Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18

II.
ana 1t was here that George Washington
was inaugurated the first President of the
country on the 30th Of the following April
and here the new Congress assembled be-
Ing the first elected under the new Consti-
tuition. The government thus organized
ana hrst put into operation in New York
city, consisting of its coequai branches
legislative, executive and judicial, was a
far different political structure from the
morfbund entity it succeeded.
The selection Of New York city as the
nrst capital OF the country under the new
form of the government was the work
OF the convention which framed the Con-
sttution, in Philadelphia, and the choice
was not made without long and accrimoni-
GUS DEBATE. Various cities and towns had
peen suggested, and Baltimore was once
actually selected for the honor but the
delegates changed their minds and decided
on New York. This selection was only
temporary and we find that one of the
Two most exciting questions which came
oefore the ensuing sessions of this First
congress was that in relation to the choos-
lug VI permanent seat for the new power.
Selecting n Permanent Seat.
On May 10 Mr.. White, a Representative
from Virginia, on behalf of his state Of
fered the government ten miles square any,
where that might be selected in her terri
tory Other offers quickly followed from
pennsylvania. New Jersey and Maryland
Inc relative merits Of Philadelphia. Ger
Wrsht's Ferry, and the indefinite locality
known as Connosochesgue were all urged
py their respective partisans
me debate grew bitter and the excitement
lntense. MI Madison declared on one oc-
caslon that II Virginia could have foreseen
that day she would never have consented
10 become party to the Constitution
S Ss,rinantown, Pa. came within an ace of
peinE selected. Both Houses agreed on the
bill locating it there. and 1t was only a
sngnt amendment that reopened the dis
cussion and prevented its final passage.
rinaIiy Dill was brought forward fixing
the seat OF the permanent capital on the
Potomac, between the mouths of the East
ern branch and the Connogocheague.
Inls Dill was passed by a COMPROMISE
m ma, between Hamilton and jefferson
Inc Two leading questions before Congress
were the settlement of the capital and the
assumption on the part of the general eov-
eminent of the colonial debts incurred in
the prosecution Of the war The soutbern
members wanted the capital to be Ioca ted
IN their section, but they were opposed 70
the plan for assumption. The northern
members generally favored assumption. and
1t was finally agreed that the CAPITAL should
go to the south, and in return enougb
southern members would vote for the otbar
measure to carry IT.
AS sop to Philadelphia It was also pro-
vided that the temporary seat of s,o,,a,,s
ment should be located in that cit1 ,ntil
the site OF the new capital should he sa-
lected and the necessary buildines erected
ms Jaw. setting for all time a question
which threatened to wreck the eovernnoent
In its very infancy. was passed on the 18th of
July, 1880. oA 'Ne i''n VI
10 Philadelphia Again.
congress adjourned on the 18TH of August
i''"' ana the archives of the government
were once more removed to Phtla6elpbta
"here that body again assembled in De-
cemper OF that year. And here the seat of
government continued without further In
terruption until its final removal to the new
city bullded for 1t in the wilderness
II VIII thus appear that the entire period
OF Wasn1ngton's two terms as President
was passed in New York and PhiladeInbia
ne never resided a day in the city which
pears his name. although his will states
lnat ne was the owner at the time of his
death of certain lots i'm the Federal Cytv |"
ana II appears that he caused to built The
structure known as the Hillman House. His
second term expired March 3, 1877, when he
we, was succeeded by John Adams. and the
latter's term had expired all but a few
months when the government made its Ia 81
move. from Philadelphia to the new capital
on the Potomac
The Removal to Washington.
IL was not very happy home coming.
The President was not Of the hapoiest tenn
per: ne was candidate for reelection. the
campaign was on and things were NOT 90
ing his way. The abuse and utilization
which characterized ore of those early
campaigns would have raised the hair of a
moeern stump speaker. The President No 9
defeated, and when the 4th of March csp,e
the next spring he left the city in his "a
rage at sunrise, without waiting To escort
ms successor to the Capitol to be inaugu-
rated, as Is now the custom His good
Wife. too, complained Of the want OF con-
veniences In the newly erected White House
and, II Is said, used the now celebra taa
East Room to launder the Presidential
The 18th Of June. $780, had been designat-
ed by the President as the date for
the removal Of the government Of
noes to the new abode, and on
the 4th or July of that year. Oliver VOL
colt. the Secretary of the Treasure. wrote
10 MS vile In Connecticut that he was at
a loss to know where members of Congress
were to find lodgings unless ten or twenty
or them crowded into one dwelling and
lived like scholars in a college or monks IN
a monastery. The houses he stated were
mean and few: there was no business. no
industry, no society. For such as wished
70 i've comfortably the only resource was
TO go to Georgetown, three miles away.
ana the road to Georgetown. he added, was
as bad in winter as the clay grounds near
Hartford
The entire archives OF the government
We're removed from PHILADELPHIA to wash
ington in single sloop. and it is probable
that the same vessel brought along most of
the minor officers and the clerks of the
civil service.
An Exciting Session.
The first session of the Congress assem-
bled In the new Capitol on the 18th of No
vember. 1900. it being the second session of
the Sixth Congress under the new Constftu-
ton. Many notable names were In that
body. William Henry Harrison, who after
ward became President was the Renra-
sentative from the newly erected territory
northwest Of the Ohio; John Marshall. aft
erward the great chief justice, and the cele-
orated John Randolph of Roanoke were
members of the Virginia delegation. Henry
Lee. another of the Virginia deleva tion
had delivered the eulogy on the death of
washington the preceding winter, when he
frst gave utterance to the famous sem
tence: First in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen.''
An unusual duty came before this Sos
sion or the House; one which had never oc-
Cured before, and has never been repeated
but once since: that was the election of q
President of the United States In those
days each party voted for two men for
President. and 1t was provided that the cam
didate receiving the highest number of
votes should become President and the one
receiving the next highest number would
be the Vice President
In this election the republican partv So
cured the greatest number of the electoral
votes, but it appeared Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr had received an equal
number, thus making tie and IL conSa