The daily union., 1852-03-17

which II s designed nowilb standing ihe opinion OF he
chairman OF the committee, who, perhaps mas no Dettei
practical nowedge on the subject Than have.
MIR McNAIR / have told the gentleman, as tell hun
now. that there has been no vote taken IN me commtee
will tell him further, that know nothing ABOUT any
such certificates as he speaks oil.
MIR FLORENCE. did not mean TO say certificates. l
meant 10 ask II there had not been such testimony before
Mr. McNAIR. There has been such testimony but
there has also been contradictory testimony Alter The
testimony was all given, we went Out ana examined LOT
ourselves We formed own opinions ~ regard 10 IL,
and have given them in full IN the report For my own
part, must say that very much disappointed, ana
think the other members OF the commitiee-i they are
here-wiIl say the same for themselves.
Mr. STANTON, OF Kentucky, (resuming.) Mr.. Chair.
man, was about TO remark, when was interupiei,
that had been the misfortune OF all great men who mad
the genius and resolution TO undertake works OF ms
magnitude, 10 be harassed and annoyed BY The criticism
OF petty minds who have not the capacity TO
comprehend or the skill 10 execute a great design ln
This remark do not aude 10 the gentleman from Penn
syvana, but do aude TO that description OF meddlers
who from motives OF disappointment at having failed 10
secure contracts on this work. come into this hall. and
To haass the House, and, had almost sad 10 lead IN
elgen and honorable members OF Congress into dlem-
mas, OF which. when they learn the whole truth, they
will be ashamed.
Mr.. McNAlR. Who are theyl
Mr.. SEAN TON. Such men as your particular friend,
Mr. Coman, who you said yourself. had been The In.
strumen in bringing about this investigation,
Gentlemen who have read the history OF the construc
ton OF that great edhce the north bank Of the Thames
Westminster will recoect that Sir Charles Barry, the
distinguished architect charged with the design and con-
slructIon oil the work. was annoyed AT every step from
the time the first foundation laid 10 the com
pleon OF the building, with special committees and in
vestigatons, like those have authorized here but
which resulted in nothing but the complete vndcaon OF
the great architect and his noble structure Sir, the
truth in all great undertakings Of this magnitude,
is best accomplished by relying upon individual res
possibility. You acted upon that principle when you
gave the President power TO adopt the plan for the edce
without other limit Than his discretion; and you
mns to sone extent ACT upon the principle in per-
mil nV htu tn rOu uatQ Xnuc cpn dol anh
aud the work, by listening 10 The idle camor OF the
ignorant and the envious but such will be
more discred.abe 10 yon than TO the President the arc
iect he has employed, or any one acting under them.
The lamented Tay lor would never have conquered at
Buena Vista, Scott have taken the city OF Mexico, il
at every emergency these brave generals had been re-
strained and controlled by the unenlghened suggestions
OF the War Department Nor will your Capitol
be cedabe the nation if the work and the plans
raised ai,he instance Of every stupid fellow who magnes
that he sees bIick awry, small crevice per-
fecily puityed up.
am reolced aat this debate has arisen because had
some curiosity 10 hear what the honorable member from
Penney ivania, Mr.. McNAIR. who is chairman OF the
special committee, would have 10 say upon the subject OF
the foundations; and wished TO avail myself of The
opportunity oil expressing my own opinions the sub
J-c freely and iearessly. When | heard there
doubts 10 The stability and frmness OF these founda-
lions, confess was amazed for could not conceive
that any intelligent gentleman, who them they pre-
sented themselves 10 the eye OF every body could have
any other opinion than that they unnecessarily
sirong. am glad, however, that the committee have
made their investigation most thorough and complete
matter what be their conclusions when they take the
sense OF the members. They have not only, we have
been told by the chairman dug niohe centre oil the walls
10 Test the quality J the work. but have been informed
they have employed an accomplished scientific gentleman
OF this city. Professor Johnsou expense OF
of The so.dy and strength OF the gneiss rock Of which
these foundations are built well as OF its capacity 10
resist the action OF the atmosphere
Now, there ia no, aborer engaged on these founda-
ven he mn of ho dnes
not know that not square inch Of the surface OF those
walls Will be exposed 10 The action OF the elements Tue
outer surface will be covered up by the EARTH the
terraces which will surround IT, and the inner surface
by the arches or floors above IL, that part will be
exposed
The chairman OF the special committee fhir McNAIR ]
judgment the character OF these foundations and
pTonounces them shameiully defective Now, as 10 the
salion with Professor Johnson as 10 the result Of his
experiments in which be kindly gave me the facts which
will follow.
MIR. McNAIR Was he upon his oath
Mr.. STAN ron No, sir; but [ presume his word
upon this subject would be as good as his oath.
MIR. BEALE lie took six or seven specimens Of
stone from different parts OF the building, ascer
tam the average quality OF the stone,
Mr STANTON. shall state il all fairly as have
no disposition to do any one injustice.
The weakest and most inferior specimens OF the
used which could be found, when subjected TO pressure
by accurate machinery for that purpose, bore crushing
weight OF over 5000 pounds 10 the square inch. OF
poruon OF the material OF which the walls OF the edlce
will be bull, weighs only rs pounds 10 the cubic loot and
as the building will be about 60 feet high, the weight
which each square foot of foundation il must sustain is
only 10 500 pounds, less than hundedh part OF
what the walls capable OF sustaining supposng the
whole foundation TO be built OF the most inferior nate.
rial Inc best portion OF The used bore pressure
OF 1000 pounds and over, and half times
than the mot inferior Not stone in hundred used
In the foundation am authorized 10 say oil the in
Terror quality OF The hfs specimen to which have refer
red and taking medium between the worst and the
best the proper average quality oil The stone uscJ and
these foundations, much decfed, really capable OF
pounds 10 the square foot, two hundred and thirty.
three times more than Is actually required
These OF the results which had been obtained
by the gentleman referred 10 at the time OF
tion They certainly will be concusve-io all unpreju
diced miuds-as to the strength and durability OF the
stone.
! nave no information as 10 The result Of his expert
pierre action They had not been completed the time
referred to. Bot not what may be the result My
own practical experience teaches that the stone
sufficiently strong solid, aud durable for any purpose
OF the kind agree with The learned professor sl these
experiments can be Of practical vsuefor the
as veil been dispensed with They only waste Of
genius and OF time
Bat the chairman OF the investigating committee has
told with great gravity that he OF these
foundation wallis with Ickaxe and orowbar in hand, and
dug up portion OF that to hi. great SURPRISE he
found hrs worst antlcipstons realized The wall, he
alleges s built OF small and bad mortar, and IS in
sufficient 10 sustain structure be erected upon H.
Now, Ie, disclose in regard to this digging
operation. Tue honorable chairman satisfied himself b,
digging single spot, and that spot nappened-
naeiI Tor the purpose OF the geneman,o be just where