The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-08-20
SPEECH OF MR.. OGLE,
or pennsylvania,
On the Regal SpiendOr of the
PRESIDENTS PALACE.
Delivered in the II. of Representatives, April {!

Delivered in the fl. Of Representatives April /.
The House being IN Committee Of the Whole
on the bill making appropriations for the civil
ard diplomatic expenses OF the Government for
the year 1 40, Mr. OGLE, of Pennsylvania, NOV
ed 10 amend the bill By striking out the follow.
ing clause .. For alterations aud repairs Of the
Presidents house aud furniture, for purchasing
trees, shrubs, and compost, and for supeflnten.
dcnce Of the grounds, three thousand SIX hundred
and sI&ty-five dollars"
Mr.. 0CLE said: Mr.. Chairman, con.
stdcr thus a very important item 10 the bill
not as 10 the amount, but as TO the prIFs
ciples involved 10 IT, | doubt much the
poI'"y Of this Government ~ granting the
Chief Magistrate emulumeuts or revenues
Of any kind, over and above the fixed sala.
~ paid TO that officer out nf the Treasury
Of the United States. Although mos, Of
our former Presidents were IN the enjoy.
ment Of some Of these adyenlitlous revenues,
am well aware that none Of them retired
from office with an over abundant fortune !;
for, sir no former Chief Magistrate ever
acted upon the principle VIGOROUSLY adopt.
the money Of the People nth a iaoiM hand
and, al The same tine, Surfing his otea ruth
sordtd parSimoay. The President, without
lucIndiug many valuable incidental emolu.
meuts, (Whoreof will speak before con.
cIude,) receives more than quddruple the
SUN paid to The head Of either Of the De.
partments, while tie current private dis.
bursemeuts Of the incumbent Of that high
station are cettaiuly not greater than the
expenditures Of one Of his Secretaries. l.
there a gentleman on this floor who does
not believe that the present Chief Magistrate
lays up yearly, from $50 900, to S2o,.
900, aud ali hard money at that I
But, MIR. Chairman, object 10 this up
preparation Oh higher grounds. resist the
principle on which It is demanded as anti
democratc-as fuuniug counter IN lis ten
deucy 10 the plain, simple, and frugal notions
Of our republican People. And | put i TO
you, sir, and to the Tree cllzeus Of this
country, whose Serrdnt the President IS, to
say whether, 10 addition TO the large sum
OF oNE III SDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS which
he is entitled 10 receive for SINGLE term
Of -four gears, they are disposed TO main.
tain, for his private accommodation, 4
ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT at The cost
Of tie nation Nill they longer feel IN,
cIncd 10 supper, their ehnf Serrdnt in a
PALACE as sple4did as that Of the Caesars,
aud as richly d3orntd as The proadea All.
attic mansion Have the People chosen
that servant TO supcrnlcnd the great and
diversified interests Of the nation; or will
they consent that his tune shall be occupied
with the vauties, luXurIes, aud pleasures
Of life DO they demand that his talents
aud all the energies Of his mind shall be de.
voted to the discharge Of the proper duties
Of his stewardship, or will they agree that
be shall lapse into the same sloth and
cfi'minacy which distinguished tbe drtilerS
in othcr palaces Have the affairs Of the
People been so adyaniageously managed
that the servant specially appointed 10 take
charge over them may, without detrment
10 the Commonwealth, sink into lcyIty Of
manners" and abandon the care of the pub
he service, to " eat, drunk, and be merry ~
Although have peculiar " discachant
uca,," To discuss ou this floor topics which
have an appearance Of involving personal
rather than political considerations, still |
am constrained By a sense Of duty 10 offer
some remarks 10 relation TO the occidental
rcyenucs-lhe annual profits and eSpendI
ttrus of the President of the United States
the magnificent splendor Of his palace,
and the pompous ccrcmonaIs that hold
sway " at his republican court, and which
are by many well meaning people Imagined
to be equally indispensable "to preserpe the
dignity Of Democratic Chief Magistrate
as of the despot on throne. ! feel Inrlin-
ed, however, TO examine these subjects with
al "decency aud respect " for the high
office now filed BY Marian Van Buren,,
and trust with a proper disposition "not
to speak evil of the ruler OF my people, -
But, sir, am not Ignorant that, IN pursuing
the course which | have marked out, IT
will bscono necessary to tread upon grounds
that, in former ages Of tho world were
deemed, and in all despolc Governments OF
the present time arc still considered, ",oo
delicate and sacred to be proianed by the
tongue of plain citizen or subject. Who
does not remember that the good Queen
Elizabeth hesitated not TO enlon upon her
Parhameuts that It was improper =" 10 deal,
to Judge, or to NEEDLE with her majcsty's
prcrogatire roydi?' And history fully IN
forms US tina, all such impairment informed
dIcrs were disposed of in the most summary
manner. well know, therefore, that shall
awaken aud rouse into action the base and
MALIGNANT passions of the fierce Cerberuses
which guard the portals, aud the wellied
placemen and oliico.hoders, the iawnlng
sycophants, and other abettors of high pre-.
rogatlve, that environ the person ofthe royal
incumbent Of the Presidential palace, with
the vain hope that they can parry the well
directed arrows of republican archers.-
Growl, aud suarl, and snap, as these guar.
dian Executive ours may, | shall neverthc.
less indulge myself on the topics indicated
with pretty liberal range Of remark. |
will not, assuredly, be restrained from the
flles, exercise of the freedom of speech by