Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-18
BY Q. 7. AUSTIN
Statistlcian, The National City Bank
of New York

Statistlcian, The National City Bank
of New York
Just 1Si years ago the congress
OF tho United States was bidding
adicu to Wall street, where it had
associated with the money power for
arily to its scenes of former activity
at Philadelphia. whence it was TO
finally remove to the new capitol to
be established on the Potomac.
Few of the thousands of people who
pass the historic spot at the corner of
Wall and Nassau streets but few
feet from the doors of the National
City Bank of New York. arc mindful
OF the stirring events which occurred
during the five years in which it was
tho abiding place of congress,
NEW YORK EIGHTH CAPITOL,
1t was In 1855 that the congress of
the Confederation. after decade Of
wandering in search of IA permanent
abiding place. established itself in the
modest old City Hall. which. then stood
at the corner OF Wall and Nassau
streets. During tho period of its cN-
istcncc, which began at Philadelphia
In l77i. it has held session in no less
than seven different cities and towns.
thus making New York the eighth
capital of the United States. while
Washington became in Its turn tho
ninth capital
KEPT OF THE RUN
Tho peripatctic life which congress had
led during tho decade before settling
down in New York had been in large
degree due to tho necessity OF hurried
moves to prevent the capital and the
congress falling into the hands Of the
British.
The FIRST movement from the original
meeting place. Philadelphia, occurred
f,, h.aH, hY I.rfffat nre =
pairing 10 move upon that town, and
the December session OF that year
l5is WAS held at Baltimore.
with the danger Of an immediate oc-
curStion OF Philadelphia temporarily
removed. how ever. the congress re-
turned to that city. in March, III. hut
With another movement Of the British
In that direction. IL hastily removed tt
Lancaster. Pennsylvania. where 1t re-
NAMED but for three days, removing
OF tho Susquchanna. where IL spent al
OF that terrible winter In which Wash
inrton was at Valley Forge.
RETURNS TO OLD QUARTERS
on the evacuation OF Philadelphia bs
tho British in isas. congress returned
to it, old quarters IN that city, re-
msining there until i5ss. Owing ts
SINE misundcrstsndings with the Phil
adclphia authorities. " removed oNci
nlsht TO Princeton. New Jersey ~
Princeton II completed its session ant
there adopted plan for the creation
of two permanent capital cities. on'
10 be located on the Potomac and fhf
other on tn" Delaware; tho session
pending tho construction OF the propci
buildlngS at the new capitals to b
held alternately at Annapolis ant
q Trenton.
LURE or GREAT CITY
Tho session OF tsss was held n
Annapolis and that Of 1854 at Trenton
where IL appears that the lure OF tn
great city of New York. which has
then a population OF 8. .0oo. ovcriurnc,
tho double capital plan. and ia Jsnu
ary. 1855. tho congress removed ic
New York. whore II was granted TIN
use of the city Hall.
Al OF tho meetings M TO this tim
had. of course. occurred under th'
Article, Of Confederation. which. how
ever. had proven unsatisfactory. ans
when tho ninth state ratified tho pro
posed constitution. I'm i5SS. tho con
grcss then tn session IN New York
hastily passed measure r.quirin.
that tho voto for tho president. pro
Nided by- the now constitution. shcul'
occur ON "th. FIRST Wednesday, II
January. i'Sq." that the electoral vot"
should he cast on this first Wedr~s
day In February" and that the pres
ident should bo insugursted on "th
nrst Wednesday in March. As II hap
p~ncd that tho first Wednesday ii
March fell upon tho fourth day .
that month. tho date March tth.' a
TIA, beginning of the torn Of tho presi
dent and congress. was thus pcrmt
ncntiy established.
INAUGURATION Is DELAYED
with tho limited facilities of com
munication and travel which character
lied thoso days In which tho tclegra phi
tr.t - rAti-nHH ri tho nN
ing mschinc had not yet be"u dreamc'
OF. tho official report Of tho clcctio'
did not reach General Washington q
hir home In Virginia until April II
iss9. and hccausc OF the timo occuric'