The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-06-24

Here Is what The Washington Cores
pondepsof The New York Express SAYS
IN reeerd 70 the INV CArrror- cosr.
p1sss ExtR.sheAsc. 60. Let the peo-
pie look at H. a. a Dsnoeratic aehievenseut
under piesce and Buchananl
An Official communication from the
War Dcpafsmcnt TO the House Commit
tee on Expcndittues on the Public Bull
ding. state the total cost Of the Capitol
Extension from July, 1851. TO March III
1858, to ba &4, ,283.SS5. AT this rate the
whole cost of the Extension Including
the dome. viii probably exceed six mill,
ions Of dollars This large sum iudicious-
ly expended ought TO secure the construc-
ton Of an edifice not inferior TO the most
superb modern Structures Of Europe.--
The architecture Of the Capitol cannot
be improved The material of the exte-
ri1r Is Of white marble from thebest QUAR-
w ia ihe United States. wrought with n
elxill not inferior 10 that which marked
the most celebraf1d edifces of the Old
world. How important II is, therefore,
that the interior should be characterized
by equal taste and beauty, be free from
an excess Of ornament, Of lavish expendi-
ture without corresponding results. and
truly noble In every part. Has this end
been attained2 Every candid and un-
prejudiced critic will answer in the neg
ative. Take for instance the new Hall
OF the Representatives. II is emphatic
allyjg7aobte, and was pronounced yester-
day by a distinguished artist who saw II
for the first time, and who has examined
with critical eye the finest buildings in
Europe.
The appropriation for the Capitol is ex-
hausted, in consequence OF the extrava-
CANT expenditures on the Southern wing.
The furniture of the House of Represen-
tatives has cost $48, ,0D0-.on an average Of
S68 per piece, LAS there are about 500
desks, chairs and other articles. About
dozen Of these are sofas, which ought
not to have cost more than SIS piece, as
they are far from being superior speci.
mems of cabinet work. In few DAYS
Capt. Meigs will apply for new appropri-
alton. unless he prefer to await the pas
sage Of the general appropriation bills.
IL is the determination Of alsrge number
Of the members of the House to vote for
no appropriation for the Capitol unless
some check be interposed to prevent the
cAPCtNAeuic VI any pOitlOh VI IL upOu
senseless and un-American ornamentation
The Senate Naval Committee Room cost
$4,000 for painting alone. Yet there il
nothing about it to indicate its Nationali.
ty. Ii would answer as well for ancient
Rome, or Syracuse, or Athens, or Car
thage, or Corinth, as far as its symbols
are concerned. And so with the other
Committee rooms. In uao disco omnes-
These Italian painters give us plenty Of
old heather gods and goddesses-
abundance of old mediocral scroll and
filagree work but nothing that appeal:
in the slightest degree to the American
sentiments of Nationality. Why should
not the Naval Committee room have con
tanned medallions of Hopkins, Talbot
Decatur, Perry, Hull, Macdonough, and
other gallant commanders of our two
wars with Great Britain? The Military
Committee room, portraits of Washing
ton. Greene. Sullivan, Hamilton, Laurens
Schuyler, CadwSiiader, Wooster, Putnam
Prescott. Warren, Lee. and Marion7 I
any sound reason can be given-for one
should be delighted to hear it,