery, mutinles,
instructions, secessions, State jeslousies,
commerce simply sapping out our sub
stance, no judicial or executive arm to our
government, a-Congress under the made
quate articles of Confederation that could
enact anything and enforce nothing, daily
falling more In contempt, and appealing
10 vain to the States for sufficient author
ity TO legislate in specified matters for a
limited time for the general good-all this
must have place 10 the picture of our
country as IL was Immediately after the
Revolution. The ship seemed to have
weathered The fierce storm of war, only to
founder in sight of land. An early disso-
luton of the National League" was FORE
BODIED at home and predicted abroad.
There was little indeed to encourage Con-
gress to press the project Of Federal
city.
Then, tive years later, however, (l7S7),
the Constitutional Convention was pro-
vdentially led to such action as was to
bring order from this chaos, the subject Of
q National capital was embraced in it's
action, as seen in Mr.. Briarly's clause in
the Constitution, 1:817. The land was
to be obtained by State cession, and the
competing States were now Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia.
Nothing but the casting vote OF Vice
President Adams In the Senate prevented
the First Congress, under the Constitution
in 1889, from locating the capital at COL
umbia, Pa, on the Susquehanna. The
Quaker anti-slavery atmosphere of the To-
cation reported back by the Senate Gone
mile north Of Philadelphia) was alone
sufficient to make that site inadmssible.
The next year the contest was resumed.
After heated debate, rejecting the local
antagonisms of the day, and In conse-
quence Of remarkable private agreement
the capital went to the Potomac.
Thus 1t was that Lambertville--our own
| Lsmbertville-after this second seven
years war saw the prize given to her rival
Of 1888. As to whether she incurred
her loss, or rejoiced in her deliverance,
history is silent. ID. Decker in Warren
| Democrat