The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-06-25
from The Boston Atlae.
SCENES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PAL.
ACE
WAsnNGToN, Saturday, May >

!, " Cold Spoon CondidGte." lie is the first
President OF the United States that ever in,
troduceda service OF gold plate in the Pre-
sldential mansion and he is lauded as The
/ most democydhc If all our Chief Nagis
irates. lie IS the first President that ever
provided British coach Cor the royal use
and he IS first, II is believed that ever filled
the White House with French furniture,
or loaded his dinner table with foreign trink.
cts end gew gaws at tie public expense.
! have given you some account of this
/ English coach and the French furniture,
aud the gold spoons, and the magnificent
European ornaments, IN my former letters
and perceive, BY paragraph in the Bos.
ton Morning Post, that the truth of my
statements is Denied on the authority Of
Gov. Lincoln, Of Massachusetts, member
Of the COMMITTEE on Public Buildings, IN
the present Congress. Now | viii pledge
my personal reputation upon the literal ac-
csfacy Of evety word that have ever writ.
zen upon the subject; and ! viii engage h
prove, by the positive assertions Of ctedt.
bic witnesses, by facts and figures, and the
items Of expenditure as given 10 The official
reports Of the government, the eutire truth
oiihc gold spoon story wrote an account
Of this extravaganza fncry at tie White
House before the subject had been mention.
ed upon the floor Of Congress. obtained
my facts from members who dinsd with the
President, according TO the custom, u the
early part Of the session. The language
which used vas as follows:
"Mr Van Buren, is indeed a vain man,
and his vanity lies within narrow circle.
He is fond Of ponp and show, and the trap.
pings Of power, as all his actions declare.
He dresses in The height Of fashion, and his
equpase IS The most magnificent that dash.
, es through the avenues Of lhis magnificent
city. His public dinner parties are also
splendid beyond description. The table is
irckcd cut with all the ornaments that the
richest Jewellers can produce. The centre
IS garulshed with a pyramid Of fantastic
iiuery, and a complete SCI Of GOLD PLATE
has RECENTLY BEEN ADDED 10 the iurni.
ture Of the White House, TO duzze the
eyes Of visitors. This scrrice comprises
kaires, forks, and SPOONS or GOLD
dishes Of gold, and urns of gold. Mr..
Van Buren, IS as gay and polite as French
dancing master; and be receives every
man, with that everlasting hypocrltical
smile, which marks the mau-lor a knave.
1t is said that the Magician cannot look an
honest man dlrectly.ln the face, for sin.
gle moment; his eye roves and dances like
tho eye Of basilisk"
This language was employed 10 Illustrate
the character Of Mr.. Van Buren,. The
members from whom obtained the account
of the dinner table aud the gold plate, were
the Hon. T. G. Cntenden, OF New York,
and the Hon. l.. W, Andrews, Of Kentucky,
aho examined the spoons, knives aud forks
with particular. care, They still believe
these articles 10 be gold. The dishes, urns,
and other parts OF the dinner service are
executed IN q style TO correspond with the
spoons, and if not solid gold arc made to
dazzle and deceive. Mr.. Andrews took an
inventory Of the gold plate, and sketch of
the foreign oinameu,s on the table, which
II vas SAID he intended 10 have printed BY
a photographer. The pyramid of tantas
tic fnory in the centre Of the table is I
French ornamer, aud Is called a Plateau
1t was purchased in France, al an expense
of $1,000 OF the peoples money. No other
President ever had such an article in the
White House. Il consists Of on immense
gilded tray, or platter, containing a pyra.
mid Of golden tllagree work, on the sum.
init Of which there are several golden Gu.
pids, sustaining golden candlesticks. The
table is also urnamented with other fuery
Of the same description, and with vases Of
artificial flowers, enc bunch Of which, as
shall show presently, cost the sum OF one
hundred dollars. The ceremonies of ;bcse I
democratic dinner parties are conducted on
the most counly system, Every thing is .
forced, formal, ard far removed from that 7
republican simplicity which should disum ,
gsish the residence Of a republican Presi, .
dcGt. NiSlters are frs, shown into an ante.
room, where they are prepared to appear
IN the angus. presence of the Chief Magls,
irate. They are then ushetcd into the re.
cnption room, announced, and introduced 10
his Majesty. Nearly an honr is then spent
in solemn and oppressive silence. A con
tidental friend or two obtain a seat near
the throne, and occupy taesear Of the Pre-.
sdent until ne dinner hour arrives. Sim.
liar formally is observed 10 passing from
the reSfpti5n room to the dining hall, and
the sts finally fad themselves seated at
tho fes,SAAts table. The brilliancy of
The rs-,..- gltpeting of the 70,
reign 5000 youhr,ude of strange
dishes, sad colored glasses, utterly con.
POUNDS { bewlders all plain, honest re.
publicans--and it is long time before they
begin to learn the use OF these extraordin.
AIRY arrangements. A number of Dutch.
and FrcEch dishes are then brought in, and
the guest is supplied with dozen different
specimens Of outandish cookery not one of
which is agreeable to his taste, and the
plates are often changed before he can tell
whether ii is agreeable or not. Thus he
goes through with dinner, tasting Of every
thing and eating nothing -inconvenient, IN,
Il L