Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-09-19
$S4 so

Who does not remember the indignant bursts
OF elOquence that were then launched forth with
in this hall against gambling, waste Of time, ne.
glect oil public business, extravaganza, &c. &C.?
With what commondabe pety and holy zeal did
the leading champions of retrenchment and reform
at that day exhort all devout Christians to open
their eyes and lend their ears to a full and tho
rough examination Of these subjects! have be-
fore me- sir, speech on this subject, delivered on
the 4th of February, 1928, by the Hon. JAMES
BUCHANAN on Mr.. Chilton's resolution to re.
trench the expenditures of the General Govern.
ment, in which he deliberately discusses the me-
rts OF this enormous expenditure, and shows ex-
coedlng great regard for the scruples OF the pous
in regard to the purchase, with the public money
OF instruments for amusement; an example OF
wasteiulness and extravaganza which, he appears
to have apprehended, Unjust have most power
full and extensive influence upon the morals of the
youth Of our country"
1t turned out, indeed, in the end, that Mr.. Adj
ans had really paid for the billiard table, &c. out
Of his own pocket. But no matter; the Jackson
party in Congress continued to denounce the
purchase Of the billiard table, balls, cues, and
chessmen. These were the articles Of palace fur.
niture upon which we Jackson men arraigned the
Administration of Mr.. Adams before the county.
These articles of extravaganza amounted to
Ssh so. We were afraid to pay for billiard
table for the President to spend his precious time
at, because he had so many important duties to
perform. The arguments used at that time will
Jingle in the ears Of the old Jackson men when
they shall discover what is the fact that two hun.
bred dollars have been paid for boot money on
the exchange Of mahogany piano forte; for one
constructed of rosewood, and that the very refor.
mers who made such an everlasting din about the
price Of billiard table, have expended more than
seventy thousand dollars Of the peoples cash for
nine-lec mirrors, gold knives, forks, spoons rays
stars, &c, not emitting however, the bills for
hemnling Mr.. Van Buren, dish rags and strainer
cloths and for grinding his servants knives.
And now, sir, having seen that this democratic
Presidents house is finished in a style of maeni.
fcence and regal splendor that might well satisfy
monarch, let us examine the manners, habits,
conduct, and political principles Of the person
who dwells in it, and see if they correspond to
the grandeur OF the mansion. | do this to show
the people some facts, from which they may Judge
whether this is that plain, simple, humble, hard
handed democrat, whom they have been taught %
believe is at the head of the democratic party.-
Because the question now is, whether Martin
Van Buren,, Of Undertook, is that real, bona
fde, straight going democrat which his friends
ayouch him to be. He may call himself dem
ocrat-such, no doubt, he processes to be-but
then there is a great difference between names
and things. You have heard the story of the
farmers son, who said 10 his father, "Faher, if |
should call that calls tail a leg, how many legs
would the calf have?" ''Why, five, to be sure -
said his father ''Why, no it wouldn't" says the
boy, "because my calling it leg wouldn't make
it So" Laughter.
SO, in this case, strongly suspect that when we
look little closely, we shall find that the demo-
cratic leg is nothing but a tail, after all. Loud
laughter
On reading the Diary in America. by Captain
Marryatt, of the Royal Navy of England, | was
much struck with the sound discrimination exhibit
ted by this distinguished traveller, in paragraph
at page los the first volume Of his work. | will
read the passage
"Mr Van Buren, is a very gentlemanlike, intel
ligent man very proud of talking over his visit
to England, and the English with whom he was
acquainted. 1t is remarkable that although at the
head Of the democratic party, Mr. Van Buren, has
taken a step striking at the very roots Of their
BoAsTEp EQUALITY, and one on which General
Jackson did not venture, namely, he has prevented
the mobocracy democracy from niruding them
solves at his levees. The police now stationed
| at the door, to prevent the intrusion Of any i'm
proper person. A few years ago, fellow would
drive his cart or hackney coach up to the door
walk into the saloon in all his dirt, and force his
way to the President, that lie might shake him by
the one hand, whilst he ilourished his whip in the
| other. The revolving scenes which took place when
refreshments were handed round the injury done
to the furniture, and the disgust to the ladies, may
be well imagined. Mr.. Van Buren, deserves grea
credit for this step, for it was a bold )nc but