nioii of that State, as any man whatever, but he was afraid of their influence ; and thatftate was the last in which he would ever consent the per. nianent feat of 'government should be. He then adverted to the influence of the members from that State, who by their political management had, he said, raised a-ftorrnt in the United States. Here Mr. Burke was called to order—after a short interruption he proceeded, and said a quak er Hate was a bad neighbourhood for the South- Carolinians—here he adverted to the quaker bu iinefs lall winter. He obje&ed to Philadelphia also, oh account <rf there being no gallery in the house proposed for the accommodation of Con gress—an open gallery he considered as a very important check to the Legifllature. Mr. Lawrance.—The gentleman from Virginia has observed that the object of the amcndmentis to defeat the bill—he has also mentioned the States which are most particularly interested in the queltion. Mr. Lawrance laid the State of !New-York might have been considered. He wiilied the motion might succeed, because he thought that it would conduce to the peace of the Union. He obje&ed to the place proposed for the perma nent residence ; by the bill it is conceded that the place is not, at present, a suitable position—by what magic can it be made to appear it will be more proper at the end of ten years !—What reason can be given why those parts of the Uni on should not populate, which are at a diltance from the Potowmac, in proportion to those parts in the vicinity of that place. I presume none can be afligned ! Why then is a period of ten years to elope, previous to going there ? The reason is plain—the people would not nowconfent to have the government dragged to so remote a part of the United States—He then adverted to the funding business, and other important mat ters which remain to be decided on, and very strongly intimated that these quertions were to be determined ag eeable to the fate of this bill. He fbewetl from a vaHety of particulars, that Philadelphia would become the permanent residence. He then adverted particularly to the several parts of the bill.— The firft was refpeifting the place where it is proposed to eredt the public buildings ; he laid they could not be erected tvithin the time mentioned, and lhewed the vari ous difficulties which would attend the whole buiinefs. He then Hated the advantages of Bal tiinore, and faidthat that place would have ob tained in Senate, if the Maryland Senators would have voted for it. He concluded by observing, that as no neceflity exilts for removing the tern pnrary residence, lie hoped that Cong.efs would fct down contented where they are. Mr. Bloodworth observed, that as the fuuding bill, had been alluded to, he could wilh that the objection from that quarter might be taken ou; of the way, he moved that the committee (hould rife, in order to take up the Ways and Means. Mr. Smith, (M.) introduced an address from the inhabitants of Baltimore, to the Members and Senators from that State, which Was read. This contained an account of the number of houses and inhabitants of that town, &c. alio, the ac commodations already made, and the provision to be made tocompleat every wecefl'aiy arrangement. Mr. Carroll mentioned to the commitiee that there was a memorial of the inhabitants of George-Town, on Potowmac.on the table—whicli he had presented some days since , and fubmirted it to the lioufe whether it would be proper to read it.—lt was read. Mr. Lee uioved that certain papers received from the executive of Virginia, should be read ■which was done. Mr. Smith, (S. C.) called for the reading of a report of a committee appointed by the old Con gress, to view the banks of the Potowmac—which was done. Mr. Stone.—All we feemto differ about,is whe ther Baltimore or Potowmac /ball be the feat of the government; and if this was all, the delegates ot that State might fold their arms and set down contented—but the flare of Maryland has been placed in the situation of Tantalus. He then lta terl how the gentleman had formerly, finally vo ted, who now appear in favor of Baltimore—had the bill comedown from the Senate with Balti more inserted, inltead of Potowmac, he should have had no difficulty in determining how toadi .—but he conceived that if the amendment now proposed should take place, nothing would be done—and the business will be left in a very in auspicious ftate—from this and other considera tions, he was resolved not to be drawn off from his present dete'mmation,by any motion, amend ment, or modification of the bill whatever. With refpedl to liimfelf, he had no election be tween the town of Baltimore and the Potowmac ; yet is a Marylander, he would, if he saw a prof | cR of success, vote for the town of Baltimore ; hut as it refpe<fied the United States, he should - ote for potowmac—and on this idea he was wil Jing to make some facrifices. He considered the fcihje<st as one of the mofl painful and difagreea- We that could be agitated, and he wiflied to have r .hc business finally and unalterably fixecl. Mr. Seney also considered this as an unhappy question to come before the hoUfc at this time. The ttate of Maryland was as much divided