Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-08-21
Mr.. OgIe,s Speech.

eHe'ai LoCo ocoS have sought
TO break the force Of this scathinr exnose q
the shameful and extravagant waste of the
pubic money, upon the palace" of III,
President by alleging that Wing membe,
OF Congress (Mr. Lincoln Of Mass. had i'm
pugned the correctness of Mr.. OgIe's state.
inents, we copy the following poser from
NINE members OF Congress, which has
been appended to the copy ofthe speech rub.
iIshed IN the National IntelIgencer.
Statement By The Hon. J. c. CLARK s, Others
The undersigned. Whig member, Of
congress nave had their attention called to
publication IN the "Globe" OF the 10th OF
July, ls4O, under the caption OF "Messrs.
Lincoln and Oglv," from which the follow.
ing extract is taken:
lie (Mr, Lincoln) was no friend of Mr.
Van Buren,, but he would do him the lust.
Ice to say If there was any thing wrong In
relation TO the furniture ofihe White House.
Inc president was not to blame for il. on
the contrary, he (Mr. l. knew his great
dellcacy on the subject. and would assure
the gentlemen that, whenever the commune
had consulted the President in relation TO
any additional furniture, he had invariably
expressed biz Reluctance 10 have any thing
expended for that object. He (Mr. l. would
state, from his own know ledge, that not
single Article offurniture supplied during the
last three years had been supplied at The re-
quest ofthe President The committee alone
were answerable, and they would assume
the responsibility"
The undersigned do not undertake TO saw
whether Mr.. Lincoln used the language i'm.
puted 10 him by the "Globe" or not bat as
he has permitted its publication 10 remain
ten days without public contradiction, we
presume that he now adopts the language
ascri5ed TO him, if he did not originally utter
II. For the purpose, therefore, of placing
the matter truly before the country, and 10
correct the gross misrepresentation Of facts
contained iD the above extract the undersipn-
ed certify that they have carefully examined
The vouchers which have been duly aodi,ed
and settled by the Treasury department., for
the purchase OF furniture for the Presidents
house since the ilh OF March. 1887, and that
they have compared the said vouchers with
statements set forth in said speech.
And they further certify that it appears
from the said vouchers that more than Sl8-
900 were expended in furniture for The Presi
dents House between the 4ih ofMarch 1887.
and the 9th day Of December, | S37 The day on
which the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds was appointed, and of which
Mr.. Lincoln was chairman the former Com
mltee on Public Buildings and Grounds ha-
wing ceased 10 exist on the Sd day Of March,
1887.
The undersigned further certify that it ap-
pears from the said vouchers that the said
money was expended BY the agents of the
President, viz: his son, Abraham Van Blu
rem, Il. l.. Smith. and Others. on warrants
drawn by order the Presiden, OF the United
States himself
And the undersigned would further state
that the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds have no control, direction. or juris-
diction whatever in the selection or purchase
Of furniture which the President may see
proper to procure by himself or his agents
when appropriations are made for that object
by law.
]. G. CLARK, N. York.
JAMES COOPER,
Gil. F. MITCHELL,
w. SIMONTON,
w. RIDGWAY,