D.C. Residency Act
7/16/1790
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This act of July 16, 1790, 1 STAT 130, established the District of Columbia as the seat of government.
Transcript
Congress of the United StatesAt the Second Session, begun and held at the City of New York,
on Monday, the fourth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and Ninety.
An Act establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a district of territory not exceeding ten miles square, to be located as hereafter directed on the river Potomack, at some place between the mouths of the Eastern branch and Connogochegue, be, and the same is hereby accepted for the permanent Seat of the government of the United States. Provided nonetheless, that the operation of the laws of the State within such district shall not be affected by this acceptance, until the time fixed for the removal of the government thereto, and until Congress shall otherwise by law provide.
And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be authorized to appoint, and by supplying vacancies happening from refusals to act, or other causes, to keep in appointment as long as may be necessary three Commissioners, who, or any two of whom, shall under the direction of the President Survey, and by proper metes and bounds define and limit a district of territory, under the limitations above mentioned, and the district so defined, limited and located shall be deemed the district accepted by this act, for the permanent Seat of the government of the United States.
And be it enacted, That the said Commissioners, or any two of them, shall have power to purchase, or accept such quantity of land on the eastern Side of the said river, within the said district, as the President shall deem proper for the use of the United States, and according to such plans, as the President shall approve, the said Commissioners, or any two of them, shall, prior to the first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight hundred, provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress, and of the President, and for the public offices of the government of the United States.
And be it enacted, That for defraying the expense of such purchases and buildings, the President of the United States be authorized and requested to accept grants of money.
And be it enacted, That prior to the first Monday in December next, all affairs attached to the Seat of the government of the United States shall be removed to, and until the said first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight hundred, shall remain at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, at which place the Session of Congress next ensuing the present shall be held.
And be it enacted, That on the said first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight hundred, the Seat of the government of the United States shall by virtue of this act be transferred to the district and place aforesaid; And all offices attached to the said Seat of government, shall accordingly be removed thereto by their respective holders, and shall after the said day, cease to be exercised elsewhere, and that the necessary expense of such removal shall be defrayed out of the duties on imposts and tonnage of which a Sufficient Sum is hereby
appropriated.
[signed] Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
[signed] John Adams. [left bracket] Vice-President of the United States
And President of the Senate.
[signed] Approved July the Sixteenth, 1790 G Washington – President of the United States
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 299948
Full Citation: Act of July 16, 1790 (D.C. Residency Act), 1 STAT 130, which established the District of Columbia as the seat of government.; 7/16/1790; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/dc-residency-act, May 11, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.