Daily National Intelligencer

DESERTION OF THE CAPITOL

We regret that we are obliged to postpone for another day the publication of the Debate on the proposition for deserting the Capitol. A fact, however, is to-day presented to view which is worthy of note; that the Burgesses of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, have assured Congress that they and the Public Offices shall be accommodated there if they flee to Lancaster, a place from which it is scarce four years since the government of the state thought proper to remove. It is not for us to enquire how the Burgesses of Lancaster came thus to advertize for the custom of Congress; but this we know: the government once set in motion does not rest at Lancaster, nor on this side of the Alleghany.

There are doubtless many men in Congress who would rejoice to see the seat of Empire translated beyond the Mountains.

This is a subject too plain for argument. If the shade of the revered Washington interests himself in the fate of that country he so dearly loved, with what shame and mortification would he hear a debate in Congress about a removal from his Capital? How would the sainted sires of those who coldly agitate this question, lament that their descendants could for a moment deliberate on a precipitate retreat from the seat of government, because five or six thousand men had by surprize possessed it for a few hours? Do the smoky walls and ruins of conflagration strike terror into the hearts of the beholders? Where is the firmness of Republicanism? Where the stability of patriotism? Is this a time to deliberate on removal into the interior, when every moment should be applied with calm fortitude to provide against further aggression?

The whole world is witness to the conduct of the government at this crisis. Should our National Councils withdraw from their legitimate seat of government, whatever be the motive, injury will, we fear, result from the timid measure, and the enemy will exult at what he will adduce as proof of imbecility and apprehension. We speak from authority not to be disputed, when we say, that the captains and generals of our enemy are deeply mortified at the convention of Congress at this place, and that nothing would so much inflate their arrogance as the idea that their incursion had compelled the government to migrate from its home.

Something has been said of the necessity of consulting the convenience of the Members composing the Congress. We do not see in what respect the recent events have diminished that convenience. But what if they had? Shall the Representatives of the Nation, Federalists or Republicans, complain of the want of luxuries? Let them behold their fellow citizens in the tented field with homely fare, or bleeding, on the bare earth rather than yield an inch of ground! Let them look on this picture; then calmly compare it with the line of conduct they are invited to pursue.

When Honorius fled to Ravenna, he broke the spirit of his people, and ignominious tribute to the barbarians soon followed. Let the American Congress profit by the example, and respect the proud feelings of a highminded and virtuous People.

It is not true, as stated by the writer in the Alexandria Gazette of yesterday, that we have 'condemned the Alexandrians,' or 'arraigned them before the public bar,' unless the fact of surrender to the enemy 'condemns' them, and the statement of it 'arraigns' them before the public bar. Their own vindication of their conduct shall appear when the absence of more important matter will permit.