Kentucky Gazette

AN ENQUIRY,

Shall the seat of Government be removed from Frankfort?

TO THE HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE OF KENTUCKY.

The melancholy catastrophe which has lately occurred at Frankfort, is too recent, too important and too well known to require a detail. Every member of the legislature is apprised of all that can be said. Every member knows that an anxious solicitude pervades many bosoms in regard to a question, often agitated and even before the destruction of the state house supposed to be doubtful—WHEREIN THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED. The causes now exist which ought to settle this question forever. The members of the present legislature are to decide whether an evil inflicted either by the hand of Providence, or by an incendiary, shall be used as a pretext to violate the public faith of the country, tarnish its honor, depreciate its character, and sound the tocsin of woe and wretchedness to those whose own honorable impulses taught them to confide in the stability and honor of their government. The members of the present legislature must now hold out to the industrious artist, to the weeping widow or to the helpless orphan—either the cup of consolation, or that of ruin and want!!! This is, indeed, an important crisis. It presents a drama too interesting for the pen or the pencil; on one hand we behold zealous partizans, stimulated by the pride of opinion, by local prejudices, and personal interest, overleaping the implied and solemn engagements of their country, the bounds of social duty and equally disregarding the cries, tears and sorrows of those whom they propose to consign to ruin. Such is a feeble exhibition of the drama proposed to be acted. But so it is. Before I proceed to meet these zealous and misguided men with adverse arguments, I will invite them to ascertain how many widows, orphans, humble and useful artists there are in Frankfort—what sums of money, some of the departed heroes and patriots have invested in permanent property, as the means of support to their families—how many have no other or but little other resource; and after they have ascertained these points, I would suppose an imaginary interview between the lisping orphan of an honorable and deceased patriot who should ask such a man in such a temper, after the legislature shall have deprived him and his little brothers of the last anchor of hope—what provision will be made for their education and support until they shall be reared to manhood and usefulness. Such a case, tho imaginary, may be easily realized, and it is now presented to the consideration of those in whose hands the power is vested—to dispose of it with honor to themselves, dignity to their country, and justice to individuals. It will not be denied, that if the interests of the commonwealth required that the seat of the government should be removed from Frankfort, it ought to be done, but it ought to be done if ever, with due regard to those whose ruin would be produced by the event. But now let us examine whether such exigency really exists; and if it does not exist, may not the public tranquility upon this subject, be settled and established forever?

1. It is said that Frankfort is not in the centre of the state—that common justice requires that a situation bearing with geographical exactitude ought to be selected—and this the innovators attempt to do, by extending their chain and compass, to some remote and acute angles, embracing mountains and wilds, which the proprietors have abandoned as not worth the public tax: and thus it is they have found data to authorise the assertion that Frankfort is about one day's ride from the geographical centre, and thus too pursuing their favorite object, they designate some village, the nearest to their assumed centre as the favorite site for the seat of government. But if the wilds and barren rocks of the Cumberland Mountains, with their numerous knobs and dependencies, were excluded from the map, and the estimations should be made upon those parts & sections which are or may be rendered useful, then the question would be settled most favorably for Frankfort—the tears of the widow, the cries of the orphan, the friend to the public honor and rectitude would fear no more; and the sun of Kentucky would rise, perform his course, and set with dignity and splendor.

But it is said that the site of Frankfort is too restricted for the purposes of a great and flourishing city. In order to repel this objection, I will enquire: is the area of level land, if improved, of sufficient extent to afford accommodation to the officers of government, to the different arts and professions necessary for usefulness and comfort, and to afford accommodation as well to those whose duties call them there and the purposes of social intercourse? answer—when there shall have been built about ten times as many houses within the present limits as now exist, & the neighboring hills shall exhibit a numerous display of country seats, each with an extensive culinary garden, orchards and vineyards, it will then be ascertained that these objections are like the baseless fabric of a vision.

2. Frankfort, it is said, is not healthy; indeed, and from what sources of information can this assertion be supported? From the bills of mortality? no: From the sick list? no: From the number of medical gentlemen who are supported by the dying and the sick? oh no: Let any man examine the matter with a view to truth, and he will find that this objection is not less visionary than the last. But I will enquire of these gentlemen, what political advantages will be derived to the community by locating all the offices and officers of government, in an extensive, rich, luxurious capital filled with inhabitants ready to violate the pure republican principles which give to a free representation all the dignity of virtue and patriotism? should the pages of history be examined from the remotest antiquity, it would be found that public liberty & virtue had received their most destructive attacks in those opulent cities, where the riches of individuals enabled them to offer those meretricious poisons which overthrew the ancient republics—away then with such arguments. Let republican simplicity, public faith & protection to the helpless, form the barometers of public actions; and then such evils as are alluded to, will be either obviated or greatly retarded. It is true the time may come when the prosperity of Frankfort, with an overwhelming wealth may burst through the marble hills with which it is surrounded, and the contents of those hills may be used in the creation of stately palaces and edifices; this presents a picture for future times, but should it ever be realized; if a warning voice can pass down through the virtue of future ages, it would be used to persuade the legislators of such an era to separate the public interests and offices from those temptations with which they would be surrounded, and select some new situation suitable to the era.

To conclude, the advantages afforded by the site which Frankfort enjoys, have been, in some degree, exhibited in the view already taken—but there is one more which ought not to be overlooked. The Kentucky river to its source, is covered with valuable timber; it affords coal and iron in abundance; it passes through a great body of rich land, and may be supplied to the end of time with those essential articles as well as with the best products of the earth, in greater abundance and greater certainty than any other town in the habitable globe. So long, therefore, as these unrivalled advantages exist; so long as it does not possess those charms of wealth and luxury which might be capable of vitiating the morals of the public functionaries; so long Frankfort must be as it now is, a situation so proper and so wisely selected, that had it not been established, those and other advantages would afford invitations which ought not to be resisted. Why then should the public mind be disturbed on the question for removal? If these remarks or any of them shall have a tendency to direct the decisions of the honorable legislature to the best and most beneficial results; every purpose for which the useful pen has been used will be fulfilled—but let the issue be what it may, he will enjoy the consolation of having in the refutation performed his social duty.

VLATOR.