Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-21

termine on place at which their future
sessions shall be held: neither house shall
afterward, during the session OF the
House of Representatives, without the
| consent of the other. adjourn for more
than three days. nor shall they adjourn
to any other place than such as shall
Notes on Debates Of Constitutional Con-
venton. Idem- PIP. 5O4-5O6o
The Contention Stated.
THUS we see," declares Judge Norton.
that all that was here contended for.
was, not that Congress could not change
as well as select the seat Of government,
but only that a law should be passed
when a change should be made"
Judge Norton's opinion continues
ION August 1&17S7, Mr.. Madison offer
ed two resolutions giving Congress power
Udem. p. 655).
Il. To exercise exclusively legislative
authority at the seat of the general gov
eminent etc
'2. To fix and permanently establish
the seat of government of the United
States in which they shall possess eX-
elusive right of soil and Jurisdiction.
THE convention adopted the first. but
not the second.
''Thus we see that the constitutional
convention not only did not fix or at
tempt to fix any permanent seat of gov
eminent, but actually declined to give
Congress the power to fix any permanent
80 much for the Constitution.
I'VE now quote from the proceedings
Of Congress to show that there never was
the slightest thought that Congress, in
fixing a seat of government, had any
power to so fix 1t that Congress could
not, at any time, change it at will"
Pennsylvania Chosen by Senate.
Judge Norton then quotes at some
length to show that there was never any
contract or compact Of states or individ-
uals in fixing tthe seat Of government, but
on the contrary that several states strug-
gled to have it fixed within their boun-
daries or as near thereto as possible with
out the slightest reference to what any
other state might or was willing to cede
for the purpose.
In 1859, it appears. memorial was pre-
sented to the Senate by citizens OIL New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, praying that the
seat of government be established on the
banks of the Delaware; and later on sew
eral places in Pennsylvania were pro-
posed for it. In September, 1889, at the
second reading Of the bill to establish the
seat Of government a motion to strike out
the words 'in the state of Pennsylvania
was lost-yeas 8, nays 10. After the mo-
ton to strike out the words "at some con-
venient place on the banks of the River
SusQuehanna, In the state of Pennsylva-
nia." had been lost and then reconsidered,
it was finally carried-yeas II, nays Z. A
motion to insert, in lieu of the words
stricken out the words lat some conve
nient place on the northern bank Of the
River Potomac was lost. After adopt
ing a motion author. 1ing the. president to
appoint a committee to locate a district.
not exceeding ten miles square, In Penn
sylvania, and providing that Ptnnsylva-
MIA should pay 500 900 toward the cree
ton of buildings, the bill was passed on
its third reading and sent to the House of
Representatives. After more amendments
the further consideration Of the bill was
gress.
Judge Norton declares that but for the
postponement the seat Of government
would have located in Pennsylvania.