Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-05-30
From The .qlercndria Phenir Gasc,!c.


The following remarks few days ago made in the
House of Representatives by MIR. CARSON Of North Caro-
na upon the bill making appropriations for furnishing the
Presidents House, and carrying the Public Buildings
The words have been very correctly reported by the
;ional Integencer from which paper copy them;
the vcndouS and we constrained to say pGul
in which they Delivered he left the ina gina
'ionand To the imagination Of those only who Mr..
Carsons character. Not word was said in rssly to him:
but such the general feeling OF disgust cvinred by the
House, that any other than Mr.. Carson would have
sunk under his disgrace The mocation of his colIea-
CUES extreme, and kremcr withheld his usual tri-
butte OF appreciation IN such caSehree mods of the head
and grim
The question being upon striking out that part which
appropriates twenty five thousand dollars 10 furnishing
the Presidents House
Mr. CARSON said am sorry, Mr. Chairman 10 trou-
BILE the Committee with a solitary remark upon this sub
eCt, hut of duty mpelS me to do So and from
this duty shall not shrink. Before can vote for the
appropriation OF sing dollar TO make further dacora-
tons for the Presidents Palace, must know who il is
that Will dsburse the money, well for what part
cu!ar kind Of furniture it is 10 be expended.
1t will be rccoected, MIR. Chairman, that at the last
session of Congress, fourteen thousand dollars were
popr.aed for this particular purpose. This sum as ap
pears from the documents before placed by
der of the President under the control of his son. Mr.
John Adams, r. and how was it expended VIM sir
the gentleman from Georgia. MIR FORSYTH has said
that tIere items in the account rendered which he
could have wished had been kept in the dark aud
brought to light and he had to regret that they are now
placed on the public records OF this House, l. too
Mr. Chairman regret thai there such records and
more especially regret that such disposition should
nave been made of the public money confided TO the
PRESIDENT lagan ask, how this money expended
solicit the Indulgence of the Committees whilst re.
peat few ofhe items furnished in the official report
OF MIR. j. Adams, ir
! Item. "FoL. kervand, for Billiard Table go 90
10 b. +. Ponroy, for Billiard Balls 6 90
10 L. Thompson, for Chess men, IS so,
&c sc. Is it possible Mr.. Chairman 10 believe lhat
ever was intended by Congress, that the public
ney should be applied TO the purchase of gambling Ia
Dies ard gambling furniture? And If IL is rjoL TO mr.
chase billiard tables and chess-men ,Ylv not purchase
Also pharo banks, playing cards, race horses and every
oter necessary article TO complete system Of ainbnr
at the Presidents palace, and let al once be under
stood by the People, that this is most splendid gam
| bling administration.
Mr.. Chairman, such conduct in the Chief AEaqis
tate or this nation, enough shock aud alarm the
rcNSous, the moral, and rejecting part the commu
my especially when we see such administrations
attempting 10 reyoutOnise the Catholic Religion in
oouih America, and TO 'Omgate the true doctrines of
our saviour, by sending ministers TO Panama But
l'ir. Chairman, there other items in the account
rendered, which do not fully comprehend.
The items for the sI:g gle article of DRY GooI,s a,oy1s
10 up'cdrds Of toenty &eoen hundred doiie,,s. What
part OF the furniture, MIR. Chairman, was this? MOI
carpeng, sir, for discover that article ,ader IFS
per name.
1t is most obvious Mr. Chairman. tIat the fo,rtoon
thousand dollars have been expended in most ez f,goy
"tnTfV manner and called on TO add twen
Vhyc thousand more. for one, sir never vote for
any further sum, until have assurance that it will
not be expended for the purpose OF coinpetiu the ram
bling arrangements of the Palace.
But, sir let il not be said that charge the President
i-of the United States with being gambler. I would
only be understood saying, that those are articles
made use OF for that purpose.
Before however, the vote is taken upon this subject
et me again ask the attention of the Committee to the
letter of Mr.. John Adams r in the conclusion If hi;
report He says, sin rendering this account. it NAV
not be improper to remark, ha the expenditures have
M been made with an eye 10 the strctest economy &c
ran an eye to tie st-icteSi cconoDy! Item bIIiard
table S3O"-item ''chess-men S23 sou Yet all has
Geen etoended NTH an eye 10 the SJictest cconoDy Sir
mere IS no doubt but those articles considered chean
by that gentleman. But if this be economy for one
am not disposed to appropriate any more of the pnbIc
money for such economical purposes. hope hs mart
OF the BILL sir, will be stricken out.