Evening star., 1945-07-22
Capital Sidelights
BIZ viii P. Kennedy.

by VIII r. heHHeuy.
Most members of Congress can an
swer promptly that Washington, unani-
mously elected first President of the
United States under the Constitution,
took the oath of office April 30. 178s, ad-
ministered by Chancellor Livingston, on
the balcony of Federal Hall. Wall and
Nassau streets, New York. But few
stop to realize that there the new Ma
ton actually was founded. This build
ing had been rebuilt by the city espec-
tally for the new Federal Government
when New York was designated as the
new National Capital. That second"
City Hall was constructed originally be-
tween 1899 and 170l and had stocks,
cage and pillory in front and criminal
dungeon and debtors apartments inside,
with the fire department on the ground
floor In 1735 it was the scene of the
trial and acquittal of John Peter Zenger
on a charge of libel for criticizing the
British administration of the Colonies.
The famous Stamp Act debates were
held there in 1765 and the Declaration
of Independence was published there
on July Is, 1776. Within its walls the
Provincial Assembly and the Congress
of the Confederation gathered.
With the coming of the new National
Government the old structure was
transformed into the most beautiful
building in the land under the supervi-
sion of Maj. Pierre Charles lEnfant,
who had been an engineer in Washing
toms Army and later laid out the plans
for the new Federal City named for
Washington.
Following the Inauguration and Wash
ington's address to Congress, the new
Government accompanied the President
to st. Paul's Church, which also had
been remodeled by l. LEnfant. A pew oc-
cupied by Washington on that occasion
still is visited by many in that Oldest
public building in the metropolis of to-
day.
The first session of the First Congress,
under the recently-ratified Constitution,
continued in session until September 20,
and the second session from January 4
to August %, the next year. During
that period the Bill of Rights, the first
10 amendments guaranteeing personal
liberties to Americans, was added to the
Constitution. There Washington Sc
lected the first cabinet-the Secretaries
of State. Treasury and War, Attorney
General and Postmaster General-and
there the first permanent Army and
Navy, Customs Service and Supreme
Court were created.
Moreover, the present Library of Con-
gress was born there. sharing quarters
with the New York Society Library, one
of the oldest on the continent, estab-
lished in 1854.
1t was while Congress was In session
there that the heated dispute took place
over the location of the permanent
Capital, and in compromise it was
agreed to move the Capital to Phila-
delphia for 10 years, while the new Fed
eral City was being built.
After Congress abandoned the Old
Federal Building, it was used jointly by
the city government and the State Leg
islature until the latter moved to Albany
in 1897. AS the old Representatives
room was too large for the city govern
ment, it was decided to erect new City
Hall, which was occupied in 1912. The
former Capitol was next sold at public
auction and demolished to make way
for business structure, first used as a
book store and four years later occupied
by the Federal Government as customs
house. A new building, erected on the
historic site in 1884, first was used as
a customs house and later as Sub
treasury. ,
Thomas jefferson protested against
any unnecessary court dress when
Washington named the first Justices of
the United States Supreme Court. For
heavens sake, discard the monstrous
wig which makes the English judges
look like rats peeping through punches
of oakum," he demonstrated. Alexan-
der Hamilton was arguing for both wig
and gown. Finally the gown alone was
adopted as tending ito preserve in the
courtroom that decorum and sense Of
solemnity which should always charac-
terize the place Of judgment"