Year: 1870

Louis composed of delegates from majority of the
States and Territories who assembled for the pur-
pose Of debemting upon the necessity FOR change
in the location of the National Capital and its re-
moval to the Mississippi Valley.


The final action of that Convention is shcvn in
the preamble and resolutions adopted by it unani-
mousy on the last day of its session, which are as
follows:


selected as the most central point when the people OF
this Republc-ony few millions in number-nhabited
only strp of country along the Atlantic COAST
aud wheedSh population OF TINS epuDc has lncteaseu
thirteenfod since thcn and spread over vast continent
OF which the States IN existence when the seat OF Gov
ernmeut was located form only he eastern SGge q'a
noorousy incOnvenient in times Of peace and. the
darkest pages OF national history demonstrates, In
expoSod as 10 require vast ornaments aud untold millions
money its special defenses; cnd Wbereas all the
reasons which the location Of the seat of Govern
ment where n is have, by the enormous development
OF the country ana enange ~ Ie wants
RcSorcd That 10 Is absurd TO suppose that the handful
Of inhabitants $780, just emerging from colonial
saaGe, before steamboats, railways teegraphs or power
presses dreamed o. mile OF turnpike canal
constructed possessed the authority or desired TO exer
else the power Of fixing the site Of the Capital forever on
the banks Of the Potomac, against the Will and interests
ReSolred That the people have endured the present
ilylocaed Capital Tor threequarers OF century pa,
pcoped and organized into States ana until the center OF
population area ana wealth couId ne aeterInineu ~ne
permanent place OF residence Tor the Government



dangerous domestic Yaraees are disposed Oh ne" era
has been entered upon, and new departure taken.


the Congress OF l7s9 equal attention TO the rights OF
the community the basis of Republics If we consider
the effects OF legislative power on the aggregate com
muuity must feel equal inducements TO look TO the
center in order TO find the proper seat OF g9yernment
the interests aud rights OF the people so long as the
Capital Is located IN ncOnvenient section or the Union


ReSocd That the and fertile region known as the
Mississippi Valley must for all time be the seat OF empire
Tor this continent aud the controlling influence Of
the nation because it homogeneous In its interests,
sn1 powerful to permit the outlying States to
sever their connection with the Union Inns vast pam
w always be the surplus foodproducng portion OF the
continent and he great market ior the ue iaerics anu
tropical productions or oher sections OF the IepuDuc
Tins immense basis must have numerous outlets and
channels Of cheap and swift communication, by water
ana ra with the seaOoard or the eess OF s pOuucts
md the ngress OF its exchanges therefore, whatever
policy the Government may pursue that tends TO multi
ply improve, or enlarge those arteries OF must
result common advantage 10 the whole Unlon-to
ResOlrcd. That the natural convenient. and inevitable
place FOR the Capital of the Republic is in the heart Of
power irresistby gravatng where the Government,
loving citizens would be forever safe against foreign foes
or sectional sediton, and where IL would need neither
ReS0lrcd. That while advocating the removal OF the
of Government TO the Mississippi, we do not mean
10 serve the interests any particular locality but that
we urge Congress TO appoint Commission for pur-
pose of selecting convenient site for the National Cap
Resoired Tha in urging the removal OF the National
Capital from its present inconvenient. outotthe-way,
aud exposed locality the extreme border OF the Union
in earnest, and that We shah not cease IN our
efforts until that end is accomplished fully believing
tna the absolute necessity OF the removal VIII become
apparent every day, and the majority OF the Amer
people VIII not long permit their interest and con-
ResoIred That the removal Of the National Capital
sEd Condemn ali expenditures Of money for the enlarge
ment Of old Government buildings aud the erection OF
uent useless and wanon waste OF the property Of the
people.


During its session the undersigned were appointed
National Executive Committee, charged, among
other things with the duty Of issuing address to
the people of the United States in explanation and
support Of the movement in behalf of which il assem-
bled. To that duty the undersigned now address
themselves.


At the time of the selection of the present site for
the National Capital the 10th of July, 1890, the
States were thirteen in number the population was
less than the area of the States and the Ter
rora possessions Of the Government 6l0 2 square
miles, and the entire taxable property OF the country
hardly equal in amount the present annual revenue
Indeed the nation In its infancy The great mass OF
the population located upon belt OF land bordering
upon the Atlantic Ocean not exceeding loo miles IN
length nor $50 miles in width To the then condition Of
the nation, its population and territory the selection
may have been sufficiently central


Now the conditions vastly different with the ac-
ouston OF the Louisiana purchase and subsequent ad-
dons of territory the nations domain has become con-
nenta reaching from the Atlantic TO the Pacific Ocean,
moro than 5000 miles, and more than 2OOO miles from
north to SOUTH comprehendng an area, exclusive OF
Alaska OF 223995 square miles than the original
- States This additional territory includes by far the
most valuable portion Of our country as testified by is
eurpassng fertility of soils its noble forests, its nexhaus'
tlbe mineral wealth. and its wonderful system OF river
and lake navigation.


Not only present conditions such as to place the
real center territorial extent far west Of the og.
nal thirteen States the facts demonstrate that the
center Of material power well is removed far beyond
and west Of these staes and with the additional aid Of
the railway the telegraph the engine, steam navi
cation and the multiplied forms OF useful inventions TO
facilitate our progress there is constantly accelerated
tendency toward this center The larger half Of the
tire population Of the country is found in the valley
OF the Mssisspp and the infinitely superior advantages
OF tis part OF territory must not only continue but
Increase this preponderance for we assume 1t Will not be
denied that that region which is found most produc
tive will attract the greatest number, and that
This is the most productive, one will be
hardy enough to question. Already more than three
fh in length Of the railroads Of the country are found
n the Mississippi Valley and their number is increasing


with amazing rapdity. They represent greater value
than the banking capital Of the country and an exercise


more cvizing influence upon people. In agricul'
tura wealth the Valley States far surpass those OF the
Atlantic seabOard and the rivers OF the West hoat annu
ally more than $2eO00OOOOO value Of its products,
which is thrice the value OF our foreign commerce.
In view Of these facts, may not rightfully claim
that the removal OF the National Capital Is q polit
zeal necessity as well needful aid TO our national
progress. Aside from the question OF numerical and
political power which belongs to the West and its claims
as the center Of territory there Is paramount neces
atty for locating the seat Of the Government Of the ma
lion In the lmdst OF its material power The life OF
nation is made dOubly secure when united with the
strongest and greatest commercial and material interests
OF its people. For, thus united they compliment each
other and the security and perpetuy OF the one De-


Tor fba M