1U36 CONGRESSIONAL rKOCEEDlNGS. 



The adaptability and advantages of this national park for the various jjurposes 

 mentioned may readily l)e seen l)y reference to the diagram {)repared to illnstrate 

 the suggested locatiion of the exposition buildings. 



But a few of the buildings need lie erected by the United States, and the expense 

 of those few would be a safe investment, for such buildings as an American museum, 

 American hall, and American art gallery are absolutely needed by the Government 

 and would remain permanently as its own property. 



Looking down from Capitol Hill upon the park thus imi)roved one would witness 

 a panorama of nations, and, on the other hand, the American sister nations there 

 encamped could look up to the Washington Monument, the Capitol, the Executive 

 Mansion, and the various other surrounding edifices of the Federal Government, and 

 see the capital of the United States in all its grandeur and glory. 



It would, in effect, be a permanent congress of the three Americas, something in 

 harmony with the spirit of the times, as is evidenced Ijy the numerous bills recently 

 introduced in the Senate and House providing for a temporary convention of Amer- 

 ican nations. 



******* 



It will require one year for the necessary legislation by Congress, at least another 

 for legislation by the forty-six States and Territories and the various nations of the 

 other Americas, leaving but one year liefore the centennial of the Constitution, and 

 four years before the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America, for 

 the erection of permanent buildings, the collection of exhibits, and other necessary 

 work. 



It is evident, therefore, we can do but little more than inaugurate the enterprise 

 in 1889, leaving the grand consummation for 1892. 



No occasion could be more appropriate for such an inauguration than the 4th of 

 March, 1889, the one hundredth birthday of the Constitution, and the date of the 

 inauguration of the next President of the United States, in which celebration the 

 presidents of the fifteen American sister republics, whose organic laws are, to a 

 greater or less extent, copied from our Constitution, should be invited to participate. 



When the exposition is complete, in 1892, the President of the United States, the 

 presidents of the fifteen American sister republics, the Emperor of Brazil, the 

 Governor-General of Canada, the King of Italy, where Columbus was born, and the 

 Queen of Spain, from which country he sailed, should unite in unveiling a colossal 

 statue of the illustrious discoverer of America, which statue should be located in 

 the center of the jjermanent exposition grounds at Washington. 



The first century of the Republic has been mainly devoted to home affairs, the 

 formation and perfection of constitutional government, the material development of 

 the great interior, the adjustment of sectional disputes, and the construction of 

 transportation routes to the seaboard. 



The time has now arrived when the United States is entering upon what may be 

 termed the international era of its existence and a broader field of action. 



We therefore respectfully submit that the proposed permanent exposition of the 

 three Americas is in accord with the spirit of the times, and that it will exert an 

 educational, industrial, commercial, and political influence of great practical imi)or- 

 tance and value. 



Very resi^ectfuUy, Wm. B. Webb, Chairman. 



Alex. D. Anderson, Secretanj. 



December 17, 1886— Senate. 



Mr. A. P. Gorman. I present the memorial of a large number of 

 citizens of the United States in relation to the centennial celebration 

 of the adoption of the Federal Constitution and the world's exposition 

 to celebrate the disco\'erv of the continent of America ])V Columbus. 



