The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-09-25
VOL. |. NO. 81.

loll ana 10 ulTeCl
as nprighily, as the least proud one here. One
lesson more have learned, that in reference TO the
conduct of others, the tongue is an unruly organ
which an evil spirit may indulge, but which candor
and a love of truth should at all times restrain.
Mr.. Chairman, it can only be necessary to review
the remarks of the member to show the absurdity
of their intended application While he condemns
the extravaganza of the furniture, he Is silent IN
respect to the appropriations through which it was
procured These appropriations are the grants OF
legislation by the representatives. of the people,
Whose was the work of constructing the costly
mansion and to what end was it reared: More
than forty years have now elapsed since the build
ing erected, at The charge of more than half
million of dollars to the nation, and from that time
to the present it has been occupied in the manner
in which it is row used. Congress- through all this
intervening period, have voted the sums for furnish
ing the house, as they had prcyiousl Y done for lis
construction, If it were intended that the occupant
should himself provide the furniture, wherefore
these grants They commenced before the house
was first taken possession of by the elder Adams,
and the occasions for further supplies have since
been voluntarily anticipated upon every succession
to the Presidency. Besides, the spacious halls and
lofty ceilings of such mansion require much which
would be suited to no other residence. The rea-
sonablencss of compelling President elect to an
outlay exceeding his annual salary in the purchase
of furniture for a house, the occupancy of which
he has not the election to refuse, and the tenacy of
which at the expiration of every four years, Is at
the disposal of the popular voice, with the certainty
of the sacrifice upon the cost of the property In the
attempt to dispose of it for any other place or use,
cannot grayey be contcnded for. The credit of
the country itself would suffer by such an arrange
ment; for either the officer by the absorption Of
his salary in the purchase of suitable and sufficient
| q 4 Al In nT thn
appointed means for his proper support in the Of
flee, or, by the neglect of such provision, would
exhibit to the world, in his public station the dis
crediiabe contrast of magnificent apartments mean
" destitute or scnniy furnished with whatever
was appropriate to their occupation. IL - a great
mistake TO suppose that these accommodations are
for the personal relief or to the private advantage
ofthc President. lie is made by them, and by tho
amplitude of his salary, emphailcally the host CT
the nation. His guests are the guests oil the peo-
pie. The executive mansion Is the place Tor their
reception, This house of the people is the firg
position in which, in the person of the chief mogs-
imte they receive from the representatives, ct Other
people the homage due TO the sovereignty OF this
great republic. Here ambassadors and ministers,
the accredited messengers from the proudest and.
most powerful, the enlightened and most refined OF
the kingdoms of the earth, are received and enter
tanned in the name of the hospitality OF the nation.
And here too the cour,esies of official station are
exchanged between the high iunclonaries OF the
government, and extended to all classes OF the cl,l-
IONS The house, it is well known is open TO all,
and is daily visited by many. Is ii too much, then,
that the place and its appendices are beyond the
requirements of private station: venture the
seron, that so far as the personal interest OF the
President is concerned Il speak not of the present
: incumbent, but of whoever has been or may be IN
the olice) it would be preferable, far preferable 10
him to occupy at his own cost, n smaller and more
; humble dwelling, than to submit TO the inconvcn-
fences and heavy cxactons which his required resi-
dence in the executive mansion necessarily lnpo-
scs Sure ! am, that ina pccunlary point OF view,
it would be much better for any incumbent in the
office to receive ten thousand dollars and furnish
his own mbi,alion than with twenty five Thousand
TO maintain the style Of living and public hospitality
which every President in succession, has deemed
but in conformity with the design, as well as the
ibcrally of present provisions,
But the member complains of it as a monstrous
abuse, that the President of the United States, in
addition to his salary and the use of furnished
house, should have the grounds about the latter
kept in order at the public expense. lie says
Pre>idcn, ought 10 furnish his own house and en-
: poy his own gardener, as his salary Is amply sui
. icient. | have only to add to what have before
said on this subject that such has not been the
judgment OF the pleasure OF the people. FOR forty
wears their representatives sitting IN these halls,
without division in sentiment or vote, have provi-
ded the house. supplied the furniture, directed the
. enclosure and Improvement of the grounds, and re-
CURED their occupation by the chief magistrate
The salary may be sufficient for the officer TN
this point take no issue with the member 20 may
I the per diem of eight dollars be ample coiDpensa-
ton for representative in congress But does the
scrupuous member himself receive nothing more
demand Of him TO say il eight dollars per DAY Is
not abundant reconpcnse for the value oil ms Ia
hors here; and yet, does he keep his hands clean
from all the peruuises of place Has he no gov
a crumen, stationary in his room; No congressional
: pcnknlle of costly extravaganza at tins very mo-
II nent in his pocket, Has he never ordered 10 his
lodgings the beautiful ''enbossed and lace-edgcd
note paper" and Clancy sealing wax, Tor the use
u of any of his family or received 10 his own use
distrbutye share of the "spois, IN costly editions
r of books printed at the expense Of the treasury
n Sir, ct me not be misunderstood. do not con-
o denim him in this for the legislation oil the house
g allows it, But say he receives these things by a
more questionable authority than does the PRESIDENT
g of the United States, the accommodations which
o are made the burdens of his complaint. When,
therefore. the member goes 10 his constituents, and
h 10 mine. with the objections that the Chief mags-
trate of the nation is lin his most courteous Ian
/ gungc) robbiag and cheating the people IN receN-
IS ns, under an appropriation of congress, the use of
= furnished house and the of garden, in adj
It don TO his salary let him, at the same tme hon
d esiy admit, that to his own pay he adds, at the
" public charge perquistcs of considerable value.
is and which a colleague of his, (Nlr. Peirikln,l on
y another occasion, pronounced although think by
gross exaggeoton, equal in amount TO the per as
l. Sir the President is much rather to be justified IN
the use Of his furnished lodgings than the member
Ia in the enjoyment of bis perquisies for the laiier
r: ma, he rsinscd. while the former, consistent WIN
st the arrangements ofthe government cannot De de-
= cned.
\, regret, Mr.. Chairman, that it Is necessary Tor
" me 10 pursue this ungrateiul subject further.
!; fear. in doing it shall exhaust the patience OF the
=, rommittee. But the member cayls with me Tor
~ sustaining the appropriation for the salary of the
r. parGener at the Presidents square. In my remarks
!. on former day, 10 which he excerpts, said That
70 ibis had been usual appropriation for many years.
=, and that saw reason, at this ilne, 'or us
Is discontnuance. have now in my hand cer'lh-