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


him for the disbursement.
MIR. WOODWARD. simply wish to suggest to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania that did not
expect debate Of this character could spring up.
My inquiry strictly az TO the business before
the committee, and related to the manner OF con
structing the wall. never for moment had the
least suspicion of a misapphcation OF the funds;
and should be very glad If my friend would re-
strict himself to the matter of the construction OF
! the wall.
| Mr. Florence, (Nr. DIcNAm yielding the hoor)
AS the great object to be attained just now is to ar
rive at definite conclusion by which this House
can vote to- day upon this bill, may beg TO ask
| my colleague from Pennsylvania whether there
has been a vote in that committee upon the subject
of the wall? whether there has been any conciu'
sion arrived at by the committee that may enable
this House to arrive at a conclusion! whether the
whole OF the committee agree with the chairman!
and further whether experienced gentlemen, per-
sons competent 20 judge of the strength OF ihat
WALL have not given certificates that It Is adequate
for the purposes for which it was built lnasinuch
! as the chairman Of the committee has been asked
to give information, and 40 we are all interested
in knowing it, il is perhaps as well that he should
state now whether such certificates have not been
given My reason for asking it Is, that l heve un.
dersood from experienced persons that the wall
is quite adequate for the purposes for which 1t Is
designed, notwithstanding the opinion OF me
chairman of the committee, who perhaps, has no
better practical knowledge on the subject than
have.
MIR. McNAIn. l have told the gentleman, as
| tell him now, that there has been vote taken IN
the committee will tell him further, that know
nothing about any such certificates as he speaks Of
Mr.. FLoRENCE. did not mean to say certill
Gates. meant to ask if there had not been such
testimony before the committee
Mr.. McNAlR There has been such testimony,
but there has also been contradictory testimony
After the testimony was all given, we went out
and examined for ourselves. We formed our own
opinions in regard to it, and have given them In
! full in the report, For my own part, must say
fbatI nnch Tis tod nd
| the other members of the committee-lf they are
here-~ill say the same for themselves.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, (resuming) Mr..
Chairman, was about to remark, when was in
| terrupted that il had been the misfortune Of all
great men who had the genius and resolution TO
undertake works Of this magnitude, to he harassed
and annoyed by the criticism and censure OF petty
minds, who have not the capacity TO comprehend
or the skill to execute great design. In this re-
mark do not allude 10 the gentleman from Penn
syvania, but do allude to that description otmed-
dlers who, from motives of disappointment at hav-
ing failed to secure contracts on this work. come
into this Hail. and to harass the House, and, had
almost said TO lead intellig gen and honorable mem
| mers OF Congress into dilemmas, OF which, when
they learn the whole truth, they will be ashamed.
Mr.. McNAIR. Who are they?
Mr.. STANTON. Such men as your particular
! friend Mr.. Coltman, who you said yourself had
been the instrument in bringing about this invest-
cation.
Gentlemen who have read the history of the con
struction of that great edtce the north bank OF
the Thames, at Westminster, will recollect that
Sir Charles Barry, the distinguished architect
charged with the design and construction OF the
work, wac annoyed at every step, from the time
the first foundation stone was laid TO the compile
ton Of the building, with special committees and
Investigations, like those we have authorized here
but which resulted in nothing but the complete
vindicaton of the great architect and his noble
structure. Sir, the truth is in all great undertake
ings OF this magnitude, success is best accomplish
cd by relying upon individual responsibility. You
acted upon that principle when you gave the Pres
ident power 10 adopt the plan for the edhce, with
| out other limit than his discretion; and you
must, 10 come extent, act upon the same principle
in permitting him to complete it. You can delay,
| embarrass, and ruin the work, by listening 10 the
idle camor of the ignorant and the enyious; but
such a will be more discreditabe to you than
10 the President, the architect be has employed
any acting under them. The lamented lay
| lor would never have conquered at Buena Vista,
nor Scott have taken the city Of Mexico, If at every
emergency these brave generals had been restrain
ed and controlled by the nenhghtened suggestions
| OF the War Department. Nor will your new Capt.
tol be crcdtable 10 the nation If the work aud
the plans changed and modified by the action
of special committees raised at the instance OF
| ry stupid fellow who agines that he sees n brick
nwry, or some small cre,ice not perfectly puttyed
sp.
! had some curiosity to hear what the honorable
| member from Pennsylvania, (Mr. McNAIR,) who
| il chairman of the special committee, would have
TO say upon the subject of the foundations; and
| wished TO avail myself Of the opportunity Of ex-
pressing my own opinions on the subject freely
! and fearcssly. When heard there were doubts as
10 the stability and hrmness Of these foundations,
| confess ] was amazed; for could not conceive
that any intelligent gentleman, who them
they presented themselves TO the eye Of every
body, could have any other opinion than that they
| were unnecessarily strong. ! am glad, however,
that the committee have made their investigation
most thorough and complete; no matter what may
h. hon la kp fhr ul
the members. They have not only, have
been told by the chairman, dug into the centre Of
the walls to test the quality of tue work, but, have
been informed, they have employed an accom-
plished sciertihc gentleman Of ths city professor
| Johpson,) at an expense Of some $40 or S25 per
day, 90 make extensive experimental tests Of the
solidity and strength Of the gneiss rock Of which
these foundations built, well az Of itB capa-
! city to resist the action Of the atmosphere.
Now, there is not laborcr engaged on thcre
! foundatons-not even the most ignorant Of them
| who docs not know that not square inch Of the
surface Of those walls will be exposed TO the action
oil the elements The outer surface will be covered
up by the earth, the terraces which will
| round Il, and the inner surface by the arches or
loors above il, 50 that no part will be exposed.
The chairman Of the speci8l committee, (Mr. Nc.
NAiR,) I'm advance Of the action of the committee,
gives HE judgment TO the character Of these
foundations, and pronounces them shameiully de-
fcctvc. Now, as 20 the character Of the material:
happened TO have a conversation with Professor
/
which nc kindly gave me the facts which will fol
low.
MIR. MCNAiR. Was he upon bis oath?
Mr.. SrANTOS. No, cir; but presume his word
upon this subject would be as good as his oath.
Mr.. BEhLr. lie took six or seven specimens OF
stone from different parts Of The building, 50 as to
ascertain the average quality OF the stone.
Mr.. ST,NroS shall state II all fairly as have
no disposition TO do any one injustice.
The weakest and most inferior specimens Of the
, stone used which could be found, when subjected
. to pressure by accurate machinery for that pur
pose bore a crushing weight Of over :, 900 pounds
. 20 the square inch, or l,l52,0O0 pounds 10 the
, square foot Now, the heaviest portion Of the ma
. tcral Of which the walls of the cdfce will be built
weighs only l75 pounds 90 the cubic foot T; and, as
the building will be about 90 feet high, the weight
which each square foot of foundation IL must sus
tain is only IL, 500 pounds, less than one-hun.
dredth part of what the walls are capable Of SUE
tanning supposing the whole foundation TO be built
of the most inferior material The best portion OF
the used bore pressure OF 20 600 pounds and
over, or one and half times more than the most
inferior. Not one stone in n hundred used in the
foundation, am authorized TO say, was OF the in
lerior quality Of the FIRST specimen TO which have
= referred and taking medium between the worst
and the best as the proper average quality OF the
. stone used, and these foundations, so much de-