Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


the architect of the Capitol to continue in employment
the mechanics, loborer and others employed upon the
| two wings thereof
Mr. WEIGHTMAN, rising to a privileged question,
moved that the House proceed to the consideration
petition of A. w. Reynolds contesting his right to seat
upon this floor Delegate from the Territory of New
Mexico presented days since by the gentleman from
Missouri, Mr. PHELps.) He desired this subject to be
dered now he could not permit charge against the
gentleman who filled the Executive chair of New Mexico
to go uncontradicted any longer
/ The SPEAKER decided that although the question to
which the gentleman referred privileged one yet it
competent for the House to go into Committee Of the
Whole, and the question would first be taken on that
The question was accordingly lnv..y.
| Mr. CLINGMAN, and it was agreed to.
WORK ON THE CAPITOL.
And thereupon the House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the state the Union, mr. SEYMOUR of Con-
necticut in the char) and proceeded to consider the
joint resolution of the Senate authorizing the architect Of
the Capitol to continue in employment the mechanics Ia
borers and others empoyednpon the two wings thereof
Mr.. STANTON of Kentucky said that he was instruct
ed by the Committee Public Buildings and Grounds
amend the joint resolution of the Senate by sub
shutting in lieu thereof the following:
That there be and hereby appropriated Of any
the Treasury otherwise appropriated for the period
between the passage of this resolution and the end of the
cal year terminating June 80 1853 the Of five hundred
thousand dollars for the continuance Of the work the
i wings of the Capitol"
Mr. s. remarked that the appropriation made during
the long session of the last Congress hundred
thousand dollars, which became exhausted at the
mencemen of the present session. Since that time the
work had been totally suspended and the mechanics and
laborers employed thereon had been discharged. The
work had been commenced and he could not doubt the
intention of Congress to complete it. One hundred thou
dollars had already been expended and be hap
Ply to say judiciously expended This appropriation
needed and should be made and better that should
be made now and the work be permitted 60 with
full complement of hands, than that small appropriation
of hundred thousand dollars should be made which
would be expended before another appropriation could be
made in any appropriation bill. The Committee of Ways
and Means, in all the bills which they had presented to
the House. had made appropriation for the Capitol the
House having properly referred that subject to the Com
mittee on the Public Buildings and Grounds That
mttee after having inquired into the proprey of APP
preparation, had instructed him to the amendment
which he had submitted.
! Mr.. WOODWARD desired to know when it was likely
the committee appointed to inquire the stability Of
the foundation Of the Capitol would probably make their
report and what the report likely to be 1t seemed
to him that the question under consideration
nected with the report the amount of appropriation
might be affected by it.
Mr. McNAIR (Afr. STANTON yieding) replied that the
committee had been regularly proceeding with their in
yesgatons and almost ready to report they would
be able to report next week They had found the walls
Of the foundation in dreadful condition; in condition
that had astonshed all of the committee When they
amined the wall they found that it built with shells
on the outside, and small stones thrown in the inside
They found the wall in very bad condition, with
stones running through il to bind it. The mortar
ascertained to be entirely insufficient for it had been in
the wall about three months and not yet set They
had dug out the inside and thrown out sand and small
stones. lie spoke of the appropriation made by the
last Congress for the erection of the foundation and
said that that appropriation under the control of
the architect himself The money had been expended
how they knew not One the best architects in the
State of Pennsylvania not interested in the work had
declared to him. when he examined the formation of the
WALL that he would venture his life that it would fall
down if built upon He desired the House to pause be-
fore making this appropriation
Mr.. DUNCAN desired to know the name Of the archi-
tsct to which the gentleman from Pennsylvania referred
and whether he had been upon examination before the
desired TO know his name.
[voIcEs. "Give his name" Name him"l
Mr.. McNAIR declined to name him.
Mr.. FLORENCE. Oh MOI The reputation of Penn
sylyania may be at stake.
Mr.. SEYMOUR, of New York. inquired Of the gentle
from Pennsylvania whether he had any knowledge Of
the interpolation any suspicion Of the misappcaton
Of the fund appropriated by the last Congress for the
tension Of the Capitol?
Mr. McNAIR replied that he had the knowledge that
the money was drawn by the architect and there
account made by him Of his disbursements
Some conversation here ensued between Messrs FLO
RENEE and McNAIR, in which the facts elected
that vote had yet been taken in committee the
durability Of the foundation and that there conflict
ing testimony as to its strength.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky said that il the mis-
fortune Of all great who had the genius undertake
works Of this magnitude to be harassed and annoyed by
the criticisms and Of those persons who had
failed TO secure contracts The particular friend Of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania professor Coltman) had
stimulated this investigation Of the foundation
lie then replied TO the charge Of Mr.. McNArn that
bad mortar had been used This he denied and having
worked at the business twelve years. he should know
something about it. The gentleman had said that he had
found the mortar not dry He would tell the gentleman
that would not be dry for twenty years. and was best
that 1t should never be The longer the process was
going on the stronger the mortar became.
lie next replied to the assertion that the material used
was not durable and produced the results Of expert
Ito thp tofth artop
that Il was sufficiently strong sustain the superstructure
about to be erected thereon
lie then referred TO the remarks Of Mr. McNAIR as to
the opening Of the foundation and the taking thereom Of
sand and small stones, and mentioned several modern and
ancient structures to show that foundations composed Of
small stones properly cemented the strongest and
most durable that could be built.
The gentleman had said that the money bad been ex-
pended under the direction of the architect and that
report had been made Of the OF its
IL the gentleman did not know, he MR. 81 knew that
accounts had been kept any person who desired could
easily ascertain what had become of the money. Every
cent had been faithfully accounted for.
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi then addressed the House,
stating that not his purpose speak in reference
to the bill pending before the committee but TO take
retrospect Of the RISE progress and fall Of the Southern
movement
He dated the commencement Of the Southern movement
from the assembling Of the Southern Senators and Repre-
sentatycs Of Congress in the United States Senate Cham
ber and gave history of its progress in the southern
States. He considered that movement dead and
IL he called upon to write its eptaph he would in
scribe upon the stone which marked its burial place.
| 'reguiescat in pace"
Mr.. b. then replied TO the remark Of Mr. Wueox that
gouthern marty n hack