xlyiii MEMOIR. 



On the 24th March, 1852 j during a debate upon various 5 

 appropriations,, Mr.. Jones, of Tetinessee, moved to strike 

 out the sum !o£ $12,000, proposed to complete the im- 

 provements around the -President's house ; complained that 

 .there were great abuses under the proviso of this appro- 

 priation, and declared, quite directly, that Mr. Downing 

 was overpaid for his services. Mr. Stanton, of Kentucky, 

 replied :■ — ■" It is astonishing to my mind — and I have no 

 doubt to the minds of (.others — ^with what ' facility other- 

 wise inteUigeut and respectable. gentlemen on this floor 

 can deal out wholesale denunciations of men about whom 

 they know nothing, and will not inform theinselves ; and 

 how much the legislation of the country is controlled by- 

 prejudices thus invoked and. clamor^ thus raised." After 

 speaking of the bUl under which the improvements were 

 making, he continued : " The President was authorized tb 

 appoint some competent person to superintend the carrying 

 out of the plan adopted; He appointed Mr. Downing. And 

 whp is he ? One of the most accomplished gentlemen in his / 

 profession in the Union ; a man known to the world as pes'- 

 Sessing rare skill as a ^ rural architect ' and landscape garden- 

 er, as well as a man of great scientific iiiteUigence. * * * * 

 I deny that he has neglected his duties, as the gentlemati, ■ 

 from Tennessee has charged. Instead of being here only 

 three days in the month, he has been Jiere vigilantly dis- 

 charging his duties at all times when those duties required 

 him to be here. He has superintended, directed, and 

 carried out the- plan adopted, as fully as the funds appro- 

 priated have enabled him to do. If aU the officers of thfe 

 Government had beeii as 'conscientious and scrupulous in 

 the discharge of their 'duties as he has been since his 

 appoiatment, there would, be no ground, for reproaches 

 against those who have control of the Grovemment." 



