Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-18
VAN BUREN, ECONOMY.


statements recently made by Elisha Whit
tlesey, "the working" member of Congress
from that State, whose word never failed to
challenge full confidence. Mr.. Whillesey
shows up the pretended economy of Mr.. Vap,
Burcn's administration in most effective
manner. His texts, under the different nu-
morcial heads, well deserve the commenta-
ries oe the people.
Every body who has heard of Elisha Whit.
tlesey, knows that no man in Ohio stands
higher in point of honor, integrity, veraci,y,
and patriotism. When in Congress, Mr.. w.
was known by the name of "the workey."--
He was not willing to receive his own wa
gcs, nor was he willing that any body else
should receive his wages, without doing a
full days work. Mr.. w. lately made a
speech in Trumbull county, in which he took
occasion to animadvert upon the extravaganza
ofthe present administration, and related some
four orfive outrageous instances, to which VIC
call the attention of the public
No. 1.-Mr. w. said he would read from
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
one item, which though small, is characteris-
tic of the manner in which the public money
is expended at Washington. lie then read
the estimate of five hundred and forty-odd
dollars for attendance at the western gate of
the Capitol. He remarked that the office of
gate-keeper originated but few wears since,
that he had observed from day to day, at the
western gate of the Capitol, man who ap-
peared to have nothing to do. yet kept his po-
sltlon at the gate; in 4 few days he had an
umbrella raised over his head by this time
MIR. w. came to the conclusion that the man
must have permanent post at the gate. Mr..
w. made inquiry and learned that he had
been appointed gate-kceper-crc long the man
had covering erected in the style of a sentry
box, in lieu of his umbrella, and since that he
has been, to all appearances, one Of the Off
GERS of the General Government. MIR. w.
said there was some shrubbery, &C. growing
about the gate, and very beautiful flower,
that MIR. Dickinson, Secretary of the Navy,
lwho is an old bachelor and a botanist,) was
fearful that some lady might pluck the flower,
and suggested the idea of this new officer, os-
tensibly to attend the gate, but really to ,unfch
The Fo'per, lest some fair lady might pluck it;
and an SO, Tor the protection of this fir GOcer,
Mr.. Secretary Woodbury. recommends the
expenditure of five hundred and forty dollars
for the current year.
No. 2.-Mr. Whittlesey remarked, that he
had observed man leaning against The Can't
toll tor two or three days in succession, with
cane in his hand, and occasionally moving
round In the shade of a tree, to avoid the RAYS
of the sun. lie at first supposed him to be
some stranger in Washington, but as he con-
tlnued at the same place from day to day, Mir.
w. inquired what was the occasion of the
mans occupying that post. He learned that
he was overseeing taU0 other individuals, who
Il
ses to and planting new ones-and that this
overseer OF two men received either three or
four dollars per day.
NO. 3.-Nlr. w. said that when he first
went into Congress, there were tco little
boys In the House of Representatives, who
acted as pages, to carry papers from members
to the Speaker, that when he left Congress,
this number had increased to eighteen. That
members of the House (and that he would be
believed when he said they were not Wing
members,) brought their cousins and their
cousins, mates. to act as pages and feed at
the public crib.
No. 4.-Mr. w. said, that the special ses-
sion of Congress in 1887, continued forty-two
days, and that nothing was done but to pass
SIX or seven bills in relation to the currency
that the whole of the writing done by all of
the clerks of the House of Representatives
he could do himself in one week. That at
the close OF the session, MIR. Cambreleng,
Van Buren, member from New York city, in
troduced resolution to gire the CLERKS extra
pay that he opposed the resolution, and for
SO doing was called hard-hearted and oppres-
slve; that at the next session of Congress, he
had the curiosity to look into and see what a.
mount had been thus expended, and found
that the clerks and pages of the i louise ofRe-
personalities, had received over TWENTY
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, for FOR
TY-TWO DAYS SERVICES.
No. 5.-Mr. w. said, that he did not men,
ton these because they were isolated cases,
but because they were characteristic of the ex-
travagant manner in which the party in pow
er expend the money of the nation. He said
1t was seen in all the new offices at Wash
ington-that while the old Offices were
plainly and simply furnished, the new ones
were more splendidly furnished and ornamen-
ted than any parlor on the Western Reserve;
with sofas and settees for laey CLERKS to lie
down or sit upon, as their convenience
may dictate, spending their time reading
newspapers or talking politics, morning, noon
and night, and but a small portion erMety time
in earning their high salaries, and all this
from party protesting to be purely demo-
cratic.
Mr.. Whittlcsey urged upon the Convention
the necessity of acting as Americans, as
friends of their country, and not merely as
partisans. The necessity of electing officers
who will bring the nation back to its former
republican simplicity, and relieve the people
from their present grievous burdens.