Diary of John Adams, volume 3

[Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued] Sept. 23. Wednesday. JA

1789-09-23

[Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued] Sept. 23. Wednesday. Adams, John

Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued Sept. 23. Wednesday.

Mr. Lee. Navigation of the Susquehannah.

Mr. Grayson. Antwerp and the Scheld. Reasons of State have influenced the Pensilvanians to prevent the navigation from being opened. The limiting the Seat of Empire to the State of Pen. on the Delaware is a characteristic Mark of Partiality. The Union will think that Pen. governs the Union, and that the general Interest is sacrificed to that of one State.

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The Czar Peter took time to enquire and deliberate before he fixed a Place to found his City.

We are about founding a City which will be one of the first in the World, and We are governed by local and partial Motives.

Mr. Morris moves to expunge the Proviso.1

Mr. Carrol. Against the Motion to expunge the Proviso. Considers the Western Country of great Importance. Some Gentlemen in both houses seem to undervalue the Western Country or despair of commanding it. Government on the Potowmack would secure it.

Mr. Butler. The question is not whether Pensilvania or Maryland shall be benefited—but how are the United States benefited or injured.

Mr. Macclay. Pensilvania has altered the Law this month respecting the navigation of the Susquehannah.

A proviso in the House bill required Pennsylvania and Maryland to consent to improving the navigation of the Susquehanna. Morris opposed this proviso on the ground that it would give commercial advantages to Baltimore over Philadelphia; see his speech and Carroll's and Maclay's replies as reported in King, Life and Corr., 1:371–372, and in Maclay, Journal , 1890, p. 159–161.

[Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued] Sept. 24. Thursday. JA

1789-09-24

[Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued] Sept. 24. Thursday. Adams, John

Notes of Debates on the Residence Bill, continued Sept. 24. Thursday.

Mr. Grayson. moves to strike out the Words, “in the State of Pensilvania.”1

Mr. Butler. The Center of Population the best Criterion. The Center of Wealth and the Center of Territory.

Mr. Lee. The Center of Territory is the only permanent Center. Mr. Macclay. See his minutes.2

That is, following the words “river Susquehannah” in the House bill, and thus assigning the federal capital to Maryland; all the senators present from the South voted for this amendment, but it lost by ten votes to eight.

Maclay's “minutes” of this day's debate are very full, but it would have been remarkable if he had offered to let JA see them, since they accuse him of grossly unfair conduct in the chair ( Journal , 1890, p. 162–165).