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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. XII (1790-1794) [1891]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. XII (1790-1794).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

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TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Mount Vernon, 31 March, 1791.

Dear Sir,

Having been so fortunate as to reconcile the contending interests of Georgetown and Carrollsburg, and to unite them in such an agreement as permits the public purposes to be carried into effect on an extensive and proper scale, I have the pleasure to transmit to you the enclosed proclamation, which, after annexing the seal of the United States, and your countersignature, you will cause to be published.1

The terms entered into by me, on the part of the United States, with the landholders of Georgetown and Carrollsburg are, that all the land from Rock Creek along the river to the Eastern Branch, and so upwards to or above the Ferry, including a breadth of about a mile and a half, the whole containing from three to five thousand acres, is ceded to the public on condition, that, when the whole shall be surveyed and laid off as a city (which Major L’Enfant is now directed to do), the present proprietors shall retain every other lot; and for such part of the land as may be taken for public use, for squares, walks, &c., they shall be allowed at the rate of twenty-five pounds per acre, the public having the right to reserve such parts of the wood on the land, as may be thought necessary to be preserved for ornament; the landholders to have the use and profits of all the grounds until the city is laid off into lots, and sale is made of those lots, which, by this agreement, become public property. Nothing is to be allowed for the ground, which may be occupied as streets or alleys.

To these considerations all the principal landholders, except the purchaser of Slater’s property, who was not present, have subscribed; and it is not doubted, that the few, who were not present, will readily come into the measure, even the obstinate Mr. Burns.

The enlarged plan of this agreement having done away the necessity, and indeed postponed the propriety, of designating the particular spot on which the public building should be placed, until an accurate survey and subdivision of the whole ground is made, I have left out that paragraph of the proclamation.

It was found on running the lines, that the comprehension of Bladensburg within the district must have occasioned the exclusion of more important objects; and of this I am convinced, as well by my own observation, as Mr. Ellicott’s opinion. With great regard and esteem, I am, dear Sir, &c.

[1 ]“Finding the interests of the Landholders about Georgetown and those about Carrollsburgh much at variance, and that their fears and jealousies of each were counteracting the public purposes, and might prove injurious to its best interests, whilst if properly managed they might be made to subserve it—I requested them to meet me at six o’clock this afternoon at my lodgings, which they accordingly did.

“To this meeting I represented that the contention in which they seemed engaged, did not in my opinion comport either with the public interest or that of their own;—that while each party was aiming to obtain the public buildings, they might by placing the matter on a contracted scale, defeat the measure altogether, not only by procrastination, but for want of the means necessary to effect the work;—That neither the offer from Georgetown or Carrollsburgh, seperately, was adequate to the end of ensuring the object;—That both together did not comprehend more ground nor would afford greater means than was required for the federal City;—and that instead of contending which of the two should have it, they had better, by combining more offers to make a common cause of it, and thereby secure it to the district—Other arguments were used to show the danger which might result from delay, and the good effects that might proceed from a union.”—Diary. Convinced by these arguments, the landholders agreed to surrender for the public interest one half of the lands they held, with some other stipulations. The proclamation, dated 30 March, 1791, fixed the following boundary lines:

“Beginning at Jones’s Point, being the upper Cape of Hunting Creek in Virginia, and at an angle in the outset of forty-five degrees west of the north, and running in a direct line ten miles, for the first line; then beginning again at the same Jones’s Point, and running another direct line at a right angle with the first across the Potomac, ten miles, for the second line; then, from the termination of the said first and second lines, running two other direct lines of ten miles each, the one crossing the Eastern Branch aforesaid, and the other the Potomac, and meeting each other in a point.”