Mr. FESSENI)EN. I have tried to stand in the way of this thing for several years. They had a bill up here formerly to tunnel Capitol hill, and that bill I was willin" to allow to pass with certain amendments whidh I deemed very essential to the preservation of our own rights and the rights of the people here; and after it was amended they abandoned the bill. If they could not have it just according to their own notion, and if a time was fixed within which they must get it done or lose their privileges that was one of the amendments they chose to abandon the bill, and we have not heard of it since. Their 1st application was precisely what it is now, and die Senate never would consent to encourage for a single day the reposition which they 1st brought forwar and insisted upon so long, to pass directly in front of the Capitol grounds where there is so much passing on foot continually across Pennsylvania avenue. We have been obli ed, however, to submit to it during the war. Now it would be very much safer, if they reall mean to get a bill to authorize a tunnel and vto go down the other way, to let the matter stand just as it is at present, let them go on at their own hazard, because nobody has interfered with them, they having permission of the city of Washington, and we not interferin. It would be better to do that than it would be to pass a bill giving them this right, because, as the honorable Senfrom Iowa says, we all know that when they once get the right by law and get the power that is acquired under it, it is almost useless il} a legislative body to attempt to deprive them O it. I be c the day is not very for distant when we shall extend the Capitol grounds. It is very evident to everybody that the grounds now are disproportionately small for the building which stands here. I remember several years ago I had a long conversation with Senator Douglas on the subject. He took a great deal ofinterest in the matter, and I took a good deal of interest in it, and we both walked over the ground, looked all around, and came to our conclusion as to what ought to be done with reference to the Capitol grounds in our judgment. We did not think there could be any dispute about it whenever Congress ot time to do it. We agreed that we would, i we could go on the ComPubBldg an Grounds, and see if we could bring it about; but when the committee was made up we were not put on. I thought then, and think now, that when we do move in that matter, we ought to go to 3rd street west taking in the 2 squares between 1st and 3rd streets, and go out to the depot on the north, and as far on the south side. We own the land on one side of Pennsylvania avenue all the way to 3rd street, and we on ht to take in the other side.