The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-10

hour, for the purpose of taking up the joint resou-
ton providing for the extension of the Capitol
The motion was agreed TO.
EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL
MIR. HUNTER moved that the bill providing for
the extension of The Capitol, which had been re
turned from the House with an amendment in
creasing the appropriation to S 500, 900, be now
taken up He hoped that it might be disposed Of
in an hour.
Mr. BORLAND said that he thought no day
Gould be more appropriately devoted to the consid
Grafton OF this measure than day. II was, to all
practical purposes, a private bll--a bill for the
bentht OF private individuals. But reason why
fought not 10 be considered was, that the chairman
OF the Committee on Public Buildings was not pre-
sent. Another member Of that committee, the Sen
ator from Rhode Island, (Mr. CLARKE,) who was
opposed TO the measure, was not present Were
that Senator here, he would present to the SEN
ate reasons which to him Mr.. b. were perfectly
satisfactory why this bill should not pass, and
cons he thought which ought TO satisfy the Senate
that II ought not to pass.
MIR. HUNTER said that If the Senator from
Rhode Island had requested that the bill should not
be considered during his absence, he would not
have pressed IL; but as the Senator had made no
surh request he did not feel at liberty to allow il
10 lie over longer
The joint resolution was then taken up.
MIR. BORLAND said that he felt the full forle Of
the appeals which had been made during the pro.
gress Of this work, in behalf of the suffering labor
ers who had been thrown out of employment; but
he could not out OF sympathy vote for measure
winch he considered wrong Ia behalf of the la
borets, he was willing TO vote sum Of money equal
to what they would have rex ived and also money
TO deiray their expenses home.
He believed that if the Senator from Rhode Island
were here he could satisfy the Senate that this
bill ought not 10 pass. This work if further prose
cuted, would involve expenditure amountin e
perhaps to more than a million of dollars for the
purchase OF private property on both sides Of the
grounds.
As to the sutiiciency of the foundations the re-
port OF the United States engineers would in all
probability, be satisfactory to the Senate; and,
though bis own opinion differed from that of the
engineers, he would acquiesce in their Judgment,
unsatisfactory TO him rs it might be- lie and
other Senator some time since, examined the work,
and selected what was an average specimen OF the
mortar. This specimen he had before him,
and from one hour after being removed from the
wall 1t was nothing more than sand, with few
scattering grains Of lime in it. The enginecrs, in
their report, had testified to the competency and
honesty OF the architect. Yet be knew that few
years ago the Senate had rejected this archi-
tect, when nominated for the inferior post Of g
sstant architect for the New Orleans custom house.
The Senate then decided that he not a compe-
tent person 10 take charge Of that comparatively
small building, and yet he has been placed here,
under the very nose of the Senate, TO superintend
and take charge of this great work.
he believed the extension of the Capitol to be IN
necessary. The present building sufficient for
all necessary purposes and would be for fifty years
TO come. The extension OF the Capitol on the plan
proposed would not conduce to the convenience of
Congress. The Senate and House would be placed
at great distances apart And the messengers
from the two Houses would have in the trans
mission OF business, to travel nearly quarter Of
mile from one house to another He pointed out
other architectural defects. The fact that hun
dred thousand dollars already expended no
argument with him for the further prosecution OF
the work Better far to sacrifice that than go
on and expend millions unnecessarily. He con
sidered that If the wings were erected on the pre-
sent plan, the whole building would be a archi-
teciural monstrosity; and be thought persons
might fall down and worship il without any dan
ger Of violating the scriptural injunction, for it
would be like unto other thing either on the
earth, or In the heavens above, the waters under
the earth
MIR. WALKER called for the reading of the re-
port OF the engineers upon the suffciency OF the
foundations Of the extension; and it read.
Mr.. BRODHEAD moved to anne nd the bill by
striking out all after the enacting ella use, and in
serting, In lieu thereof, the following:
That 10 enable the architect appointed by the
President Of the United States, in pursuance Of
act oil Congress, approved the 3Oth September,
1850, 10 remove the walls desg ned for the exten
sion of the Capitol, restore the grounds, and pay
the laborers up 10 the present time who have been
out OF employ mcnt In consequence of the suspen-
sion OF the work the sum OF twenty thousand dol
lars, or 50 much thereof as may be necessary, be
and the same Is hereby appropriated and directed TO
be paid to said architect, out OF any money in the
treasury not otherwise apprOpriatcd-thc nc
counts Of the said architect To be settled by the
counting officers Of tho treasury, accounts are
nov by law audited and settled Preceded, That
the said architect shall pay all the labortrs who
have been out of employment, in consequence Of
the suspension Of the work, the came amounts
which they could have earned had the work not
been Suspended or the appropriation exhausted.
MIR. Is. said that this amendment would test the
question whether Congress shall sacrihce the
hundred thousand dollars already expended and
stop the work, or go on with it TO an expenditure
cf five millions.
Mr.. HUNTER asked why the Senator ssid FIVE
millions. The estimate was, that the work would
cost tso millions and half
Mr. BRODHEAD said that he knew the estimate
ar " IN nd n hal of oil but,s ben
all the expenses came TO be counted, when the
private property was purchased and the grounds
enlarged and improved. he thought it would not
TALL lar short OF i've millions He thought the
money could he better expended in other parts OF
he country.
Mr.. BRADBURY opposed the bill He copsid
red The enlargement Of the Capitol "a altogether
unnecessary. The present Halls for the Senate
and House were sufficient, and would be- for the
wants Of the members for years TO come. He
would regret to see the present Halls abandoned.
lie thought the construction Of largo galleries, 70
accommodate immense crowds OF spectators TO
hear debates, would not expedite the public bust
ness. The reporters now spread before the public
extended accounts OF the proceedings The az.
tendance OF large numbers Of spectators would
nation.
Mr.. HALE said be most earnestly hoped that a
vote would now be had. He coucurrcd with the
Senator from Maine in one thing-tbat he would
regret when he had TO abandon the present Halle.
Laughter
appropriation to continue the work because he be.
heved the present Capitol not large enough for the
accommodation OF the Senate and Mouse. II the
object OF the amendment vss 20 stop the work
from view 20 have Capitol bnilt romewhcre
nearer the centre OF the country, he did not know
bot u IL would be necessary for western members
to Judge Of its erpcdiency. But IL IL was merol >
Intended 10 stop the erection of one here with %,
view to the removal Of the seat Of Government, b,
could not vote for it.
DIR. BRODHEAD said that he did no, considoi
the expenditure here Of THE five millions would
stop tho removal Of the seat Of Government ono
day, VI ~ was desired 10 do 90.
Mr. WALKER said that he had heard The report
Of the engineers read, and their opinion on The
sDfhoiency OF the foundations had much surprised
him. He then repeated 10 the.Stnatc the result o
several examinations made by himself Of the work
and OF the materials used, and he was satisied
that IL was badly executed, and bad and insuffi
cent materials had been used IN the construction
Of those foundations
Mr. CASS said that he had voted against the
original appropriation for the commencement Of
tnis work. He believed that there ought 60 be
..her rooms supplied for the Senate and House
ne nan on the Hou-c Of Representatives wac one
oi we worst rooms II the kind he bad ever seen
lie Understood that the defects OF construction of
mat Hal winch rendered the hearing 90 imperfect
would be avoided IN the building nos 10 bc reot,d
N