The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-19

they could even then be liable to bulge or press
out. Every one knows hatwalls are not SO liable
10 split as to crack cross-wise They crack cross
wise because of the inequalities Of the foundation
But these walls will be 80 sustained on the outside
10y the earth. and the inside by the cross walls
and the arches, that il will be impossible for them
TO give way by splitting or buging.
Mr. McNAIR. Will the gentleman permit me
to ask him question
MIR. STANTON. With pleaeure-as many as you
may choose to ask
Mr.. MoNAIR. | desire to ask if certain very
interesting article, which appeared not long since,
did not supply you with information on this sub
iect.
Mr.. STASToN. / do know to what article the
gentleman alludes. The extracts have given are
obtained from books; the rest derive from my
own practical experience, which think quallfes
Inc to speak of subjects like this with some know
ledge more than the gentleman possesses, even af-
ter the advantage he has had OF this very import
ant investigation.
! a VOICE. How many applicants for contracts
were there from Pennsylvania
! Mr.. STANTON. do not know how many from
Pennsy lvania have applied for contracts; but this
am informed, is true: that disappointed appli-
cants for contracts have been active in stimulating
this investigation. believe some OF them were
before the committee, and suppose were the per-
1 cons who attempted to throw doubt upon the sta
| bility OF the work.
The gentleman takes exception to the fact that
the architect of the editice, Mr.. Walter, has con-
|
part of the duty conferred upon the committee by
The House. which clothed them only with power TO
inquire into the suticency OF the foundations But
1t Is an exception TO the law and not to the Presi-
dent, and ought to have been taken two years ago.
Congress gave the President power TO adopt the
plan, and money to carry 1t out with instructions
that the money should be pended under his drec
tion "by such architect as he might appoint"
Congress now has no right 10 complain OF the ac-
tion OF the President in this respect in regard
to the adoption of the plan. II he has transcribed
what Congress now supposes 10 be a reasonable
limit, it is the fault of Congress. 1t was in our
power TO have restrained him. We might have
required him to present his plans and estimates TO
Us for our adoption or rejection but we did not
think IL proper TO do 30 We bade him take the
responsibility, and he obeyed command. i
think be has acted wisely in adopting plan which,
while II affords room enough, is not extravagant
In cost, and will, in its architectural design and
perfection Ui arrangement, reflect credit upon the
nation. Our population, our territory, our re-
sources have increased with unexampled rapidity
| Who can calculate their extent when another hall
century sha have passed? The editce we are now
constructing is not for ourselves alone but for pos
terIty; and am happy TO say that In the after ages
of the Republic it will most nobly illustrate the
genius and power Of the present. II Is beautiful
In desgn, perfect IN its proportions and arrange
ments, and not too magnificent for the Capitol Of
| thirty one American States.
The gentleman, in his zeal to defeat the continu-
OF the work, thinks proper TO assai the archi
tect in regard TO the expenditure OF the money,
and charges that he has not accounted for that
placed in his hands The money is drawn from
the treasury upon bis requisition, according TO
law, and not otherwise. Every cent so drawn has
been honestly and faithfully accounted for. II the
gentleman from Pennsylvania MIR. McNAIR) does
not know 1T, can tell him that the accounts OF the
| architect are kept that any man see in
moment the condition of the whole account, and
learn the disposition of every dollar of the money
! will say, 10 the honor of Mr.. Walter, that If all
other disbursing officers Of the Government were
| n a N thel
bursements, you would hear OF no complaints about
| defacations and corruption. The SlOO,OOO here
toiore appropriated have been expended, and am
Rraied 10 have il in my power 10 say. judiciously
/ Ipeudcd. An immense amount Of work has been
done for that amount Of money. Look at the i'm
| mense excavations at each end of the Capitol, the
great number OF cubic perches OF stone bought and
| laid, and other materials accumulated And not
cent of this money, says the honorable gentle
man, has been accounted for. Why, sir, was
about 10 say that ths charge was unjust TO Mr..
Walter, and would be 50 little believed by any one
who knows him, that II was scarcely worth deny
ing But II he really has doubts upon the subject,
let him go TO the Comptrollers office Of the Trca-
| sury, ana he will see that every cent has been
faithfully and honestly accounted for.
Every man must be scnsbe Of the great i'm
portance of the proposed improvement; and am
only surprised that the representatives of the
ton, who have year after year seen the great in
conveniences OF legislation arising from the mise
rably defective construction OF this Housc did not
sooner direct il 10 be commenced. need say
nothing Of this Hall, the very worst in the world
for purposes of delberation. Its defects too
papable not TO be and felt by every member.
Large and commOdious as the building may eeefn,
il docs not contain more than one-hslf a many
committee rooms are needed for the Of the |
two Houses. In many Of them the committees are |
doubled, some Of the committees have no rooms. !
and II frequently occurs that special committees |
cannot be accommodated without seriously inter |
fering with the duties of others And how are the |
officers Of the House accommodated They are
crowded into the smallest rooms, and scarcely more
than half the space necessary for the prompt and
proper despatch of business. The library room Of
the House is ill-shaped, irregular, and not much
larger, convenient than good sized rat-hole
The documcnt-room is but httle better, and both
seem To have been made ior any other purpose
than that TO which they applied Neither the
Postmaster nor the Sergeant alarms has more room
than is usually allotted TO the barkceper steam
boat All this is discreditable 10 great nation
like ours, and affords abundant reason for the inn
mediate progress OF an improvement which will af
ford greater convcnenccs for the legislative de-
partment OF the Government.
| hope this appropriation will be made deem
the investigation 90 be made by this committee as
of very little importance. Indeed, I know no
practical mani had almost sAd no sensible man
will 50 hazard his reputation 20 insist that those
foundations shall come down. Who has com
planned OF them, and of what is the complaint
madc2 II arises from the disappointment OF men
who sought contracts and did not get them, and
applies 20 a single spot ten twelve feet long and
two feet deep, IN one OF the walls upon the rOuth
side Of the House. understand there is no sort Of
objection 10 the foundation upon the other side of
the building-nonc in the world. II tho gentle
man having charge Of this matter had taken the
trouble to walk fifty feet further, he would have
scen portion OF this work unfinished, just as il |
was laid up by the hands Of the workmen. and in.
stead Of coming here and complaining that there
are no large stones in that foundation, he would
have told us that he saw them juttipg almost en-
\ trely through the wall. appeal to the gentleman
/ from Pennsylvania (Mr. McNAIR) to say il upon
that side Of the building there are not large stones
running through the whole wall
! Mr.. McNArR There are large stonos running
nearly through the wall; and ! believe they we're
put up there for the purpose Of making a show.
When we came to dig in the wall, we found no
stones running through 1t.
Mr. STANTON. That shows the state Of feeling
under which the chairman OF the special committee
| is acting Why could he not state the simple fact,
without throwing in the remark that "ttev ,oers
put up for sho,ol' 2 II he bad been destitute Of sl
prejudice and feeling. and had not the interest of
others who have inst gated this investigation to
tain, as well "a his own reputation for having be-
gun it, would not the declaration of fact have
been sufficient Now, sir, say that that wall was
laid before tue gentleman came to the city OF Wash