The daily union., 1852-01-16
tn. E1..n..sa Of IN. c-p,.ui. '''

NhnfLhMLki Sohsluctatohs OF great moment 10 your
honorable body being associated with the plan of exs
sion OF the Csp developed by the foundations laid
al each end OF the present building and as your honor
able body may not have examined into the merits Of this
plan, 10 aScertan whether II will effect the object OF such
TO facilitate the public business trans
acted BY your honorable body-ws would through this
medium present the following facts for the information
OF your honorable body.
When the plans for the extension OF the Capitol were
under consideration by the joint committees OF your hon
oable body, difference OF opinion prevailed of the plan
Tor such extension, but the voice of the majority was in
favor oil that plan which would give the closest pror.
tmty 10 the two legislative chambers considering this
as an essential requisite, in any plan adopted TO
the convenient transaction of the public business The
objections OF the majority OF the committee the tDng
buildings was grounded this point, namely placing
Tie two houses TOO toide apabeng satisfied that the
present legislative halls were distant they ought
be for the convenient transaction of the public business
There being no satisfactory agreement in the commit
tee on the point at ISSUE separate action took place. and
the Senate committee formed neto OF PLAN
which compromised the two views OF the Joint committee
which plan reported to the Senate adopted by that
body and sent 10 the President OF the United States for
his concurrence All the plans submitted TO the commit
tee (by many distinguished architeets) sent up TO
the President who, after lapse Of four five months.
adopted plan differing totally from either Of those ap
proved by the committee OF both houses of Congress
Whsher the President took into consideration The lead
ing points which regulated the action Of the joint commit
ee noticed above, question We may infer, however,
that he did not evidenced by his adoption of the plan by
rings, displayed in the foundation laid. The question
that up for the consideration of your honorable
body is the adaptation Of this arrangement Of plan the
requirements of the public business
fundamental principle in the projection of any plan
for the extension of the CAPITOL having in view the
commodation of each house. isst, that the two legs
lative halls should approximate to each other near
convenience and comfort will admit. The necessity of
this requision will be evident TO every familiar with
the modus operand OF legislative business in Congress-
especially at the close Of euery session. We all know how
important this proximity is at this time especially when
every moment Is preciouS-nay noncnt0uS. The loss Of
few seconds in communicating message from one
house to the other may result in the loss OF an important
bill or resolution.
II this fact is founded in truth, (Which cannot be
douoted then the plan OF the extension Of the Capitol
now in progress is totally at variance with the funda-
mental postulae laid downor the distance between the
two halls as proposed to be placed in the wings, will be
three times that now ersing between the two houses
besides which, the message sent from one legislative
body TO the other must pass through the public hghay
between the two houses, and consequently be exposed
to continual interruption, if nothing more by the crowd
assembled here; and there might occasions when
settled motiue might influence certain persons in that
crowd to throw serious obstacles in the way Of the mes
senger, for he osensibe object of defeating some bill in
his charge. These considerations of serious import
in legislation, and should enter into and form an essen
a feature in the arrangement OF any plan for the exten
sion oil the Capitol.
I'd The next point TO be considered u.s. whether any
plan OF extension has been be devised TO meet the
requisites demanded according to the rule laid down
In reply, confidently point your honofable body to
such pan projected many years ago, when the subject of
extending the Capitol was first agtated, and which re-
ceved the favorable consideration OF the House OF Rep
esenatives which body moved first in this project The
rapid accession Of members the Senate compelled that
body to devise the means for larger chamber and
memorial and plans were presented 10 the Senate in
1850. by Robert Mills, architect, which were referred TO
the Committee Public Buildings. favorable report
resulted, and the action of the House of Representatives
invited join plan for the extension OF the Capitol
The session being nearly closed. the committee recon-
mended and authorized by the Senate TO offer. pre-
MUM for the most approved plan for such extension
which elected many plans, the result of which has been
already stated
The advantages OF the plan named-being the first pro-
posed for the extension Of the Capitol-are follows
Convenience, eompdeness, and economy.
ls The eonvsnenr the proximity given TO the two
halls OF Congress- the separation OF which would be
by the Intervention oil the great Roundothe Senate Cham
Der occupying the site OF the late Congressional Library
where space offers large enough TO accommodate from
lou 10 ZuU kedts IoI tuc IdH hepTeS<Htu
iiues occupying the projections TO the east OF the Rotundo,
like that to the rs where space would be provided
for seating FIVE hundred members, if required
On the south, between the two halls is placed the
Congressional Library, occupying the present Hall of the
House, and capable of shelving 100000 volumes
and on the north would be the Supreme Court Room.
cupyng the present Senate Chamber.
All these accommodations afforded by simply
adding structure TO the east corresponding with the
pro jeeon TO the et giving the form OF Greek Cross
to the whole building; and then placing the crowning
feature OF the Captol-ihe great Dome-in the centre
of he eross--fhs centre Of the building.
I'd Compdeines- great Roiundo would form, in
this arrangement Of the plan the centre Of all these public
rooms, Placed in the centre of this room, and looking
,ces is the entrance TO the Senate Chamber looking
east that OF the Hall Of Representatives. looking north
that OF the Supreme Court and looking south is that
TO the Congressional Library Room. The Roundo thus
becomes the great Hall Of The People, serving also the
lobby OF each house The communications between these
public all thus compact and easy OF and
the distance between the two Halls OF Congress the
shortest possible, adapted 10 the convenences of both
bodies The library equally accessible to each cham
ber both public and private Thus this room may be made
the nedtum Of communication between the two houses
icho passing through The public passages, which would
apo,d The eul spoken Of IN pih the other plan
where the officer OF each house is or would be Obliged
to pass through the public wdy from one hall to the
other
All the requisite Offices, committee and other rooms
demanded, are provided for also in this plan.
Sd. Eeonomy-The difference OF cost between these
hall J,rc Thop nj k,,,