Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-07
Review of Events.

'In view of the contemplated commence
ration in 1900 of the removal of the seat
of the government from the city of Thila-
delphia to the city of Washington d celia
ton and review of the events which lead
up to and completed the establishment of
the permanent seat of the government
on the river Potomac NAY add interest to
that occasion and invite attention to some
historical incidents and facts which seem
to have been forgotten. The tide Of this
paper suggests the inquiry: Should the Cele-
bration to take place in 1900 commemorate
the mechanical removal of the business at
fairs, books, papers and chattels of the
government from Philadelphia TO the city
of Wash ngtOn in 1900, or the establishment
and occupancy of the permanent seat of
the government of the United States" And
also the further inquiry, Did the CorIsti
tuition or Congress by the act of July 16
1870, either by direction OF Implication. in
tend to found capital city or to acquire,
locate and define a district not exceeding
ten miles square for the permanent seat
of the government. -
The author then cited the various acts Of
Congress. Of the President of the United
States, of the commissioners of the city,
etc, in selecting the territory of the Dis
trict of Columbia. and in preparing 1t for
use as the seat of government of the United
States. Continuing. he said:
Such is the story of the selection of the
location for the permanent seat of the gov
eminent and the foundation of a city with
in the limits of the federal territory. The
word city, or any reference to such q foun-
dalton. does not appear either in the pro-
vision of the Constitution in the acts of
cession by the states of Maryland or Nir-
ginia, the act of Congress of July 10, 1890
the amendatOry act of March 3, 1871; the
letters patent. the proclamation of January
"a, 1871. prescribing the method of fixing
the beginning of the survey of the ten miles
square. at which point the corner stone
was laid by DR.. Elisha Cullen Dick April
n n
course of citizens. in any of the pre-
liminary official acts relating to the loca-
ton Of the permanent seat Of government
except in the letter of Jefferson to the
commissioners OF January Is 1871. in which
occurs the reference to the sketch of the
outline of the city. The designation cap
ital city appears first in the preliminary
report of L Enfant. bearing date March 20
1871. but not IN any other of the early off,
cial documents relating thereto. 1t may be
that the authority granted to the commits
sioners by the act of July 49, 179O, to pro-
Vide suitable buildings for the aCcOmmoda-
ton of Congress and of the President and
for the public officers of the government
Of the United States and the provision in
the amendatory act of March g. 1871. that
nothing herein contained shall authorize
the erection Of the public buildings other
wise than on the Maryland side of the
river Potomac as required by the afore-
said act may have. at least by Implication,
Justified and impelled the acquisition and
laying out of an area around and about the
public buildings sufficient in extent to &C
commOdate with residences the officers and
employees Of the government and such a
community Of citizens and visitors as 1t
was reasonable to suppose would seek a
city in which We're located the public build
tngs, and at which the high officials and
d.s;nitarics Of the government should reside
Its foundation is perhaps another and
striking eXemplificatiOn Of the broad and
astute wisdom and sagacity of Washington
but 1t was without authority Of law. ex-
cept by implication"