The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-05

resentalve OF II glorious and proud Republic, en-
braclng more than fifteen millions of ireemen-
should live III a large House, furnished no better
than log cabm' How palty would it look and
what Il miserable idea of economy would it give to
agents and ministers from foreign countries, when
they beheld patry one dollar looknggass hung
up in Il building Of dimensions equal to the palaces
Of Europe The idea was too ridiculous to he
entertained for a moment, and yet, by the princi-
pies ON which the gentleman from Pennsy lvanla
had been arguing, this course mus be pursued.
| But he wished to know who it was that had
complained of the Presidents House being 10 wei
| furnished 1t had been visited by hundreds and
thousands of farmers and mechanics, people by
whose votes he had been elected, and had they
ever uttered complaint and said that the Pres
| ldcnt of their choice had too much or too costly
! furniture No he 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 hon
orable station. And if the people, who, by thou
sands have visited and Witnessed for themselves,
make no complaint, what right had any one else J
1t would be quite time enough for that, when the
people themselves We're dissatisfied.
| Mir. l., then complained of the many eXtraya-
CANT stories which had gone through the country
III relation to the furniture Of the Presidents House,
The people had been informed of things which had
no existence, except in the Imagination Of those
who originated such groundess stories. lie then
referred to the similar charges made against his
venerable colleague Mr. Adau,sl while that gen
lemun occupied the house. The country was at
that time made to believe the house was furnish
ed in Il costly and eNrayagant 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
that Mr. Adams was enjoying things which he
ought to have, but did not ENJOY. Al this time, 1t
was obvious that such stories We're circulated Tor
political effect and was not this the in the
present instances In his opinion very little could
be gained by such II course. 1t was very small
business, especially when much higher ground
could be taken, and attacks made on much more
important objects. He would cry shame ON the
man who would represent that extravaganza eNis-
| ted in the Presidents mansion, when IN fact there
was scarcely any furniture at all. The furniture
was not what il ought to have been in the time of
MIR Adams, and now it was no better than 1t should
| be.
Mr. l.. said that so far was he considering the
house as too well furnished that he had actually
reported bill for increasing the furniture. II was
not continued in the present appropriation hut has
Il distinct BILL which he would ask might be consid-
cred at II proper time. In that bill the Commit
tee on Public buildings proposed giving the ircsl-
dent 500 10 increase the furniture The $500
IN the present bill did not apply to the furniture,
but exclusively to repairs Of the house.
! Would gentleman ask what part Of the house
they intended TO furnish; lie would tell them.
! What was the state of the receiving room There
was not Il mirror, even Il common seven-by-nlnc
mirror, in il there was not Il single table, except
an odd pine table in one corner, which, under the
hummer of the nuclOneer, would moi fetch seventy
cents and an old worn out sofa. The whole lot
would not fetch five dollars and yet this was the
unietoom into which foreign ministers, and visitors
| Of every description, were introduced To see the
! President. Now what did the committee intend Ia
do with the 5000 They did moi intend Ia furnish,
The house like palace, but supply il with good
simple and subtanlnl furniture, and home nunll-
larlurc. They designed the purchase of good aud
substantial chairs, for the accommodation of visit
0rs, and of gentlemen when accompanied by ladies'
and it was but reasonable 10 suppose that most Ia
dies before Introduced TO the President, would be
DESTROYS of adjusting their bonncs, etc. daughter
Therefore, the Committee designed to purchase Il
plain mirror, Of suitable dimensions,
The committee thought that an Gnlcroom for tho
reception of foreign ministers, with it, common
1 chair and old east away sofa, was hardly the pro
per hing or consistent with the dignity of the \.
merriam people II might be said, however, thai
what the committee proposed doing was not demo.
cratic nor in accordance with he principles Of oul
Republic. Such was not his opinion. On tn,
contrary, he held that it was Democratic 10 sup
ply the President with necessary furniture, anC
runvcnlcnces for the house in which they appoint.
ed him TO live.
[Nr |. here made some alusion to his own po-
liiiral career, which was not distinctly heard.
lie maintained that the supplying Of proper fur
niture 10 the White house could have no an-Rc-
publican tendency. lie held that it was consist.
cnt with the purest Republicnnism 10 keep til,
house in repair, 80 that il might be fit for the re-
ccpton of Cen Harrison when he should take pos
session Of it.
He, Mr |. was no friend Of NIr Van Bureh but
he would do him the justice to say that, if there
was ANY thing wrong in relation 10 the furniture
Of the White House, the President was not To
blame for it. On the contrary he knew his great
deicacy on the subject, and would assure the
gentlemen, that, whenever the committee had con-
suited the President in relation TO any additional
furniture he had expressed The greatest reluctance
10 hare anu hiRg crpeHdei for That object. lie
would state from his own knowledge, that not Il
single article of furniture supplied during the last
three wears, had been suppiiei al the request Of
me President himself. The committee alone
were answerabIc, and they would assume the re-
sponsibiliiy. But so far was the President from
desiring any additions made in the furniture that
about two years ago, II actually became neces-
sarv for himself aud the other members Of the CON-
miiiee to do what he had never done before, nor
would he ever do it again. Did gentlemen wish
to know what that was He would tell them. II
was to go through every room in another man :
house to see how much iurni ure he wanted and
I,,.l, la hnnsI hal