ou the fubjeiftas the United State# appeared to be ; a great rivalfliip fublifts between the Potowmac and Sufquehannah rivers ; and he doubted not but"thit vfrlien tlifc qutftion was ultimately deci-" ded, it would be either on the one or the other of those rivers. He agreed with Mr. Lee, that Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were the only states who could'make any reasonable pre tentions to be the l'eat of government—but a ma jority of voices from these States had been agjainft the Potowmac. Pennfylvaaia and Maryland he observed, had given the preference to the Sufque hannah. Mr. Seney-then noticed some tranlac tions of the legiilature of Maryland, Which he said clearly evinced their detexmination to sup port the pretentions of the Sufquehannah. Mary land certainly had an equal right with Pennsyl vania and Virginia,to have her interests consulted. The interests of Maryland, it appeared, now to be facrificed t® those two adjoining States. And howeveiflau&iiiigit may seem, to Maryland, to fix the feat of rnrfient on her fide of the Pstowinac, the ;-eal advantages were in a great measure nugatory, as it would be but a very small portion of that State that could reap any benefit therefrom—the real advantages would undoubt enly result to Pennlylvania and Virginia.— It ap peared somewhat extraordinary lohim, that gen tlemen should be willing to confine the residence to a particular fptot, previous to their removing to a permanent residence. Why is it neceflary to fix upon Philadelphia for ten years ?—Surely this is putting the government in a very ineligi ble tituation, for it is by no means improbable that many ferisus and important occurrences might render a removal highly expedient perhaps unavoidable. Betides, after the government shall have' remained ten years in Philadelphia, the probability of quirting it for the Potowmac, appeared to be very flight indeed. For though it was tinderftood by the bill that the offices were to be removed tothe Potowmac, yet if a majority in either houl'e were opposed to going there, Congress would remain at Philadelphia, and they would be obliged to repeal the bill from necel"- fiiy. Mr. Scot faidhefhould not notice many things which hail been offered on the fubje<ft,he would on ly obferve,that from the town ofßaltimore there is 110 water conveyance to the interior country —but from the proposed place on the Potowmac, there are 200 miles navigation directly into the heart of the country—Nor is Baltimore more northerly than the jjofition contemplated.—A connection with the Weft ern country is of the tumult ccnfequence to the peace and union of the United States, let the gentlemen from thefea coast fay what they will. Mr. Madison : (n order to decide this question rightly, we ought to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two places as they relate to the good of the United States. Now,l will defy any gentleman, however sanguine lis may be with refpedi to Baltimore, to point out any fub ftaiuial advantage that is not common to the Po towmac—and 1-defythem to disprove, that there are not several important advantages belonging to tlie PoLowmac, which do not appertain to Baltimore. The committee have had ample in formation with refpeift to the northern and south ern portions of the two places. Inpoint offalu brity of air, without dilparagmg the pretensions of Baltimore, the Potowmac is at least equally fa vored in that refpeOt. In regard to centrality of si. uation, I'otowmac has undoubtedly the advan tage—in refpe(fl to security from invasion, I aver the Potowmac has the advantage also—with rela tion co the western country there is not a shadow of coinparifon. If we should go as far South as Baltimore, why not an equal diltancc south weft to the Potowmac ?—Thofe who are acquainted ; with the country on the Potowmac, and that in the neighborhood of Baltimore, do not heinate to give the preference to the Potowmac It is true that Baltimore has refpertable resources— her rapid growth is a dear proof of it—but look at the resources of the Fptowmac—the great range of rich country that bonders on it, and fee if there are not advantages thatmuft in a short time pro duce a commercial town. Sir, a period might be named, not exceeding ten years, within which the town of Baltimore obtained the greater part ot ttsmcreafe and consequence ; a period of ten years w,ill produce the fame effects on the Potow mac because the fame causes exilt ; and when l\-peradded to this the residence of government <hall be there, there can be no doubt but that desired eery accommodation that can be It is laid that before the ten years expire a re peal of the may take place, and thus Congreis be kept at Ph.ladelphia. But what more can we do than pass a law for the pnrpofe ? It i s n o f i,i our power to guard agajnft a repeal-oar a<fts are not like those of the, Aledcs and Persians unal terable. A repeal is a thing against which no prov.fion cail be m , de . rfthat \ an obieftio no u holds good against anylw that can bepafTed! 