The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-07-28
See how the Peoples NEOney
goes.
THHEI GOE4D SPOON STORY.
To tie Editor ofihe Boston atlas:


the public press that directed the attention of the
American people to the extravagant furniture of
the Presidents House obtained by Mr.. Van Buren,
to the British coach, and the service OF gold pne
which now attracting so much attention. The
language ] employed on one occasion, was this;
"Mr VAN buren, Is evidently VAIN MaN, and
his vanity lies within narrow circle tie is fond
of pomp, and show, and tho trappngs of power,
his actions all declare. He DRESSES IN THE HHIer
OF FASHION, AND HIS EQUIPsGE Is The MOST Mag
NIFIcENT THAT DAsHEs THROUGH THE AVENUES
CT THIS MAGNIFICENT CITY. His public dinner par
ties also splendid beyond description. The
BILE is tricked out with The richest ornaments that
even FOREIGN JEWELLERS can produce. The
ire is garnished with pyramid offantastic tnery
and COMPLETE SERVICE OF GOLD
PLATE has recently been added TO the White
House, to dazzle the eyes of visitors The service
comprises KNIVES, FORKS, and SPOONS GOLD,
DISHES GOLD, and URNs OF GOLD"
This the Administration journals sneerngly term
ed the "gold spoon story" The charges contained
in she extract were boldly denied by the Washing.
ton Globe and the Boston Morning Post, and the
Atlas denounced, in the most violent terms, as
a wilful and malicious slanderer OF the President.
felt confident, from the beg inning, that the foil
spirit OF the charges which had thus brought n.
gainst the great head Of the selfstyled Dem ,crac
party were founded in truth; and have rever hes
itated to repeat them on any occasion, and to
pledge myself to sustain them by stubborn facts "
inc ontrovertible figures in due time. l received
my information, on this subject, from sources which
knew could be relied upon, although could not
mVSeIt command
But the aotoie truth has out. Mr.
CHARLES OeLE, Representative IN Congress from
Pennsy vania, has probed this peSfterous matter To
the bottom; and in his very able and deeply inter
esting speech upon the general Appropriation Bib,
has proued more Tor me, than l ever believed
ina ed could be true. had the pleasure of MS
tening portion of that speech, when it was de-
vered in the House, and was satisfied that it must
make n very powerful impression, not only upon
the Wings, who already firm in their patriot
c faith, but upon the deluded followers of Marhn
Van Buren, and the phantom of democracy, with
which he has so long deceived the people. Mr. o.
gle is very bold, fluent, independent speaker,
and when addressing the House, always commands
the fAed attention Of large majority of the mem
bers. His speech upon Mr.. Van Buren's ROYAL
EsrARLIsHMRNr undoubtedly increased his high re-
putation in that BODY, and will command the last
ing gratitude of his constituents, and the great body
of American citizens. The facts which he has
collected, sustain not only the general charge OF
extravaga nce contained in my "god spoon story"
but the particular items of expenditure alluded to.
have been waiting for the publication of this
speech, to meet the denial OF the Morning Post, as
it deserves Mr. Ogle has prepared the whole
matter to my hand, well as could desire. The
whole speech occupies nearly thirty close columns
Of fine type in the National lnteliigencer | shall
select the most important passages, and nterSperso
them with such explanatory remarks may
to be necessary to a full understanding of the ex
tracts
THE PALACE AND THE FURNITURE.
The immediate subject upon which Nh. Ogle ad
Dip tomato Appropriation Bill, providing the sum
of 3 665 for alterations and repairs upon the Presi
dents house and furniture, tor purchasing trees
shrubs and compost; and superintendent OF tho
grounds the present year. This clause Mr. Oge
proposed strike out Of the bill and he put 1t to
the house, and to the free citizens of this country,
whose servant the President IS, to say whether, in
add ition to the large sum of ONE HUNDRED THOU
SAND DOLLARS which he is entitled to receive for a
single term Of four gears. they are disposed to main
tain, for his private accommodation, A ROYAL
ESTABLISHMENT at the cost Of the Mation@ He
said he doubted much the policy of this Govern
nent in granting the Chief Magistrate emoluments
or rev enues of any kind over and above the fixed
salary paid thar officer out Of the Treasury OF the
United States; and he believed that no former
Chief Magistrate ever acted upon tho principle no
toriously adopted by the present incumbent, Of
spending the money Of the people Nth tnr'sh hana
and, at the same tine snDtng ms o'on sotM s0rdtd
parSim0ny; shall therefore claim thu right, said
he, to discuss the political principles, the public
conduct and behavior of Martin Van Buren,, with
that perfect freedom which should characterize
the independent representative OF PLAN, honest,
and brave constituency. Where discover mean
ness will expose it to the contempt and loathing
of honorable men; where | encounter audGctty, L
shall maui its brazen head and level it in the dust;
and where detect Orrupt,om shall run my
spear into its putrescent CARCASS, up to the very
hit!
Before the Administration of John Quincy Ad-
ans, Mr.. Oge stated that the appropriations for
improving the Presidents grounds had been very
able sums were voted by Congress for that purpose
The first of these grants five thousand dollars
by the of the 25th of February 1925, for ieuet
ing, grading, and improving the Presidents square
The second grant was five thousand eight hun.
dred and sixty five dollars by the act of the 22d
May 1926, for finishing the fences, graduating and
Improving the public grounds. Prior to the MS,
bnrsement of these appropriations, The grounds
presented rude, uneven, ~ shapelcss appearance;
not few ofthe pristine sandy knobs still remain
ed. The fencing too quite imperfect; but, by
the exercise of ii co,nmendabe economy in the OK
penditures of the sums just mentioned, and by the
appiieatio" cfthe money amMe most Oenefc,at man
nsr to accomplish the object contemplated by The
luaos the grounds of tie President were brought
into fine condition.
The present returning Democratic dynasty: at
tanned to the full enjoyment OF the powers "f me
Government in March, 1929; and from that period
to the Sd of March, 1889, find on the statute
books of the United States not less than ten sever
al acts of Congress, appr"priating the enormous
sum Of EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN
HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS;
for Improving the Presidents House, all of which
has been suuandered by these glorious retrenchng