[Washington, D.C.] Rare Congressional Act, Amending the Residence Act of 1790, Establishing Washington, D.C. as the Permanent Seat of Government

Philadelphia: (Francis Childs and John Swaine), March 3, 1791. Printed broadside, 11 3/8 x 8 in. (289 x 203 mm). Signed in type by President George Washington, Vice-President John Adams, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. Disbound; light wear along edges. Evans 23869; ESTC W14409

Rare Congressional act, amending the Residence Act of 1790, that established Washington, D.C. as the permanent seat of government and Philadelphia as the temporary seat. This act, approved on March 3, 1791, repeals a portion of the Act that required the new district to be placed above the mouth of the Eastern Branch, stating that "it shall be lawful for the President to make any part of the territory below the said limit, and above the mouth of Hunting Creek...so as to include a convenient part of the Eastern Branch, and of the lands lying on the lower side thereof, and also the town of Alexandria..." Finally, the Act affirms that "nothing herein contained, shall authorize the erection of the public buildings otherwise than on the Maryland side of the river Potowmac, as required by the aforesaid act."

According to RBH, this is only the second example offered at auction since 1917. Furthermore, ESTC locates only three copies

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

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How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

[Washington, D.C.] Rare Congressional Act, Amending the Residence Act of 1790, Establishing Washington, D.C. as the Permanent Seat of Government

How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

[Washington, D.C.] Rare Congressional Act, Amending the Residence Act of 1790, Establishing Washington, D.C. as the Permanent Seat of Government

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