The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-13
to go to the Potomac: he feared that the
whole OF New England would consider the
Union as destroyed.

4
day. Mr.. Madison again urged the i'm
portance of central location He said
| II 1t were possible to prOmulgate Gu
| laws by some simultaneous operation, i
| would be of less consequence where tn
! Government might be placed; but IL tim,
| is necessary for this purpose, We ought
| ms far as possible, to put every part o
the community on level
''If Mr.. Madison hadlived century late
he would have witnessed the instan Zane
GUS communication OF the doing Of Con
gress to all parts Of the GENTRY. ant
would not have urged with such vehe-
| mence the selection OF a central location
on the banks of the Potomac.
Finally the House adopted resolution
authorizing the President to appoint
three Commissioners to locate the most
eligible situation on the Susquehanna
in Pennsylvania.
THE Senate, by tie vote, Vice Presi-
dent Adams voting yea. located the per
manent Capital in district Of ten m. les
at Germantown. Pa. Subsequently in the
House. the Senate's amendment was
agreed to, continuing the laws of Penn
sylvania in force within the ceded dis
trict until Congress should otherwise
provide. This amendment. which vas I'M
necessary from every point Of view. took
the bill back to the Senate for concur
renee, and as only one day remained in
the Senate, the bill finally failed, for want
of action. This measure was not revived
afterward. and it was only by this narrow
chance that Germantown and not Wash
ington was the Federal City.
JefTersOn's and HamiltOn's strategy.
In July, 1890. the act was finally passed
that gave to Washington the sole powe.'
to select the Federal Territory, mot ex-
ceeding ten miles square on the river Po-
tomac, at some space between the mouth
of the Eastern Branch and the Como
cOcheague, for the permanent seat OF
Government of the United States This
new seat was to be ready for use in 1SC0
and during the meantime the Federal
town was to be Philadelphia.
But this site was not chosen without
much tribulation. When the District Of
Columbia was chosen North Carolina had
come into the Union and cast her SIX
votes for the proposition. But even then
the measure would have failed, but for
the political shrewdness of hamilt and
jefferson. The former had brought for
ward his great measure Of finaace. for
the assumption by the nation OF The debts
incurred by the several States in ma n
tanning the Revolutionary war, amour ing
to 10000, eco. The bill was defeated IN
the House after a fierce struggle and
Hamilton believing that the very txist-
eiiee of the Union depended upon The re-
consideration and passage Of this crown
ing work of his financial greatness and
craftsmanship. was making Strenuous
endeavors to accomplish that result. Viz
ginia and the South had voted aga INST
it. Hamilton proposed a compromise.
Jefferson should help pass the Assump-
tion act and Hamilton as a guild pro go
should bring over enough votes 10 put
through the act locating the seat CT Gov
eminent on the Potomac. How this vas
brought about let Jefferson tell in his
own words:
:. 1 proposed to him tMr. Hamilton TO
dine with me the next ray, and | would
invite another friend or two, and bring
them into conference together. and /
thought 1t impossible that reasonable
men. consulting together coolly, could
fail by some mutual sacrifices Of opinion
to form 4 compromise which would save
tns Union. The di5cussio on took place
1t was finally agreed. that whatever
Importance had been attached to the re-
lection Of This proposition, the preser "a
ton of the Union and CT concord am ing
the States, was more important, and
that therefore it would be better that
the vote of rejection should be rescind-
ed to effect which some members should
change their votes But it was obs rived
that this pill would be peculiarly bitter
to the Southern States. and that s5me
measure should be adopted
20 sweeten it a little to them There had |
before been propositions to fix the SCAT !
If Government either at Philadel phia or |
II Georgetown, on the Potomac and it |
vas thought by giving it to Philadelphia !
or ten years, and to Georgetown per-
afterward, this might, as an |
lnodyne, calm. in some degree, the fer |
nent which might be excited b. the o. her |
measure alone. So two OF the Potomac
members white and Lee, but White wi n
revulsion of stomach almost conyuisive)
greed to change their votes and Eamil-'
on undertook to carry the other paint.
n doing this the influence he had estab-
ished over the Eastern members, with !
he agency OF Robert Morris with tn Sc
# the Middle States. effected his side Of
he engagement, ard SO the Assump ion
ct was passed, and 20.@e0,G00 of stock |
ivided among favored States, and thrown
n as "a pabulum to the stock jobbing
erd.'
This incident removes some OF the CLAM
ur which time has thrown over the acts of
al
uman beings. no better than the politi-
lans of today. Surely it is not the high
st type OF legislative integrity that char
cterizes this historical episode Tut we
an forgive this bit of log rol.iDs' when
e reflect that it saved a tn, .Ltened rup-
ire of the Union.
WashinEtOn's Good Judgment.
Washington acted promptly. and reported
Congress location of the District as
riginally laid out. thereby exceeding the
,rritory below the mouth of the Eastern
ranch. Congress legalized this by sub
,quent act of ratification. That Wash
gton displayed his usual good Judgment
Id foresight in the selection Of the seat
Government it is needless to say in this |
essence. Our fathers took to the
Gods for seat of Government, but they
id the foundation for magnificent posi-
lities.
The place was near the centre of the
'pulation. stood at the head of naviga-
on, and at what Washington believed to
the pathway to the West. II was his
dgment that the commerce of the great
estern territory would follow along the
INKS of the Potomac River to tidewater
Georgetown. and thence on the river it
If to the Atlantic Ocean. That this last
uphecy of his has not been fulfilled has '
en- the fault of the steam railway. sup d
anting the river and canal. and the more v
pid development of the commerce of the /
States. forcing other outlets C
the sea. \
THE original act referred to this terri I
ry as the Seat of Government Wash n
gton called it the Federal City But 7
e Commission called it the City OF :,
ashington in the Territory of Column =
A. Finally Congress named it he =
istrct of Columbia