, 1840-08-15
WHOLE NUMBER $50.

pair, was casting a reproach upon the memo
ry of those good men. He would again re-
peat, that opposing such appropriations was
a small business, very small indeed, and
which would do no man any credit. There
were objects Of a far higher character to
which the gentleman from P~ennsylvania
might direct his attention, and where the Ad-
mlnlstration was more vulnerable.
He, Mi. L. was no friend of Mr.. Van Bu-
rem, but he would do him the justice to say
that, if there was any thing wrong in rela-
ton to the furniture of the White House,
the President was not to blame for II. On
the contrary, he, Mr.. L. knew his great del.
icacy on the subject, and would assure gen.
tlemen that, whenever the committee bad
consulted the President in relation to any
additional furniture, he had invariably o..
pressed the greatest reluctance TO have any
tiinq expended for that object. Hc, Mr.. e
would state, from ms own k..-L-1e.. fb,s
not a single article of furniture supplied dur
ing the last three years, had been supplied
at the request Of the President himself. Tho
committee alone were answerable, and they
would assume the responsibility. But 50 far
was the President from desiring any additions
made to the furniture, that, about two years
ago, it actually became necessary for him
self and the other members of the committee
to do what he had never done before, nor
would he ever do 1t again. Did gentlemen
wish to know what that vast He would
tell them. It was to 60 through every room
in another mans house, to see how much
furniture he wanted, and what conveniences
were required. He hoped that gentlemen
would take notice Of this fact, and remember
it whenever they attempted to cast censure
on the President in relation to his furniture.
Mr.. l.. then gave some particulars Of the
condition of the White House, when it was
visited by the committee, before it was left
by the late President Jackson.
He said there was one room occupied by
the Private Secretary of the President, with
his wife and family. In that room there
were three old chairs, a stained washstsnd,
and a shabby old-fashioned mahogany table,
which turned up, and which was so mean that
the WAGNER Of President Monroe was a
shamed of it, and actually refused to take il
away. When he looked round that room,
it reminded him of his sons college ROOM
Yet these three old chairs, stained wash
stand, and turn up table, was all the furniture
US hioe iOOuI, I'LL WoS OCSuptC0 W uO
Private Secretary and family up the time the
late President left the city. II any gentle
man doubted the truth of this statement, let
him go through the chambers and inspect
them himself. But he hoped he should no
longer hear blame cast on the President when
a small appropriation was required for the
purchase Of necessary furniture. If the fur
niture was considered too expensive, it was
not the fault of the President, but the fault
Of those who, by constructing the builling
o !such dimensions, had rendered it necessary.
Mr.. L. expressed his determination to
vote for every reasonable appropriation for
keeping the house in proper repair. He then
called attention to the sums expended on the
Treasury building, sud went into an argu-
ment Of some length to show that, in this m
stance, the appropriations had really been
abused; which remarks will be given as early
as time and circumstances will permit.