Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-09
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
NEARLY BECAME
 rAPTTAT STATE

CAKlIAL SIA1E-
 In 17S7, immediately after the adop- tion of the Constitution of the United | States, the town of York. Pa. was con- | sidered as an appropriate place for the | permanent seat of government Will jam Maclay, who had held positions of prominence during the Revolution and also served in the Pennsylvania as- sembly in the supreme executive council, was an earnest supporter of a | plan to select York as the place for the National capital.
 In the fall of 17ss Mir Maelav ad- dressed a letter to James Smith. one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- percence. asking him to prepare paper showing the advantage of York and vi- einity. He further said that York would be placed in nomination an eligible site after the Inauguration of President Wash ington, in April 17S9.
 Before this date delegates from the thirteen original states. composed the membership of the Continental Con-
 gress which met asoHe body. Un- der the Constitution the legislative
 authority of the country, was vested in two bodies. the senate and house of ree- resentatives. William Maclav and Rob- ert Morris were the first United States T
 The selection of permanent site for the seat of government brought forth an animated discussion in both branches of congress during it's first session which | convened in New York. Some of the sen 1 ators and representatives wanted the na- 1 tional capital built on the banks of the | Susquehanna at Wrieht's Ferry. others 1 upon the Delaware and still others on the | Potomec. During this discussion which | l9EfAd 2 time Wrirbt'G York, Harrisburg and Peach Bottom were l mentioned. Some wished center of l territory, others center of population, and others again a center of wealth. | Senator Maclay argued in favor of Wright's Ferry as the most eligible sit
 and Robert Morris favored Germantown
 It is possible that the difference of
 opinion of these two rner lost the canital 1 of the United States to Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna measure passed the | house and was agreed to in the senate but Germantown was afterwards sub i stituted in the senate through the efforts l of Robert Morris. It was in vain that l Senator Maclay raised bis prophetic | voice that if the Susauehanna was yielded l the seat of government would be fixed on
 the Potomac His prophecy was verified.
 At the next session of congress while
 the funding bill was under de-
 bate, Alexander Hamilton. then seere-
 tary of the treasury in Washington s
 cabinet secured the passage by yielding
 the capital to the southern states and the permanent seat of government was II fixed in the District of Columbia. The discussion of the funding hill according to Thomas Jefferson, pFeduc-
 ed the most bitter and angry contest
 known in congress during the first thir-
 ty years of it's history. The selection of a site for the national government he.
 came involved in this discussion and its interests were combined with the fund. ing bill. This was the main reason. why
 the banks of the SusauehsRna were not selected as the permanent seat of gov. eFnment.
 At one .ime the house of reuresenta-
 tiyes passed the following resolution Resolved. That the permanent seat o,
 the government of the United States ought to be at some convenient place on the east bank of the River Susaue.
 hanna and that until the necessa r
 buildings be erected for the purpose tn, seat of government ought to continue a .. the city of New Yerk." The. resolution was later amended to cut e% the wer5
 "east" and use only banks and an. , other amendment was suggested that th
 words Ger MaFSlaHd" should be insertet
 after the werd "Pennsylvania"
 The house then adeHted a Eesolutie, te the effect that the president be author ized to appoint three commissioners t :. examine and report to him, the mos 2 eligible situation on the banks of in :. Susauehanna, and that the said commis T sieneEs be authorized to purchase sue ' quantity of and as may be thought nee essary and erect thereon. within fa1, ! years. suitable buildings for the accom- j. modatien of congress and of other ofio z CTS of the United States.
 Y The diseqssieR of this subject con l. tiRued fer long time. and finally Phila | delphia was chosen to be the capital fo E a peEiea of ten years. from 1TsO f, y 1890. Both houses of eeHeress finally de c cided the permanent seat should be O IF the hanks of the Potomac
 It is interesting to note that in 17s IT President Washington made a tour ( it the seutherR states and unen his retur is to Philadelphia spent three days Id Georgetown. now in the District q s= Gelumbis. He states in his diary tha Il before leaving GeeFgetown he selecte to 9 site fer the executive mansion and tf W national capital. After having comple T. ed this duty he returned to Phladelphi l. passing through Frederick, York an Is Lancaster.
 n (Monday-The Battle of Tippecanoe.)