Trenton for National Capital

Throughout the 1780s, and most especially in 1783-84, New Jersey, like several other states, promoted itself as a candidate for the seat of the national government. Most of the New Jersey sites proposed for the national capital were in the immediate Trenton vicinity. This excerpt from the minutes of the New Jersey Legislature and General Assembly on June 18, 1783 shows the State giving and granting "to the United States in Congress Assembled, the sum of thirty thousand Pounds in specie for the purpose of procuring Lands and erecting Buildings thereon for the suitable Accommodations of Congress, to be held by them and their successors forever." A considerable sum indeed, which one wonders if the State government actually had in hand. Another resolution appears to allude to the upcoming session of the Continental Congress in Trenton, inviting New Jersey inhabitants to provide accommodations for Congressional representatives.

[credit: New Jersey State Archives, Department of State]