The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-06
AMBRosIo JOSE GONZALES.


For the Union.
EXTENSION OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL
Mn EprroR nM7 neither denies that the plan Of venti
ation adopted by Capt Meigs dsapproved by the
perenced architect Mr. Walter that the principle fail
ed in its application the Parliament halls in Great Brit
aim lie seeks however avoid the force of my criticism
upon the PLAN by assang the witnesses who testified be-
fore the parliamentary committee and charges that they
were disappointed men, manufacturers of warming
apparatus hot furnaces &c Among the witnesses
thus assaed who testified to the failure Of the mode OF
ventilation were Lords RUSSELL Redesdale, Lousdale
De Ros and Grey and several distinguished members Of
the House OF Commons Were these disappointed men Y
Which Of them is the manufacturer of warming appa
ratus and who the inventor Of hotwater furnace
Is Lord Russell II So whore does he vcnd his wares
Is it Earl Lonsdale Earl Grey viii aM please
tighten to the whereabouts Of their fhctores2
But this mode Of meeting argument and fair criticism
by denouncng all who do not subscribe to the inaby
Of military engineers, not only in their professional
line but whatever other position they may bave the in
ucnce procure matter how little experienced is be-
meath the dignity Of NJ and should have been left to
mind Men will not cease TO expose blum
ders seek to prevent the consequences Of folly in the
construction Of such work the National Capitol for
fear Of being stigmatized disappointed men, or
authors Of rejected plans p Such the little exped
OF little men, and should have been avoided BY gen
teman of Ms standing and position.
assumed that there any "dissension be
tween the architect and the engineer Mr. Walter never
approved of Captain Meigss unnatural aud complicated
plan of ventilation but the very authority which Captain
Meigs is allowed exercise him orbids that there
should be dssesion between them II is the archi
legally derives his appointment from the President and
his office and duty to execute the work specifically pro-
viaed by law but strange 10 say the War Department.
by It's instructions and orders its engineer officer super
sedes and makes Mr. Walter completely dependent upon
him be upon another. The Secretary Of
War in ordering Captain Megs to take charge of the csp
tol extension, says
You viii consider yourself fully empowered TO make
such changes in the present administration "a you may
deem necessary, and 10 regulate the organization hereafter
as your experience may dictate"
II is likely, when such power exists in the hands Of
Captain Meigs whether lawful not that there
is 10 be any adisScnsionn between him and whom
he send adri any moment 70 the detrment Of bic
professional reputation and the deprivation of his means
Of support
BY law the responsibility for the proper execution Of the
work upon the architect No sophstry svhce can
avoid this conclusion The whole power conferred upon
Captain Meigs Is eqal and auped II proper to place
being military officer /, could only be, BY the express
terms Of the law AdsbsrStg fnothng else The
original Law authorizing the extension provided, clearly
distinctly ana wisely that IL should be e1ced by an ar
cbiecf 10 b appointed bv he Pyesden naked proposition
to place the Capitol extension under the soe control Of ~
officer Of the engineer corps If made At the time would
have been regarded monssrous and absurd that
doubt whether would have received single vote YET
We zee in the very face Of the law 10 despite Of all propn
ETY. engineer officer clothed with the unlimited power
only oysrrulng every decision Of the architect con
trolling all his designs altering every detail Of the edlhe
bnt Of dismssing him though appointed oy The Fe''e