The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-09-25

of infancy, which may proftably be remembered,
that ''all is not gold that glitters;' for if am not
greatly misnlormed, the plateau, and spoons, and
knives, and forks, are but silver gilded, and the
golden vases, but china painted
But the monstrons extravaganza of such things
exclams the member. What is done with the vast
amount of these appropriations he inquiries. Sir,
have not peeped into the windows of the palace,
or moused through the kitchen or the garrett to see
whether the people have got their moneys worth
in the purchases which have been made. This is
not the province Of the committee of which am
member; nor if it were, would perform the SER
vice. Does it require, he asks such large amounts
for mere plain and necessary furnitue' No, sir,
no; nor is it 10 be supposed that, by the large APP
preparations which have been made from time to
lime, Congress could intend the purchase should be
so restricted. Simple, indeed, must he be q had
almost said foo) who could imagine that, in the
authority to an outlay of fifty thousand dollars, as
in the case Of Mr.. Monroe, or of twenty thousand
dollars, as in the administration of Mr.. Adams, or
thirty thousand, as in that of Gen. jackson, or
twenty thousand for Mr.. Van Buren,, the ornamen-
tai was TO be excluded. The schedules which the
member exhibits may well excite his wonder. |
know nothing of their fidelity. But the carpets and
the curtains, the candlcstcks and the cundelebras,
the ottomans and the dyans, the tables mahogany
and marble, the tabourets (tabby-cats in the mem
bcr's nomenclature) were all doubtless in the esti-
mates They may be names of startling sound to
an unpractised ear, but they are things of use and
no uncommon appearance IN many private par
lor.
One thing, above all, seemed to have created
amazement with the member. lie has found, IN
his manly and dignifed research, an invoice of
{, al. Of
Mr.. Adams, and he cries out with astonishment at
their number, What the need, he demands, of so
many dozen of cups and saucerss Sir, will tell
the member. They were wanted for il purpose
which he could never conieclure-thc hospilabe
entertainment of visitors and friends. They were
a means among others of offering the courlcsics Of
place to those who called upon the President as
the representatives of the people. They were used
for the reireshmen' of the nations guests. To such
as witnessed the noble hospitality of my honorable
colleague, in his high official station, it need not be
told how entirely the accommodations Of the house
were made but mere appliances to his personal lib
erty. Sir, advise the member to study better the
manners of the past before he proscrSes rule of
conduct for The future. The public residence Of
the President of the United States has been and
should ever continue, the seat of generous hospi
tality; and respecting, as do, free hearted and
liberal constituency, the incumbent in Office who
ever he may be, shall never find in my vote an en-
cusc for its neglect, If Gen. Harrison shall sue
coed to the occupancy of the White House, as |
trust he may, and which shall labor as zeuously
as any other one TO effect, my speech shall furnish
argument for leaving him there with only the worn
out and cast-oll furniture Of his predecessor.
MIR. Chairman, thank the member that he has
left us in doubt of the cause of his grievous COM
I nj, in /
that he was one of those who Joined in the notor-
Gus East Room clamor; and by reason of the i'm
puted extravaganza of my venerable colleague, in
the purchase of a billiard table, some cues and
cheSsmcn, at the cost of few dollars, assisted in
displacing one administration, which taxed the
Treasury but twelve millions year, to Introduce
dynasty which now requires more than thricc-,old
that amount for its annual expenditure. If for such
cause he would hurl from place one of the most
pure and faithful patriots that ever served the coun-
try there can be no surprise at the weapons he has
chosen with which TO assail the men now in power.
The member once belonged to the school of these
same political relormers, and much fear in the
fault Of early lessons, gives less heed, at lhs Time,
to the alarming principles and fragrant misdoings
Of vicious Administration, than personal attention
to microscopic sonroh for minor defects III the
boasilul economy Of its disbursements Sir, ISOi-
emnIy protest against these things being brought
into he politics Of the day. They can be mate to
haze no just or proper bearing there. 1t may
seem to us that the salary of the President is too
high, and the house and lis appcndagcs too splendid
and costly; but they were the appointments of wi
and better men than ourselves, in the purer DAYS
of the Republic, and have been sustained aud en-
ioycd as the measure of every administration, and
in turn by all parties. For myself, am free to
confess that were they at this time original pro-
visions, with present experience, should be the
advocate of neither But while the salary continues
and the house remains, will not consent tina, the
President shall hoard the one or live like reclusc
and niggald in the other
| But one word more, Mr.. Chairman, and have
done If, in sustaining the appropriations to which
exceptions have been taken, differ in judgment
from others, 1t is because regard the original de-
sign Of the Government in the arrangement which
requires them, and not that advocate extravagant
grants, or have the reference to the benefit of their
recipient. OF the particular manner in whch.lhc
money has been expended, Iprctend TO know moth
ing. With Mr.Nan Buren, personally have nouhgt
10 do. Upon his temper and bearing, his habits
and manner OF living, IN private, and with those of
his family whether ut home at the court Queen
Victoria, the member may as freely descant as his
taste shall prompt, or the patience of Others bear,
WlhOUl TcPiI VT necu nom NE. 10 NiT ' All DuTcn
politically, and TO his administration, am opposed
upon other, and, trus: higher grounds than those
which are taken in the speech of the member
upon the broad grounds of constitutional principles,
national interests and the peoples rights; and
shall continue that opposition until it shall end in
the restoration of the supremacy of law and repre-
sentative government over Executive usurpa,ion
and power.
(hnir Gnr thn Iulu nf tba
tee in their kind attention to what have had to
say, ipray leave In return my sincere thanks. For
OBTAINING them, after the laigues of long sitting
TO so late an hour in the evening, / owe them an
humble apology.