New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
4 SCHEME THAT FAILED.
LEAF FROM THE HISTORY oF AA'
SELECTION OF THE SITE Foh
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

captaI at Washington. Governor Noorhees mas
named a special staff to participate IN TINS event.
and in honoring II he will participate in ceremony
that might have been held within his own State
had it not been for the uncertain turns OF politics
II is not generally known that Trenton, besides
being the temporary National capital for some time
was the site selected for the permanent Natlonal
reservation and capital The selection of the site
precipitated the first sectional fight this country
ever experienced. and 1t divided the patriots in
Congress so widely that it looked for some months
as if the newly made union OF States would IAN
apart and that there would be antagonistic repub-
lies on each side of the Mason and Dixon line.
Washington feared secession, and so declared. The
first legislative bargain OF Congress was forced
through, and because OF it Trenton lost the Ma
tionaI capital The land spectators and traders
that sprang up went into bankruptcy and ali that
is left as a reminder of them is Federal City," a
small settlement near Trenton. which consists Of
blacksmith shop and four houses. bearing the name
that the land boomers gave II when Congressional
Commissions casting about for the site OF the
National reservation under the act of Congress
This story of how New-Jersey missed having the
coming celebration OF next Wednesday is a chapter
Of State and National history. 1t reveals the ex-
isence of the underlying strata of discord that so
long disturbed the American Government and So
clety.
After the Revolutionary War began Congress and
the United States Government were living a gypsy
existence. wandering from place TO place, to keep
out Of the way of the pursuing Red Coats" They
was between New-YOrk and Philadelphia, and con-
siderable OF the time spent in Trenton There
a few small taverns there, but the citizens
were hospitable and placed their beds at the dis
posal of the members of the homeless government
The Blazing Star was the big hotel OF the little
city and here Congress did its business. 1t has
not survived as a reminder of those early days.
The Mechanics National Bank stands on the site
The people began 20 clamor for Congress to settle
somewhere and establish permanent business
basis. In June. 1888. Congress announced that II
would open bids for location and would settle
down IN the State that would offer the best ad-
vantages. Trenton bonifaces and tradesmen were
convinced that a National capital was a good thing
and the whole town became hustling Board or
Trade. The idea pleased the New-Jersey Legis-
lature and before the other States were fairly
awake 1t declared by resolution that the State
would cede a reservation twenty miles square to
the National Government and contribute subsidy
of $4,000 in specie, which a large sum OF
money. considering the size OF the Treasury. The
Southern Congressman claimed the capital by right
and declared Il should not go above the Mason and
Dixon line. At that time there 10000 slaves
in the small domain then known the United
States The population was GOO. The Puritan
spirit that prevailed in the New-England States
caused some severe structures to be made on the
Southern slave owners. which the Southerners re-
sen:ed. The Delaware River became the dividing
line. The New England States. New-York and
New-Jersey Joined together and stood by New
sylvania was divided. the lower part standing by
the Southern States
In October. 1888. Mr.. Gerry OF Massachusetts. re-
membered principally for the gerTymander, moved
I'm Congress that the buildings for the of Con-
gress be erected on the banks of the Delaware
River, Trenton. the Potomac, near
Georgetown. This done force the issue. but
the Georgetown clause stricken out and the
bin was amended 50 as to read. near the Falls Of
Trenton on either side OF the river. This 10
let Robert Morris, the great hnancer, into the
Is opposite trenton On the next day the Southern
members introduced motion to reconsider, ''in
central and more favorable to the Union and shall
approach nearer To the justice which due to the
OF the New-England States, and the motion was
lost. II then certain in the minds of every
body connected with Congress that Trenton was to
be the seat Of government Madison wrote about
posed on which question they divided by the
River Delaware The vicinity Of @ its falls is 70 be-
unless conversion of<some of the Eastern States
Then came a long season OF controversy. Every
farm around Trenton became valuable. Land spec
Here is a sample advertisement from the old New
Jersey Gazette: Joseph Higbee offers for sale a
acres, situated within three miles of Trenton, In
where Il is expected the Federal town viii be built
II about this time that the land for the little
surveyed and placed on the market. There is no
record OF how many lots were sold Trenton was was
praised by the New -Englanders The Southern
knew how to cook terrapin' prepare canvas6ack
duck nor keep MINE at the proper te,mpers'S5se 5
its force The official table before Washington be-
He established the weekly Officiai dinners and the
spirit OF the time Is reflected in this quoted COM
and then we dined on boiled leg of mutton. with a
few yeseta6 6es Iad AI9er simple dessert one sasS
been drunk the President arose and led the way to
The feeling against Trenton roast pork and tame
fowl showed itself later, when President Adams
himself and officers to Trenton because the ac-
strengthened her position. and in N No
vember, 1854 COngress met at Trenton, and 100000
and ordinance ,, passed provided that district
lower fall for Federal house of Congress and for
the Executive officers. and houses for the Presi-
and Marine and the Treasury. This ordinance es-
IN The South fought hard io defeai f.
Three Commissioners were appointed TO proceed
states were not recognized in the Commission II
consisted of Philip SCHUYLER. of New York; Phile-
who lived opposite Trenton. This commission be-
take sides with the south and in an open letter
to Richard that the ehen re5o 5he resdent OF
not a good In part of this letter he said:
n5ceg %i for r. the seat Of the empire and will have tS
undergo second erection In a more convenient
holding the approPriation of $1,000 which the
naS the resoIution recommitted When
came up again Mr.. Gerry moved that the whole
stric[ep out Another bone of contention between
- North and the South the Funding bin az
Mr. Hamilton. Secretary of the Treasury. There
1Tas a clash over the clause assuming the State
Sbts THE debts Of the States incurred for gen
ersI defence during the Revolution We're s25 o00O0
Sta ISs stern states favored the Government assm-
ing an these debts and 10 include them In the
s,1ding OF the National debt Because the New
rnoIa1d States wanted this passed the Southern
Ta5bars stood firmly out against paying the debts
ns the states. They held that II was unconstitu-
tiopaI on the Funding bill issues President Wash
inEton was perpetualiy distressed, and one day he
to5x THOMAS jefferson into his confidence and
said there was danger Of secession or thelr mem
stlI. - Of the States. =" IeNersOn