The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-07-22
From the Penns, lysnian.
OGLE.S SPEECH-MR. VAN BUREN,
AND THE WHITE HOUSE,

the presen' campaign ms brought forth. was
the speech in the House Of Representatives,
delirered IN April last, by Mr.. Ogle, of the
Pennsylvanis delegation. II related altogether
TO ,hs house provided BY the people for the res
idence Of the President, and TO the furniture
which il contains, and was as unfair and-mslig-
nant as its tone was coarse and repnlsive- so
discreditable in fact was this precious effusiou
considered, tha; unit! lately. none Of the Harri-
son pressesven,ured upon its publication. Now,
however, when the war wakes warmer and
hard cider does nat seem 10 answer its autci-
pa,ed purpose, the Oge tirade is beginning TO
peep out among prints Of an unscrupulous
character. and il therefore is perhaps proper
that II should receive some notice. that the
public may understand its true value.
The purpose Of Ogle is 10 make il appear that
The expenditures for the Presidential mansion.
and for the grounds attached to it. are made BY
Mr.. Van Buren-that they are in compliance
with his taste and wishes-that he orders all
and is responsible for all, and therefore, Mr..
Oele parades in his speech every item, every
bill and receipt connected with the matter he
N"' Huu' iu'rioPS'SiHS tuCui UlhbucI VI
abuse and ribaIdry, to make out case of lux
urious extravagance against the President
AS IA specimen Of the style of the speech, we
subjoin the following delicate passage, which
will show how a representative from Peunsyl-
vania sees &, to talk 10 the House Of Repressn-
tatises. In aluding to the public grounds Mr.
Oge said
No, sir; mere meadows are too common TO
crafty the refined taste of an exquisite " th "sweet
sandy whiskers. He must have unduations
beautiful mounds, and other coptrivances' TO
raviSh his exalted and etheral soul Hence, the
reformers have constructed a number of clever
sized hills. every pair Of which, it is said. was
designed 10 resemble and assume the form Of an
Amazon's bosom. with miniature knoll or hill
lock on its apex, TO denote the n-ple"-
Now, then, as to the matter itself which is
relied on to affect the popularity of Mr.. Van
Barren. The Presidents house, the furniture
the grounds abou, it, the gardens aud all such
matters, arc in charge of committee of the
House of Representatives. Whatever sums
are devoted to these objects by the representa-
twes of the people, are expended under The di
rec,ion Of said committee. Appropriations for
this purpose are usually made at the end of
Il
proper from the great size Of the house to fur
nish j, gradually, instead Of doing so at once,
and the furniture is therefore made TO conform
TO the original plan. whichis believed 10 be Mr..
Monror's. Whatever fault there is in the bus
mess, if fault is to be imputed, belongs either
to the original projectors Of the house aud its
appuuenances, or to the successive Congresses
which have contributed to carry out their ideas.
At all events it is clear that Mr.. Van Buren
cannot by possibility bs Justly reproNehed in
this respect. So far indeed. is he from taking
part in the matter. that when Mr.. Ogle was de-
livering his attack which is now quoted with
such glee by portion of the opposition press,
Governor Lincoln OF Massachusetts,, disin.
guished wing member Of Cougress, and
chairman Of the committee Of expenditures re-
la;ive to the Presidents house, rose and made
'he following cutting reply. completely over
turning the ilimsy fabric Of abuse and misrep.
resentation raised with such care by the indi-
vidual from Pennsylvania:
He. (Mr. Lincoln,) friend OF Mr.. Van
Bnrcn, but he would do hun the Justice 10 say, II
there was thing wrong in relation 10 The inrni-
ture Of the White House the President not to
blame for it. On the contrary, he on. L. knew
his great delicacy The subject, and would assure
the gentleman that, whenever the committee had
consulted the President in relation TO any addition
nj furniture Inc had invariably expressed his reluc
lance to have any thing expended for that object.
lie (Mr L.) would state, from his own knowledge,
that not sNgle article of furniture supplied during
the last three years, had been supplied at the re-
quest Of the President The committee alone were
cnswerable, aud they would assume the response
F.x Tho lxpt, d.St
any additions made to the furniture that about tw o
years ago, it actually became necessary for himself
and the other members of the committee 10 do what
he had never done before nor would he ever do 1t
again. Did gentlemen wish to know what tnat
was He would tell them. 1t was TO go through
every room in another mans house, to see how
much furniture he wanted, cad what convenlenees
were required. lie hoped that gentlemen would
lake notice Of this fact and remember 1t whenever
they attempted TO cast csnsurc on the President IN
relation to his furniture
Mr.. L. then gave some particulars of the condi-
ton OF the White House. when was visited BY the
committee before it was left by the late President
jackson.
He said there was one room occupied by the
Private Secretary Of the President, with his wife
and family. In tina; there three old
chairs, stained washstsnd, aud shabby old fash
ioned mahogany table. which mean :hat the
WAGNER ofPresident Monroe was ashamed Of IL. and
actually refused to take il away. When he looked
around that room II reminded hun of his sons col
lege room Yet these three old chairs stained
wsshstaud and turn up Ia bls was oil the furniture
in that room, which occupied BY the Private
Secretary and family up 10 the tine the late Pres
dent left the city. II any gentleman doubted the
truth Of this statement let him go through the cham
bers and inspec, them himself. But he hoped he
should no longer hear blame cas-, on the President.
when small appropriation was required for the
purchase Of necessary furniture IL the furniture
was considered too expensive, wa. not the fau; OF
the President, but the fault Of those Who. by con-
s'ruclins the building Of such dimensions, had rem
dered II Necessary"
Ihis poiated and direct contradiction Of all
thai oele's speech rests upon. given by a dis
""go''hed member of the opposition party. the
sam. who took Hals'sad Of New Jersey to task
for au elfnsion of A sinaiI.. zL-.-.x... .-.. m,