The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-14

So sir this government, If may use the expression
has been living upon the city OF Washington, as Tar AS
courts are concerned for the last twenty The
very rent which they wonld have oeen obiged 10 pay
for this accommodation Afforded BY the city, would have
amounted 10 more than 100000, at about four cent
Now sir from these facts II is evident that approprahng
this $50 nothing more than paying tor the accommo;
daon the government have already had at the expense OF
the city But sir, all that the city required all that they
asked and all that the committee recommended rs TO
furnish money to finish this building 10 be applied 10
that purpose expressly by the amendment and to be APP
piled and expended under the direction of the Secretary
OF the Treasury Not cent of it goes into the pockets
of the city corporation of Washington And hnlshed-
half OF it. and than half of il, may be used as
expressly limited in the amendment by the government
for the purpose OF court rooms ay :. ru n~ sstnc o
government donation it asking to ascertain how
much the city has received from the government to
strike balance between what was received IRON the
civ by the government and the reverse II Is asking
merely that the should pay Tor the ENJOY
of property belonging to the CITY that Inc gov
Now, / have objection. on the ground stated
by the senator from Florida. [Mr. WEsTcorr to any
amendment 10 secure TO government the occupation and
use of half of this building and forever there
would be objection the part OF the city because has
already been used for the last twenty-five years There
will be difficulty at all about that matter, SIR; the CITY
has always granted very cheerfully every accommoda
ton.
Now sir with regard to the claim of the city upon the
government has been stated hereand think with
out any facts to support itthat the city is largely
indebted to government for appropriations heretofore
made by the government, venture to affirm that, II
that account is taken, the balance IL largely in
favor of the city; but sir, l shall not go into the
discussion of that question now it is not necessary
But beg leave to remark IN closing nal nave looked
ton laid out in the first instance under the author
ity OF the general government every street in its for
general government. One-fourth and more than that,
of the property in the city belongs now to the
general government Every department in the gov
ernment sir is interested in keeping up the munich
pal accommodation of the city Every officer is in
terested in the use OF the streets--in seeing them
kept in proper order and repair Every public build;
ing which you erect here increases the expenditure OF
the government in maintaining and keeping up the ave-
nues leading and from 1.-THE of the streets, and
the of the accommodations. the pavemenis OF the
city, the lights of the city, and all those expenditures to
the city much to be enjoyed sir, by the officers OF
the government as by the citizens themselves II being
thus the city being occupied by the officers OF the gov
eminent, it is right and proper that the government
should bear its full share of the expenses of keeping
the city, That sir believe, has been the policy here
totore of Congress and of the committee upon that sub
ject. Further than that. sir believe the committee on
The part OF the Senate have asked any appropra
non Mr. 0' HA an N not M Ga IN" haVs believed
that the appropriations made by the government for this
city have been at least very cheerully made but do
moi with what fell from the senator from Ohio.
have, therefore, prepared amendment, which be-
lieve will meet the OF the senator from Virginia
lMr HusrERl will so qualify ihe appropriation as
out that portion which says that certain rooms shalt be
act apart for the of the general government and insert
United States '' 1880
Mr. RUSK hope that amendment will not be adopt
ed. All that is necessary TO be secured TO the govern
ment the of the for the judiciary OF this Dis
trct, after the Improvement is made in the building
Those have been used for that purpose for
twenty-five years past without interruption, and without
any consideration whatever return Tor the benefit the
government have enjoyed from them Is there any one.
them who apprehends for a single moment that the city
authorities would turn the judiciary out OF the building
after the improvements are made Certainly not Wel
sir. why then seek to become joint owners OF the build
ing! 1t would produce confusion to have two owners,
and II would increase the liability to incur expenses
Who are the most economical owners, and who would
be likely to keep ia the best repair The corporation,
most assuredly They wond exercise the greatest care
furnish and repair the building most promptly, and keep
it in better condition to benefit the community and those
especially who occupy it,
ment will not be adopted have no desire to go into a
partnership this building 1t is obviously better that
one of the parties should own il. shall go for the
proposition to amend generally, and shall vote to make
this appropriation with great cheefuness. believing
that it is the duty OF the United States and that they
are under obga'ion-and that OF the highest character
to make repairs upon this building, which is rap
idly going decay and which has been unsghty OBJ
ject to me ever since first saw it
take it that this matter stands precisely where my friend
from Alabama, Mr.. KING,] who is man of taste,
has placed it-land the senator from Virginia Mr. Hun
TERI concurred with him as TO the matter OF taste
submitted to the judgment of the Senate of the United
States; )-whether we will or will not appropriate
$4,000 to embesh this miserable old shell OF build
ing, put ii condition according to the taste of my
friend who has been all Europe and has consulted
the most perfect models there.
Now, sir am altogether at issue with my friend.
feel that there things the world too bad to
be mended and if there is such thing under the sun, it
is precisely this old shell in this city It has been
eyesore to the whole country who have had occasion to
come here; and if this appropriation for pulling
down that building. would vote for it, Anything TO
get rid of ita poor, miserable monument of folly.
thrown up in an age Of speculaon-a work done under
the high pressure excitement believe, of 1864 build
ing unshapely and modelled after style of architecture
unknown in ancient in modern times; it is neither
Greek, Britain Chinese To what order belongs |
airy TO worship it, for in shape il is unlike anything
that is heaven above, earth beneath or in the
waters that are under the EARTH" ILaugherl 1t is an
unsghtly shell, and the inside is in harmony with the
outside.
Why, sir, amazed at this attempt to make APP
preparation for useless purpose The building never
be fitted for anything and If the money is laid out
taste, and will be entirely thrown away whereas the
sum proposed to be appropriated would be sufficient to
erect good edhce quite ample for all the purposes re-
quired. Ii such appropriation is wanted, will vote
for any reasonable amount, but | will not throw away
money upon that old she'll Let it tumble down, or let
stand there monument of that period of speculation
and folly which swept the country, spreading DESC
laiOn and ruin in its track.
Why, sir, we are told that wise man, before he un-
dertakes to build his house, first counts the But
the wise men OF the capital seems, did not count the
cost OF this work They probably bad money enough to
put up the wallsor rather credit for think all
credit; but their credit failed, and there it stands
monument OF the exceency of the credit system But
let 1t stand. l want some monument of that system |
would be willing to vote an appropriation to move it
where the authorities shall desire it; butt would not un.
n. onau btp1 NH ch