Mr. Vining's speech was a decided relief. In the first place, it was brief, and secondly, its freedom from malevolence together with its bizarre humor gave it a distinction unique in the famous controversy.
"Though the interest of the State I represent is involved
in it," said he, "I am yet to learn of the Committee
whether Congress are to tickle the trout on the
stream of the Codorus, to build their sumptuous palaces
on the banks of the Potomac, or to admire commerce
with her expanded wings on the waters of the Delaware.
I have, on this occasion, educated my mind to impartiality
and have endeavored to chastise its prejudices.
I confess to the House and to the world, that viewing
the subject with all its circumstances, I am in favor of
the Potomac. I wish the seat of government to be fixed
there, because I think the interest, the honor and the
greatness of the country require it. I look on it as the
centre from which those streams are to flow that are to
animate and invigorate the body politic. From thence,
it appears to me, the rays of government will most naturally
diverge to the extremities of the Union. I declare
that I look on the western territory in an awful and
striking point of view. To that region the unpolished
sons of earth are flowing from all quarters, men to whom
the protection of the laws, and the controlling force of
the government are equally necessary; from this great
consideration I conclude that the banks of the Potomac
are the proper station."
Obscurity of logic and serio-comic rhetoric
