San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-24
SEAT OF The GOVERNMENT.

SEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.
How 1t Was Fixed on the Banks of the
Potomac.
Too few of the vast number who take
pride in the glory of American citizen
ship are familiar with the prominent
facts connected with the establishment
of the United States government, which,
at the end of it's first century, has be-
come one of the great powers of the
world. When Ethan Allen demanded
the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga in the
name of the Great Jehovah and the con-
tinental congress he gave voice to the
great moral and political power which
has accomplished so much in molding
the destinies of mankind.
The irrepressible desire of the col
onies for free government in America
led to the assembling of representa-
tive American body known as the con-
tinental congress. It's first session was
held in Philadelphia ON the 5th day of
September, 1774, and the next year an
other session was held in the same place,
on the 10th day of May. The attempt
to throw off a foreign yoke led to such
bitter controversies both at home and
abroad that the congress was obliged
to hold its sessions at such points as
would create the least disturbance. The
third session, December 20, 1776, was
held in Baltimore. March 4, 1777, the
meeting was held in Philadelphia. Sep
TENDER 81, 1777, we find its members at
Lancaster, Pa, and September 80 at
York, Pa The next meeting was at
Philadelphia, July 2, 1878, where it's ses-
sions were held until 1888, when it was
driven out by mob which the civil au-
thorities were unable or unwilling to
control. On June 80, 1888, the city of
Princeton, n. j., had the honor of Civ
ing its members an asylum. November
20, 1888, the congress met at Annapolis,
Md. During this session, December %,
Gen. Washington resigned his commits
sion, as the war with Great Britain had
been terminated by the surrender of
CORVALLIS at Yorktown, October 10,
1881. Congress next met at Trenton,
N. j., November 1, 1884, and adjourned
to meet in the city of New York on Jam
uary II, 1885. Here its sessions were
held until the adoption of the constitu-
ton, in 1883. Here also the first federal
congress was held under the provisions
of the constitution, and the electoral
votes were canvassed for the first presi-
dent of the United States of America.
Tho tool
place on the balcony of Federal hall, on
the corner of Nassau and Wall streets,
April 30, 1889, and George Washington
became president. A bronze statue of
heroic size now marks the spot upon the
steps of the subtreasury building.
The government of the United States
was provided with a constitution, with
a federal congress and with a president,
but it had no permanent place of abode.
New York was determined to become
the capital city. Philadelphia was
anxious to provide an abiding place for
the congress, which her authorities had
six years before suffered to be disgrace
fully driven out by the violence of a
tory mob. Delaware, New Jersey, Mary
land and Virginia all presented their
patriotic testimonials and claimed title
TO the honor of founding a capital city
for the newborn nation.
The New England states were con-
tent with the achievement of liberty,
which to them was the main question.
The extreme southern states, supported
by Maryland and Virginia, would con-
sent to no location which was so far
north as Philadelphia The Carolinas
were opposed to Philadelphia because
the Quakers were opposed to slavery.
New Jersey and Delaware were not
backward in presenting their claims.
On September 90, 1850, by q vote of 81
to II, the house passed bill fixing the
locus for permanent capitol ON the
banks of the Susquehanna- James Mad
ison, the great southern leader, was vio-
lent in his opposition to this site, and
undoubtedly had the support Of the
president. The senate, however, passed
an amendment substituting the Della
ware river for the Susquehanna. When
the bill was returned to the house 1t
again received the opposition of Mr..
Madison, who succeeded in getting it
postponed until another session.
Alexander Hamilton's proposal that
congress should assume the payment of
the state debts and the bill for fixing
a permanent location for the capitol
were the burning questions before the
next congress. The members were near
ly divided, and the party spirit became
so hot that many feared a secession
movement might be more disastrous to
the newly-formed union than war with
England. Thomas jefferson, who had
but recently returned from France, was
appointed secretary of state, and he was
requested to lend his influence in COM
posing the difficulty. This great poll
tician knew that there was nothing like
a good dinner to quiet the nerves of OPP
posing factions and he made Alexander
Hamilton his guest ON that occasion.
The southern states were firm in their
opposition to Hamilton's financial
scheme, and could count q majority of