The daily union., 1852-04-11


position before the Senate which is wsii know. not
acceptable 10 majority herca position, air. which Is
peculiarly unpleasant TO mysef very tse that no
member Of the Senate has been suonxy appealed to
Than | have--none whose feelings hays len more
wrought upon than myself inrespecl this soepsure
know that large number u indviduals--poor men,
aborng menhave been brought here 10 work upon The
extension Of the Capitol know their des'uiion-l
know their suffering Every day, and almost avery hour
OF the day. appeals Of the very sstokrst kind made 10
my feelings in their behalf am moi nsensihe % those
appeals prepared To- day. at this very moment, 70
vote appropriation OF money 10 pay these men every
dollar that is due hem-to pay them liberal wages Tor
every DAY .hsy nave been here am w,iag @ q 90 sns
they may be placed IN the situation from which they
were brought here that they shall not suher BY any
s asa a q - sa
been in this instance. will not leave the lxborer,
who s poor and innoceRt. to suffer il can help II
measure which . ionvolys moi ,ha mere saDO
0o0 now proposed but the expenditure OF miifions bes
sides the extent OF which one can telnpon c?nsid
eratons OF this kind cannot take counsel Of my heart
whose sympa,hes are with the poor 70 violate my sense
Of duty. however strong the appeals may be- do not be-
eye have rghto vote for this appropriation, because
do my conscience, believe il is Tor purpose that is
not only unnecessary but improper For such purpose
cannot vote away millions Of The public money und
as we all must see This. though but half million Is ba
the beginning OF millions upon millions which are TO fo
low it, and be swallowed up in the same vortex OF ex-
ravagant expenditure. do not propose now to give my
regret however at the absence Of member Of the Com
mittee on Public Buildings who, il here, would, in my
opinion. be able give, and would give, such reasons
agans, this bill would satisfy the Senate OF the ppo
prety OF continuing the work, at least in the way and
upon the plan in which has SO far gone He has given
the subject thorough examination think he under
| stands 1t. know he condemns It,
resolution has been adopted by the Senate, directed
to the Committee on Public Buildings, Which has not
yet been answered. but which, in my opinion, is very
material to an understanding Of thus question. Il was
- inquiry TO the extension OF the grounds, which
will be rendered necessary in accordance with the pres
plan for the extension Of the Capitol, far that
plan has been Swallowed forth This plan will involve
the expenditure Of large amount Of money Tor the pur
chase OF additional grounds II is the opinion OF some
r D.sps s
the Senate have sgreed to consider the resolution =?
day, OF this Consideration will not weigh Wiih
/ them, and shall not press il.
In Justice 10 myself must say word about another
inquiry which directed 10 the Committee on Public
Buildings, in respect TO the strength and safety OF the
foundations Of the two wings Of the extension Of the
Capitol did believe these foundations were insecure
that they composed OF improper materials and were
improperly construcled and resolution OF inquiry
| from competent persons. The Committee Public
Buildings applied TO the bureau oil engineers for officers
TO make personal examination, and report upon the
points in Ques,ion -Four officers sent for the pur
pose-two engineers and two typographical engineers
and they have reported They sustain, BY their report
the good character Of the work. saying II 70 good in ma
teral- good in construction, good in workmanship and
altogether sufficient in structure and strength to sustain
all the weight that may be placed upon il. The resolu-
aver will he received as satisfactory 10 majority Of the
Senate Whatever, therefore, mag be my opinion Of that
report, or Of hs judgment OF those officers, am unwil.
ling place myself before the country the attitude OF
critic of matter involving science. engineering, and
architecture when pretend 10 neither science prac
teal knowledge enough OF either OF these subjects to give
effective weight 10 my opinion in opposon TO such au.
thor,y. But, sir for myself. should be uncandid if
did moi say that my opinion not changed and my juds
II may be Of no great moment yet will state II as
fact part OF the reason OF my opinion that went in
person, together with gentleman. who, believe is bet
ter qualified by practical experience than any man in
Washington city, any who has been here for years,
whether engineer, architect, not 10 Judge OF such
wok-and he is member OF this Senate-and examined
this work Among other things, we gave particular at
tenion 10 the mortar used IN constructing the walls
With some selected what seemed TO us, and as |
believe an average specimen OF mortar have here,
for the purpose OF exhibiting Il 10 the Senate This NOR
tar had been in the walls Tor months; and yet, in one
hour from the time was taken out d, was in the condl-
ton you here see Sand slr sand, and nothing else
tices OF dirty lime Whether that be cement NOR.
iar-such competent architects would use In The
foundation Of building which is to be OF such immense
and weight of course do not pretend in science 10
determine. But this do say; that, long my own
eyes can see, and my fingers feel, or my own
memory serves me, to what have seen and felt in
other mason work, never will believe that is such
mortar as any OF common sense would permit TO be
used in building house for himself. or any competent
builder would use n doing the work. These scientific
gentlemen, however have pronounced II all good-very
good and that, presume will be oracuar and concln.
awe with the majority here, who mean 10 pass The bill,
anyhow But, sir, should do injustice 10 my estimate
OF the professional qualifications OF these engineers II
did not say-as verify believe-ihai were they all. or
either OF them. employed upon public work OF this
character there not OF them who would not feel
disbonored such piece OF work as this should pass
from under his hands
But, SIR these two boards OF engineers went further,
and passed judgment not only upon the work, bnt upon
the architect also One endorses his accomp nis
and the other his honesty. Personally, Mr. President
III know nothing OF this architect but this do know.
as does all the Senae, that when his was sent here
by the President for inferior appointment IN the same
line OF busnessihat OF assistant architect upon one oil
our public buildings in one OF the S,aes-he was re.
ecied, and thereby pronounced incompetent Yet, sr,
these gentlemen say he both accomplished aud hon
let il be noticed and borne in mind. that in the very
teeth OF rejection Of him Tor an inferior appoint
ment the President has deemed II proper TO give him the
\ very highest appointment OF the kind IN the Union,
wherein be s To have the disbursement OF millions oi
dollars under circumstances which publcy preclude the
Senate from any control The appointment SO much
/ do know, aDt the President knew IT, and took such
OCCASION il would TO manifest his respect for the
Judgment and wishes OF the Senate. While, therefore,
Mr. President have not denied, and mean not 10 deny
that this architect is both accomplished and honest as
this scientific board Of engineers, without beng quss.
Toned have certified him to be- and while the President
has made him chief architect OF the most important pub
lie edice have undertaken TO erect with almost
unlimited control the public money, cannot Tor
get and wish others remember that - all IN despite
of the iudgmen, Of the Senate who, upon the only oc-
casiou he was ever before them, and that for inferior
appointment rejected him
am opposed to the extension OF this Capitol. because
belle II unnecessary do believe (and there are