The National tribune., 1897-11-18

had been attached 10 The rejection OF This
proposition. the preservation OF the Union
and concord among the States was more
important, and that therefore it would be
better that the vote of rejection should be
rescinded, To effect which some members
| should change their votes
But ii was observed that this pill would
be peculiarly bitter To the Southern States :;
and that some concnmltant measures
should be adopted 10 sweeten it little to
! them.
There had been propositions 10 fix the
seat of Government either at Philadelphia
or Georgetown on the Potomac: and Ii was
thought that by giving 1T 10 Philadelphia
for 10 years, and 10 Georgetown rerma
nently afterwards, this might, as an ano-
dyne. calm in some degree the feTment
which might be excited by the uthef meas
ure alone.
$50 two of the Potomac members, White
and Lee agreed to change their votes, and
Hamilton undertook 10 carry the other
noint In doing his the influence he had
established over the Eastern members,
and the agency of Robert Morris, with those
81 the Middle Siatcs. effected his side 81
the engagement: ard 50 the assumption
was passed-20. 0;tG 800 .! stock divided
among favored States. and thrown in, as
{; pabuiun. to the stock iobbing herd, and
the permanent Capital iiNea Oh me Ioi"-
mac.
ID 10 this time MIR .IefierSnn's state
ment has been accepted a5 part ri the
history OF the times. We haze shown how
the vote was obtained. After this, in the
wear 1871. the aH.ls day Of March, - wears
after the Independence Of the United States,
followed the amenGatory proclamation OF
President Washington.
After all the controversy, il is a very
significant fact that Congress fixed abSO-
luteIy no definite place for the site Of The
Capital CITY. !. gave to The President Of
on the river Potomac. bctwcen the mouth
of the eastern branch (lnaCoStlal 10 the
mouth of tie ConocochcagGc-i fact, he
could make his choice within II distance
of about II hundred miles, follow ing the
river windingS from the present site of
Washington Ia where. the COnncOcheague
Joins the Potomac at W!liamsport. Wash
ington County, about seven miles from
HaCcrStown.
Under this act the President had il in
his power 10 have fixed the Capital 100 miles
up Tie river.
4 co7tc.nporaneous letter of Oliver Vol
cots SANS. In 1890 we are 10 go 10 the
Indian place with the long name, on the
Potomac meaning Con"cocheague.
The result shows that The rare judgment
of Cen Washington was peculiarly IL
Illustrated in the selection Of the site of the
Metropolitan city. which Will continue To
bear his name aS long a. The Nation lives.
The browning point q! the Nations birth
was reached when a permanent Nation
Home was provided for, and Washington
was given the power 10 issue his amenda-
tory proclamation
Now therefore. lor The purpose of amend
ing and completing he location Of the 30
miles Stuare, III conformity with the said
amendatofy act Oi Congress, J do hereby
declare and make known that the whole
al The said territory shall be located and
included within The four lines following:
beginning ~ Jones Point. being The
upper part Uf Hunting Creek, i'm Virginia,
at an angle Of a. degrees west of north
and running ia a direct line 10 miles for
| the first line:-'Thcn beginning again at
! the same Jones Point, and running an
other direct line at right angles lu the first
across the Potomac, 10 miles for the second
| line, running iva ether direct lines of 10
! miles each. The one crossing the east
| era branch aforesaid, and The other the
| Potomac, 3nG meeting each other IN q
point.
| ANA ] do accordingly direct The com
! miSSIoncrS named under the authority of
| the said first mentioned act ol Congress-
| the !lth day If March, 1871 T. years after
| the Independence OF the United States
| the said site thus l@reed upon. Ia ORC
coed forthwith Ia haye The said four lines
run, and by proper metes and bounds.
/ defined and limited and therefore 10 make
due report under heir hands and seals.
and the territory So To be located defined
|
accepted by the said oct of Congress as
| the district. FOR he permanent seat of
| Government Of the United States"
| The three Commissioners appointed by
| Washington for the surveying and laying
out of the Federal City were Thomas JEFF
| icrson, Daniel Carroll, % Maryland, and
! Daniel Stuart, OF Virginia II would seem
| To have been q very easy matter for the
Commission, after Maryland and Virginia
had ceded this right, backed b. CONGRESS-
and the President. To have accomplished
| their task; but from the outset they found
themselves hedged in by the ohstinacy of
some Of the landh0dcrS. The farms of
| Daniel Carroll OF Dudding,on Manor Not
| ley Young, David Burns and Samue,
| Davidson covered the ground where the
! city now stands.
| Negotiations were ut last entered into
with all hut the obstinate Scotchman,
/ David Burns. With him the Commission
! erS Jailed, and Washington was told that
| he alone could bring him TO terms.
| The Dary Burns farm lay south OF where
the Presidents House now stands, and ex-
] tended as far east as the present site Of