Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-25
The Removal to Washington.


On the 10th May. 1880. President Adams
issued his order for the removal of the ex-
ecutive departments to Washington, Con-
gress having previously adjourned to meet
in the new capital on November IL The
preparations for the move required some
time: all the public records and documents
had to be carefully inventored and packed
and in those days business was dispatched
much more leisurely than now Besides
none of the officials were anxious to come
south during the summer. so it was not I'M
til October that the archives arrived here
They were brought by water. in the Phila-
delphia packet, and landed at the mouth of
Tiber creek. on the wharf of Tobias Lear
who had some years before given up the
office of private secretary to President
Washington to BECOME one. of the leading
merchants in the new city. All Washing
ton. then numbering about 5000 people
turned out TO greet the arrival of the vessel
and amid cheers, ringing of bells and the
firing of an old cannon brought out for the
occasion by the Washington artillery" the
records were transferred to Lear's ware
house. whence they were distributed to the
respective department buildings.
These buildings were grouped around the
Presidents square. 1t had been proposed
to locate them near the Capitol, but the eX-
perience of the cabinet officers of the last
century had been somewhat similar to that
of their successors of the present day; and
Congress. Washington wrote the District
Commissioners: The daily intercourse
which the secretaries of the departments
must have with the President would rem
der distant situation extremely incon-
venient to them; and not much less so
would one be close to the Capitol for it
was the universal complaint Of them all
that while the legislature was in session
they could do little or 10 business, so much
were they interrupted by TIE visits of indi-
vidual members in office hours, and by calls
for papers. Many of them have declared to
me that they had been obliged to go home
and deny themselves. in order to transact
the current business" So it would seem
that the secretary IN hiding is one of the
Oldest institutions of the government.
Following the records came the personnel
of the government. The members of the
cabinet did not care to risk the perils of sea
In the packet, so they came overland and
arrived the next day. They were John
Marshall Secretary of State; Oliver VOL
colt, Secretary of the Treasury; Samuel
Dexter. Secretary of War; Benjamin Stod-
dert, Secretary of the Navy and Charles
Lee. Attorney General. They drove into
town In grand style in their coaches and
four, and were received with all the honors
by the citizens Of Washington. Georgetown
and Alexandria. The leading Inhabitants
of the District Wed with each other in their
Inequalities to the great men, representa-
tives of the government now actually estab-
nShed In their midst and their homes were
thrown open in warm welcome to the dis
tinguished guests The enthusiasm of some
found vent in poetry. The following pro-
Guction entitled THE Central Spot" shows
the argument of locality. ...-
Hail, hall. thou bright, auspicious day!
Which neer by us can be forgot.
Let every freeman homage pay
To the attractive central spot.
Great Constantine a corner chose:
We all have learnt Rome's fatal lot.
And Petersburg shall soon disclose
It's wrong TO leave the central spot
Our Washinston's expanded mind,
Whose names exempt from every blot.
The states in unity to bind,
Directed to the central spot
Then let us firm, united, be-
Scorning each foes distracting plot
The manly sons of liberty
VIII always love the central spot.