The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-05

syVanla was divided, the lower pdr'
standing by the southern states.
In October, 1888, Mr.. Gerry, Of Massa-
chusetts, remembered principally for
the gerrymander, moved in congress
that the buildings for the use of con-
gress be erected on the banks of the
Delaware river, near Trenton, or on the
Potomac, near Georgetown This was
done to force the issue, but the George
town clause was stricken out, and the
bill was amended so as to read, near
the Falls of Trenton" on either side of
the river. This was to let Robert Nor
ris, the great financier, into scheme.
He it was who founded Morrisville,
which is opposite Trenton. On the next
day the southern members introduced a
motion to reconsider, sin order to fix
some other place that shall be more
central and more favorable to the I'm
ion, and shall approach nearer to the
justice which is due to the southern
states" This aroused the united ac-
ton of the New England states, and the
motion was lost. 1t was then certain
in the minds Of everybody connected
with congress that Trenton was to be
the seat of government. Madison
wrote about this time to Randolph:
Trenton was next proposed, on which
question they were divided by the Riv-
er Delaware. The vicinity of it's falls
is to become a conversion Of some of
the eastern states can be effected"
Then came long season Of contro-
versy. Every farm around Trenton be-
came valuable. Land spectators Sc
| cured options on farms for building
lots. Here is a sample advertisement
from the old New Jersey Gazette:"
Joseph Higbee offers for sale a valua-
BILE tract OF land containing three hun
bred acres, situated within three miles
of Trenton, in Burlington county, with
in mile Of Lamberton, where it Is ex-
pected the Federal town will be built"
1t was about this time that the land
! for the little burlesque Federal City"
outside of Trenton was surveyed and
placed on the market There Is no re-
cord of how many lots were sold.
Trenton was caricatured by the south
ern congressman and praised by the
/ New Englanders. The southern men,
| bers said the meals were bad-that no.
body knew how to cook terrapin, pre-
pare canvasback duck nor keep wine
at the proper temperature The argu-
ment about the viands and victuals
| had It's force. The official table before
| Washington became president was free
and easy and continuous. He estab-
| lished the weekly official dinners, and
the spirit of the time is reflected in this
quoted comment from a memoir: THE
president said grace, and then we dined
i on boiled leg of mutton, with a few
vegetables After simple dessert, one
glass of wine was offered each guest
and when it had been drunk the presi-
dent arose and led the way to the draw
ing room"
The feeling against Trenton roast
pork and tame fowl showed itself later,
when President Adams stated that he
did not care to temporarily move him
self and officers to Trenton, because the
accommodations were so meagre land
the keep BAD
New Jersey strengthened her position,
and in November, 1884, congress met at
Trenton, and one hundred thousand
dollars was voted for the erection of
suitable buildings and an ordinance
be laid out on the Delawar river near
the lower fall for Federal house of
congress and for the executive officers,
and houses for the pdesident and the
secretaries of foreign affairs, war and
marine and the treasury. This ordi-
rance established in Trenton what
since has developed at Washington.
The south fought hard to defeat it.
Three commissioners were appointed to
proceed under the act and start the
capital The southern states were not
recognized In the commission. 1t con-
sisted of Philip Schuyler, Of New York;
Philemon Dickinson, of Trenton, and
Robert Morris, who lived opposite
Trenton. This commission began bust
ness at once. Washington was i'm
PEELED to take sides with the south, and
in an open letter to Richard Henry Lee
then the president of congress, declared
that the Trenton location was not a
good one In part Of this letter he said:
1T will be found that they are very |
improperly placed for the seat of the
empire and Will have to undergo a Sec
ond erection in more convenient one"
Washingtons letter had the effect Of
Withholding the first appropriation Of |
thirty thousand dollars which the COM
missioners asked for. Mr.. Grayson, Of |
Virginia, had the resolution recommit- |.
ted When ii came up again Mr.. Gerry
moved that the whole one hundred I
thousand dollars be substituted, but the |
amount was stricken out. Another
bone of contention between the north
and the south was the funding bill of
Mr. Hamilton, secretary of the treasu-
nv. There was a clash over the clause
assuming the state debts. The debts of
the states incurred for the general de-
fence during the Revolution were TWEEN
ty-five million dollars. The eastern
states favored the government assum-
ing all these debts and to include them
in the funding of the national debt.
Because the New England states want
ed this passed the southern members
stood firmly out against paying the
debts of the states. They held that 1T
was unconstitutional. On the funding
bill issued President Washington was
distressed, and one day he
Y DELICIOUS IN
| nnegrE TEA & ehOcnl ATE