522 If cliufe states that may have a fupeiiority JnC grefs at a future day, will pay no 'refpeet to th* aifts of their predccellbrs or to the public n 0 ,i there 'is 110 power to compel them. ° ' But, I flatter inyfelf that some will 1 m paid to the public interest, and to the plin],ted faith of the government. As to centrality t), he it evidence we have at this time in favor oftle Potowmac, is the different travel of the and this, Sir, proves incOnteftibly that the u r ' posed place 011 the Potowmac is near the centre If any arguments could be brought againlt it it is its being too far to the northward. For the mileage south of the Potowmack is 12782 mile" to the north of it 12422. If to this Rh«de.Jfl an( j be added, it will not be more than equal. [f'thg bill once pafles, I am not under any apprehenii. ons of a repeal ; but if danger of a repeal dots exist ; it is of that kind againlt which we cannot guard. Sir, we (hould calculate on accepting the bill as it now stands ; we ought not to riikjf by making any amendment. We have it now in our power, to procure afouthern position. The opportunity may not again speedily pref'entitf If We know the various and jealous iiiterefts ttiat exist 011 this fubjec r t. We ihould hazard nothing, If Potowmac is struck out, are »ou sure of ret ting Baltimore ? May 110 other places be propo ted > Instead of Baltimore is it not probable wi may have Suftjuehaimah inserted, perhaps th Delaware ? Make any amendment, Sir, and thi bill will go back to the Senate. Are wefuretha it will come back into our pofleflion aoain ? B< amending, we give up a certainty for an uncer tainty. In my opinion, we (hall adt wifely, jf W( aceept the bill as it now stands, and I beg Jeavi Lo press it on gentlemen not to consent to any al teration left it be wholly defeated, and the pro! peift t)f obtaining a foutliern position vanifi so ever. Mr. Gerry said he rose with greater reluc ance on this, than he ever did on any foune iccafion ; and it is because it appears pretty evi lent the advocates of the bi'l are sure of a niajori y,and .ire determined not to change their mind; et what arguments will be offered on the sub ert—the business of elhiblifhing the permanent efidence ii contrary to the sentiments of a ma. oriry of the members of this House—and of the Senate as they have both negatived a bill for this vn-pofe the prelem feflion ; it is to be regretted hat ir has ever been brought forward,for i: isve. y evident that it has had a very pernicious in. Jticnce on the great business of funding the pub. ic debt. He then mentioned the former remo. >'aliof Congress, which had never bp£a com plained of—as the public business was never neg lected :—He said that if the present bill is car ried into execution, a very great uneafinefswill ?nfue—for the msafures of Congress, and nottheir re.ldence a e the objects of concern to the peo —Thofe States who think that they in all be njured, it can not be expected will acquiesce ; he hen gave an account of the pi ocefs of this mca ure the last feflion. The travel, said he, hasbeei* mentioned—This he said could not be considered is an argument in favor of the bill.lor the expellee s not paid by particular States—it conies out of he common treasury. He aflerted that the ac eflibilityto New York is better than that to the J otowmac.—He contended the rifle by land is greater than that by water. He Hated the ad vantages that the southern members derived from :oming to the northward, while on the other hand is there, said he, any thing to balance the rifle and difficulties which the northern members must en :ounter in such a southern situation. He said it was highly unreasonable to fix the feat of nentinfuch a position as to haStates out as thirteen, to the northward of the place. —He idvertcd to the facrifices which the northern States ire ready to make in being willing to go so far Touth as Baltimore. He contended that the ex plicit consent of the eastern States ought to beob> ained before they are draggedftill farther foutli- He ridiculed the idea of fixing the governmentat He did not think there was any erious intention of ever going to this Indian ~le considered the whole business as a nieer ma rneuvre. Baltimore holds out the only profpeit )f a permanent feat ®f government. —He recapi tulated the account which before had been given. f 1 i om this he adverted to the general expectation if the public with refpetft to the government's arrying here till the permanent feat was eftab. ithed—He particularized the expences that had jeen incurred by the citizens, aad for which they Merited great honor.—He said it had been pro nifecl to New.York, tha this place should be the emporary residence of Congress, and on this en gagement they came into an unconditional adop ion of the conflitution—Should this bill pass. what can ii be denominated bui a delusion, a de-. eption, faniflionecl by Congress itfelf. He re narked on the several observations offered by Mr. Vladifen, Mr. Lee, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Scott. Mr. V ining— When I find arguments made life >1 lo inflame the minds of gentlemen against the "embers of this house, I think it my duty te notice such observations : Attempts are made to hold U P, in an odious poitjt of light, the members ci
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