Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-08-29
Capital SideIiehts
By Will P. Kennedy.

visual evidence of how close this Fed
eral city came to not being the seat of
Government is found in a couple of old
documents Of the first session of the
First Congress, in the Office of the clerk
OF the House, which are being prepared
for restoration" "An act to establish
the seat Of Government of the United
States beautifully handwritten, and at
tested by John Beckley, first clerk of the
House, as having passed the House. was
sent to the Senate, September %. 1879.
1t provides that "a district or TERRITORY
not exceeding 10 miles square as here
after Is directed at some convenient place
on the banks of the river Susquehannah,
IN the State OF Pennsylvania, be and the
same is hereby accepted as the perma-
nent seat of Government of the United
states, and that until the necessary
buildings be erected thereon the seat of
Government shall continue at the city of
New York" The President was "to ap-
point three commissioners to examine
and report to him the most eligible situa-
tion." The Senate approved this with
an amendment on September g. 1889.
attested by Samuel A. Otis, secretary of
the Senate. The Senate amendment was
to strike out all after the "enacting
STYLE" where now the expression used is
after the enacting clause" and to insert
defining 1.-The counties of PHILADELPHIA,
Chester and Bucks in Pennsylvania, in
Guiding the town of Germantown. and
such part of the northern liberties of
the city of Philadelphia as are not ex-
cepted by the Act Of Cession proposed by
the State Legislature" Two days later,
on September %, the House agreed to
the Senate amendment, adding thereto:
And provided that nothing herein con-
tanned shall be construed to affect the
operation of the laws of Pennsylvania
within the district coded and accepted
until Congress shall otherwise provide
by law" This House action was also
attested by John Beckley clerk Which
seemed to have pretty we'll decided the
question that the National Capital, which
President Washington called "the Fed
eral City" would be located in Pennsyl-
vania. But the House amendment was
never acted upon by the Senate. The
first session of the First Congress adj
journed the following day. Then as soon
as the next session met-some one of
influence had been at work-an act was
passed authorizing the location of the
seat of Government of the United States
on the banks of the Potomac instead of
the banks of the Susquehannah. These
documents are on real rag paper water
marked with f1eur-de-lis, surmounted
by crown, and the manufacturer
name, c. Patch.
The confidential bill" declaring war
between Great Britain and her depend
encies and the United States and their
territories" is an interesting exhibit in
the House clerks Office. The Senate
amended the measure by striking out the
words Great Britain and her depend
encies" and inserting 1.-The United King
dom OF Great Britain and Ireland and
the dependencies thereof" The title Of
the act was changed to conform with the
text. The House concurred June 10,
1872, and the attest was by Patrick
Magruder, clerk, who had previously
served one term in Congress, resigned to
serve as clerk for eight years, was then
librarian of Congress for eight years
until his resignation. The heading of
this measure was the same as is en-
ployed today. The paper is watermark-
ed &C. Wilmott, 1909"
y
Many persons in the District and
Maryland have often wondered at seeing
stone markers engraven with the letters
IL c." AS matter of fact there is such
a stone in front of the residence of H.
Newlin Megill acting clerk of the House.
In his Office Mr.. Megill has the original
act establishing the Levy Courts in
Washington County, whose area is
marked by the IL G" stones. 1t was
passed by the Senate April Is, 1912, the
House disagreed on May 30, 1912, and
further action was postponed until
December.