, 1840-08-15

ing, they contemplated it for the conven-
fence of its occupant, and they surely never
expected an appropriation would Be objected
to for keeping it in proper order.
Would gentlemen now be UNDERWOOD as
Directing to provide proper furniture, and
such as was appropriate to the mansionl-
If they intended, however, that their Presi.
dent should live in a cabin, then he would
readily admit that a great portion Of the pres
ent furniture would be unnecessary an in
appropriate to such a dwelling. He would
like to know if gentlemen had in contem.
plation the removal of this President and the
one who was to follow, into any Other man.
sion. If so, why then a very smallamount
would be required, as a cabin would incur but
little expense. But If it were interded that
the President OF this great nation should still
occupy the mansion built and intended for
him by our forefathers, who won their rights
by toll and blood, why, then, object to fur
nishing it in a decent Manner, and in a man.
ner, too, in keeping with the size Of the build
ing itself? For the actual personal conven-
fence of the President, he was sure a very
lite was desired; but the occupant Of the
house, our highest Executive officer, while
there, was the personiication of the people,
whose dignity required that every thing
should be kept in proper order. If the Pres
dents personal wan alone were the ques-
ton, why he, Mr.. L. supposed, that, as a
mere matter of utility, a small one dollar
looking-glass would do just as we'll as a large
swing mirror. But who would say that the
mansion of the President Of the American
people-an officer elected for q term Of four
years as the representative Of a glorious and
proud Republic, embracing more than fifteen
millions OF freemen-should live in a large
house, furnished no better than a log cabin?
How paltry would it look, and what Il mis-
cradle idea of economy would it give to a.
gents and ministers from foreign countries,
when they beheld a paltry one dollar look
ing glass hung up in a building Of dimension
equal to the palaces of Europe! The idea
was too ridiculous to be entertained for a
moment, and yet, by the principles on which
the gentleman from Pennsylvania had been
arguing, this course must be pursued.
Because our Government was a Republic,
was that any reason why the head oft should
not live and appear with a proper dignity,
becoming the pride and strength Of the peo-
pie over whom he presided In bis humble
opinion, the President Of q country like ours
had as good a right, yes, a much greater
right, to be as proud as the proudest monarch
on the face Of the globe. And he, MIR. l..
would blush and be ashamed If the President
should not have it in his power to receive
ministers and ~visiters from foreign powers in
a becoming way, in a mansion furnished in
keeping with the dignity Of a great nation.
He was sure there was no harm to be appre.
hended from a course Of this kind, and that
no bad consequences would result from it,
But he wished to know who it was that
had complained of the Presidents House be-
ing too we'll furnishedi II had been visited
by hundreds and thousands Of farmers and
mechanics, people by whose vote he had been
elected, and had they ever uttered a com
plant and said that the President OF their
choice had too much, or too costly furniture?
No. He, Mr.. l.. would undertake to say that
no member had ever heard such complaints,
that the furniture was too rich or too good
for the man whom they had placed in that
high and honorable station. Andii the Peo-
pie, WHO, by thousands, have visited and wit
messed for themselves, make no complaint.
what right had any one elsef 1t would be
quite uine euouSh ioI uidts WHICH, an PeoP'9
themselves were dissatisfied.
Mr.. l.. then complained Of the many ex-
travagant stories which had gone through
the country in relation to the furniture Of the
Presidents House. The people had been
informed Of things which had no existence,
except in the inauguration Of those who
originated such groundless stories. He then
referred to the similar charges made against
his venerable colleague INF. ADAMS while
that gentleman occupied the house. The
country was at that time made to believe the
house was furnished IN a costly and extrava'
CANT manner, when in fact it had scarcely
any furniture at all. The things were not
there which ought to have been there; and
those who knew no better, supposed thai
Mr.. ADAMS was enjoying things which he
ought to have, but did not enjoy. At thai
time, it was obvious that such stories were
circulated for political effect; and was mo-
this the case in the present instance? In MI
opinion very little could be gained by such g
course. It was a very small business, es
pecially when much higher ground could bt
taken, and attacks made on much more I'm
porlant objects. He would cry shame or
H. ~, ,,ho ,yo,ld roDracent that eXtraya