The committee then rose and reported the bill as amended. On the question to agree to the $200,000 appropriated, the House divided—yeas 41, nays 38.
The Speaker then put the question on engrossing the bill for a third reading.
Mr. Claiborne was opposed to the engrossing of the bill. He hoped no gentleman would ascribe his opposition to a want of respect to the memory of our great patriot. His respect for this illustrious character had been almost coeval with his life, and would follow him to his grave.
He was opposed to a mausoleum, because it would not be so respectful to the memory of Washington, as the equestrian statue directed by the old Congress, who had directed the battle during our Revolutionary struggle, and for whose character he felt the highest veneration. The present Government could not refuse to carry into effect this act of the old Congress, without a violation of moral principle. He preferred a statue to a mausoleum, because the former, from representing the form and the features, would inspire the beholder with more lively emotions than a mass of stones formed into a pyramid.
Were the expense of a statue greater than that of a mausoleum, he would, notwithstanding, prefer it; but he believed the reverse would be the fact. He not only wished a statue raised, but also was in favor of an immediate appropriation for depositing the remains of our departed friend within these very walls, in such a manner as would not disgrace them.
Mr. Champlin had heretofore voted from a spirit of conciliation. He was now not a little surprised to find the gentlemen from Tennessee and South Carolina (Mr. Claiborne and Mr. Alston) opposed to a mausoleum, though their names appeared, from an inspection of the journals of last session, among those who were then in favor of it.
He considered a mausoleum as preferable to a statue, because the first was calculated to celebrate all the virtues of the statesman, as well as the hero, while the latter would be limited to his military exploits.
Great opposition had been made to the erection of a mausoleum, with the professed view of avoiding expense, and I admit generally that economy ought to be observed, in the expenditure of public money. But on an occasion highly interesting to the feelings, and deeply involving the character of the nation, even the appearance of parsimony should be carefully avoided. It is necessary to consider the nature and magnitude of the object for which money is required. It is not asked for, in the present instance, to commemorate a man distinguished only on the field of battle. It is not wanted to gratify family pride, or to raise a monument of despotic power and slavish submission. It is to be furnished by a great and free people, to record, in a manner worthy of themselves, their gratitude for the important services rendered to them by one of their fellow-citizens; the fruits of which I cannot but hope will be enjoyed and recognized by future generations. We are called upon by the public voice to erect a monument suited to the character of Washington, who has been emphatically styled, the man of the age, and whose virtues may, by the record we shall make of them, become the property of distant ages.
These virtues will doubtless be the theme of some able biographer, and it is wished that posterity may not search in vain for some striking evidence of our acknowledgment of them. It is indeed of infinite importance to civil society, that the memory of that great man should be perpetuated by every means in our power. We may thus sow the seeds of virtue, honor, and patriotism, in our country. He will be held up a model, to which the finger of wisdom will constantly point, to which the attention of youth will be irresistibly drawn, and the mind of every man aspiring to pre-eminence among a free people, will be riveted. The proposed mausoleum would be a structure well calculated to resist the ravages of time. As to the hand of man, at least of civilized man, we need not guard against it. The depository of the ashes of Washington will never be assailed by it. It may indeed be attacked by the ruthless hand of some invading barbarian. But its only security against such an attack must be derived from the courage and fortitude of the people of the United States. And I trust they will never tamely yield up the land of their forefathers.
Mr. Bird was against the bill, because it proposed the erection of a mausoleum, which would not be equal to the object for which it was raised without the expenditure of a vast sum of money; whereas a statue could be made, somewhat correspondent to the occasion, for a moderate sum. It was in vain for gentlemen to talk about a structure commensurate to the object. Such a thing was impossible. He moved the recommitment of the bill to a Committee of the whole House.