asolitical Distorp.-No. XXI.
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Washington. Congress. E,tablisa-


men, Of the Sat Of Goye.praen,. National Bank.


Second Congfess. GIe>'s Resolutions against Heui-


ton. Progress Of Parties


At the Second Session OF the First Congress,
and previous to the final decision Of the question
relative to the funding Of the Public Debt, biIi
was passed fixing the temporary Seat OF the Na-
tional Government at Philadelphia until the year
1900, and after that time, permanently on the
River Potomac. The subject caused great ex-
citernent both In and out of Congress- parucu-
lar interest was felt by the citizens Of New ork
where Congress was IN session. The question on
location was decided IN favor Of the banks OF the
Potomac, by a vote Of Is to IL the Senate, and
the same, in the House, BIZ 80 to %; a location
on the bank Of the Delaware beng rejected by
that vote The question Of temporary location
at Philadelphia, in preference to New YORK, was
carried in the Senate by the casting vote OF the
Vice President, Mr.. ADAMS.


This subject of the location Of the Seat Of
Government had long been agIt:;ted IN the Con-
tinental Congress, and, until tins Session OF the
Federal Congress. had not been settled. IT was
asserted and believed that this decision had some
influence on the question Of the assumption Of
State Debts


The Debts of Massachusetts, South Carolina
aud Connecticut, as reported bv the Secretary oi
the Treasury, amounted to about one-halt Of
those of all the others These States, therefore,
felt deep interest III the question The Legs
lature of South Carolina IN January, 1890, IN
structed their Representatives, In Congress to
solicit the National Legislature to assume Their
Debt, 'it having been incurred as they SAID,
in consequence Of the War between the United
States and Great Britain In consequence
probably, of these Instructions the two Senators
and five Representatives from South Carolina
voted in favor Of Assumption of the State Debts,
by which means it may be said the question was
carried,-the majority beng only two in the
Senate and SIX IN the House This is the first
instance on record OF the practical operation of
the doctrine OF Instructions on Representatives in
Congress, and it would have been fortunate for
the Country if the effect produced by Instructions
had always been as beneficial to the interests of
the People as on this OCCASION The doctrine,
however, is pernicIous one, the evil consc-
quences of which nave been often felt and, by
those best competent to Judge, 1t has been con-
sldered contrary TO the spirit Of the Constitution.


The amount of the debt Of each State assumed
and subscribed to the loan, was TO be charge
against such State, IN account with the United
States. 10 complete settlement of the accounts
between the States and the United States, a board
consisting Of three Commissioners was established
during tins session, the decision Of majority OF
them to be final and conclusive. The balances
found due to the States were to be funded on the
same terms as the other parts Of the Domestic
debt; but were not to be transferable.


A fund for sinking the national debt was estab
llshed, by appropratng the surplus produce of the
duties on imports after paying other demands
to the purchase of the debt under the direction of
the President Of the Senate, the Chief Justice,
the Secretaries of State and Treasury and Attor-
ney General, for the time being, purchases TO be
made by any three OF them, with the appreciation
of the President. Acts were also passed. author
izing the President to borrow money in Europe at
rate Of interest less than six per cent. to be APP
piled to the purchase Of the debt.


A cession of Western lands by North Carolina
was received during this session and approved by
Congress, and the territory South of the Ohio river
was formed into territorial government, with
similar powers and privileges to those which
had been granted to the territory Northwest OF
that River, at the previous session. A bill was
passed directing the first census of the United
States to be taken for the year 1880; and an act
establishing uniform rule Of naturalization was
also enacted.


The union Of the States was completed IN May
1850, when the State Of Rhode Island adopted
the U. s. Constitution.


The third Session Of the first Congress com.
menced at Philadelphia on the first Monday OF
December, 1880, and closed on the Sd OF March,
1871, when It's term expired. President Wash
ington, In his Speech to the two Houses on as
scnblng, congratulated them on the favorable
state of the public affairs and the prospects for
the future The progress of public credit lie
said, is witnessed by considerable rise of Amc-
rican Stock abroad, as well as at home; and the
revenues allotted for this and other national pur
poses have been productive beyond the cacuia-
tons by which they were regulated Thus latter
circumstance is the more pleasing, as 1t is not
only proof of the fertility of our resources, but
as 1t assures of future increase of the national
rcspectability and credit and let me add, as II
bears an honorable testimony to the patriotism
and integrity of the mercantile and marine part
of our citizens. The punctuality OF the former
in discharging their engagements has been
emplary. The sutficicncy of the revenues YOU
have established for the objects to which they are
appropriated, leaves no doubt that the reslduary
provisions Will be commensurate to the other ob.
]ects for which the public faith stands now
pledged" The President also states that loan
OF three millions OF forms had been readily effect
cd IN Holland, and no difficulty was expected IN
obtaining farther loans In Eu:upc.


Bills We're passed AT this Session admitting the
States of kentucky and Vermont into the Union,
each to have two Representatives until an appor-
uonmen; should be made agrceably TO the Con.
stituuon.


The other most important measures o this Scs-
SION We're, the establishment of National Bank.
and the imposition of a tax or excise on spirits
distilled within the United States from foreign and
domestic materials.


The Secretary of the Treasury had previously
recommended the establishment of Bank of the
United States. This institution was though, IN
dispensable by Hamilton IN conducting the busi-
ness of his Department, by Its ald i'll the un,unge-