The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-25

Indicate upon the part OF the friends OF The adj
nnsiraon. who lake the opposite ground unwilling
ness that those facts should out. and TO manifest
lear that they will not when asceralned. reflect much
credit upon the administration. That seems TO be The in
dicalion, II anything is Indicated,
Mr. BADGER, On his seat) Who has manifested any
such disposition. OF unwilingaess that the facts should
come QUIZ
Mr.. BoRLAND have merely asked for a statement
OF acsfor the information which il is necessary that
we should have before us, before proceed To make
further appropriations OF the public money. II all this
has been done in pursuance OF law then, sir have
fault TO find ask for nothing else than the information
which has moi been furnished. which here
prepared to give. No senator is prepared state
this work is to bs done We very we'll know the course
which Congress look in regard 10 this matter when
iirs undertook 10 extend the Capitol A committee OF
OF calling architects before them, obtaining their views,
and adopting and reporting plan upon which the work
should be done Congress thought then that it was ne
cessary that plan should be adopted before any steps
should be taken in the execution OF the work. THIS
committee for months engaged in that work and. in
order 70 enable them to Obtain the best plan they were
for plans The two committees as understand, disa-
greed. What was then done' The plans that they had
respectively submitted 10 their houses were submitted to
the President 10 decide between them Instead Of taking
one OF those plans for the execution OF work which
was 10 be for The accommodation of the two houses Of
Congress- the President threw them both under foot and
adopted plan OF his and what that plan is, nobody
knows have been utterly unable 10 discover that there
is plan For myself, before shall feel willing to
work, want to know what that work is to be- want
Congress TO pass upon the work. and say whether il is
such work as they are willing to take, and whether it
Ia adapted TO the purposes Tor which they ordered the
tension oil Tie Capitol am unwilling TO pay dollar for
the expenditure until have acted upon this After
months OF labor Of the best architects. who have submit
ted plans which have been agreed TO by the committees
Of the two houses OF Congress- the President has taken
the liberty as lconceve, without authority of law, 10
throw all these plans aside and TO undertake 10 do the
work without any definite plan at all. la connection
with that before Congress has had time opportunity
TO say whether they are satisfied either with the plan
its execution, learn that very heavy contracts have been
made which are 10 extend in their expenditures to an
amount much larger than the limit, and which will
extend far beyond the limit OF time during which this
administration will be in power Steps have been taken
as learn-and my object is to ascertain whether my in
formation is conec-which not only extend the end OF
the present administration, but go beyond. and hamper
cripple, and may render aboye the operations OF the
succeeding administration, il that administration should
have views which they consider enlightened and
better adapted TO promote the public interest. II is to
pull the Senate IN possession OF the information and
BILE them TO decide upon this point that have introduced
this resolution and not to reflect upon the President
And stated what ! did in my first remarks in answer
to what considered very unjusthabe attack made
upon me and my motives by the recognised organ OF the
administration IN this city
Mr.. BADGER. The senator from Arkansas has stated
that there 10 be disposition upon the part of
the friends OF the administration to prevent these facts
from coming out.
low me. did not say that. said that if there any
design OF improper kind to be attributed to any one It
was Of such unwillingness. ] did not charge that
such was the fact but said that if there any indca
ton OF a motive, that was the indication
Mr.. BADGER. Take it that way. and / want TO
know where there is the scntlla Of evidence support
the assertion the senator has made. am friend Of the
administration, My single objection would have pre-
vented the senator's resolution from being considered
Nobody objected but the resolution was considered by
unanimous consent Not a voice was raised against it,
But for the senator's Speech the resolution would have
been adopted in three seconds How them can the
tor have suspicion, or where can he find ground for
m hat NV IN info
maons There is no reason for i whatever The
tor proceeds to make some remarks reply to what he
considers charge against hun in newspaper To that
had objection; for such course is often pursued
although am not in the habit OF making such expana
tons on this floor The senator went further; and in
advance OF the information called for, he proceeded TO
throw remarks casting imputatons upon the Presi
dent. So | understood him.
MIR. BORLAND, Tin his seat) Not impula,ions.
MIR. BADGER. Now, sir, the senator says that the
President of the United States has undertaken instead Of
deciding, he should have done, between the disagee
ing committees OF the two houses 10 adopt, wilhouu
lhority, plan of his Why, sir. surely the
tor from Arkansas has not read the ac, of Congress
which authorized the commencement Of this extension
The two committees il they had agreed unanimously,
had no power the subiect-none IN The world The
act OF Congress submits the plan upon which the build
ing was 10 be constructed entirely 10 the President In
his decision and Judgment under that act he had
al ALL But the two committees had been employ
ed 10 collect and prepare plans and had been authorized
to offer suitable reward for the best plan They sub.
mited these plans 10 the President OF the United States
for the purpose of aiding him in coming 10 his con.
clusion Ii am not misiaken--the honorable senator
from Virginia, GMr. HusTER,l Immediately before
me- can tell me-ihe two committees, far from sup
posing that they had any authority upou the subject,
took beforehand TO ascertain whether the President
would be glad TO have these plans with their views upon
the subject submitted TO him He has done what the act
of Congress directed him 10 do. Well i'll, OF that /
say nothing but certainly nothing unlawfully He has
not put bis foot upon the two plans submitted by the
committees, in derogation OF their rights OF the rights
OF Congress II it not intended that the President
should decide upon the plan OF the structure, why did
the acl oil Congress submit Il 10 hun II not done by
Congress composed OF his political rends but with
decided majoriiies opposed 10 him. And why il
done happened to be member OF the committee of
conference by which the final terms of the bill set
tied II was done by US because, understood il
had been the uniform custom 10 place the selection Of
plans for such buildings under the direction OF the Pfes
dent of the United States. That believe, the
wrong or right about II, am not prepared 10 say.
Whether il is good bad plan, not prepared TO
say. All say ~ that The act OF Congress gave 10 him
the sole authority OF selecting the plan for The work
Mr.. HUNTER. have no objection 10 any call for in
formation which the senator from Arkansas may think
necessary am willing that he should have all the
light he desires upon this subject But perhaps il is Just
the senator from North Corona in alusion 10 me- that
should say that the law, passed, did give him the
power to select plan and did not conhne him to the
plans OF the committees Of the two houses Those
mittees disagreed and that was one cause why il was
let TO the President 10 select the plan He did ask for
the models and drawings which had been before the
mitees, and did invite both those committees TO him
for the purpose OF expressing their views was pres
ent being member OF one OF the committees. be.
eve all the members OF both committees present
and he took their views in relation 10 IT, so far the
plan concerned, believeand should be sorry be-