DISTRICT of COLUMBIA (COLUMBIA, ante), a small territory between Maryland and Virginia selected in 1800 as the site for the national capital of the United States. The selection of a place for the seat of government provoked the first discussion of a sectional nature after the adoption of the federal constitution. The government was organized at New York, Mar. 4, 1789, and congress met in that city until 1791. In 1790, after a long discussion, a bill was passed providing that the seat of government should be changed to Philadelphia, where it should remain from Dec., 1790, to Dec. , 1800, at which time it,Should be upon " a district of territory* not exceeding 10 sq.m., on the river Potomac, between the mouth of the eastern branch and Conogocheague." The land was on both sides of the Potomac, and was ceded by the owning states with the condition that congress, or the United States, should have exclusive control forever. Maryland ceded 64 sq.m., or the whole of Washington co.; and Virginia ceded 36 sq.m., which was Alexandria Co.; but in 1846, the Virginia portion was returned to that state, as no part of the government establishment bad been erected s. of the river. It is said that the site of Washington, or near there, was a favorite meeting-place for Indians. Among the earliest white settlers was an Englishman named Pope, who bought land and named the stream flowing through it the 'fiber, and to the eminence on which the United States capitol now stands, he gave the name of Capitoline bill, calling his whole plantation Rome, and signing himself " Pope of Rome." About 60 years before the revolution, one of the ancestors of Daniel Boone owned the land now occupied by the city of Georgetown, on which he laid out a town of the same name. The first move ment towards selecting a permanent seat of government was in 1783, when, through acts of mob violence, congress was forced to adjourn from Philadelphia to Princeton, New Jersey. At that time Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts offered a resolution (adopted, but afterwards repealed) providing for the selection of a site on the Delaware, and one near the falls of the Potomac, his idea being to have a northern and southern capital. The authority to select a site was given, finally, in the federal constitution. The gov ernment title to the territory was perfected, and buildings suitable for the accommoda tion of congress and the executive departments were ready at the prescribed time, and on the first Monday of Dec., 1800, the capital was fixed in the federal city called Wash ington. For many years afterwards, Washington was but the skeleton of a town, and from its ambitious proportions was nicknamed "the city of magnificent distances," while even the poets flouted its pretension with the line, "And what was Goose creek once is Tiber now." In 1814, the British took possession of the territory, and burned
the capitol and other public buildings. Soon after that war, the District of Columbia began to improve in population and industries. When the rebellion began, strong fortifications were erected for the defense of Washington, which was several times menaced or in danger, but never actually attacked.
The district of Columbia was governed directly by congress until 1871, when the people of the district were given the privileges of self-government as a regular territory; but thus far they have sent no delegate to congress. As in other territories, the voters have no voice in presidential elections; and it is a singular fact that until the act of 1871 many of the people residing in this district in sight of the capitol were not political citizens of any state nor of the nation. The territorial act creates a governor and secre tary, appointed by the president and United States senate; a council of 11, and a house of delegates of 22 members, with annual sessions limited to 60 days. Pay of governor, $3,000 a year; legislators, $4 per day. Suffrage is the same as in nearly all the states.
At the commencement of 1879, there were in the district 6 daily and 14 weekly news papers, and 5 monthly and 1 quarterly publication-26 in all. Children between 6 and 17 are within school age, and in 1878, there were 38,850 in the district; 24,000 enrolled; average attendance, 16,318; school days, 195; teachers, 40; income for educa tion, $385,000; expenses, $270,000; school property valued at $1,169,614. The colleges are: Columbia university (Bapt.); Gonzaga college (R. C.); National deaf-mute college (non-sect.); and Howard university (non-sect., though under Cong. and Pres. patronage); all at Washington; and Georgetown (R. C.) college. In all these there were 41 instruct ors and 268 pupils. Both sexes are admitted to IIoward university, and colored students are admitted to the theological department. The Baptists have also a school (Wayland seminary) in Washington; there are medical departments in nearly all the colleges, and also a National college of pharmacy. AB except the Roman Catholic institutions have law departments, in which there were 12 instructors and 342 students; in medicine, 42 instructors and 183 students. (For latest statistics, see Appendix).