Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-09-24
From the National IntelligencSr
REMARKS OF MR.. LINCOLN,

REMARKS OF MR.. LINCOLN,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,,
In reply to Mr.. Ogle, upon tie PROPOSE
tiOn Of the latter to strike OEt of the
General Appropriation Bill a small
item for alterations and repairs Of
the PresidentS House, &c.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, APRIL
l6, 1910.
When Mr.. LINCOLN obtained the
floor it was late in the evening, and per-
ceiving that he was fatigued by the long
sitting,sit was proposed to adjourn the
debate 10 the following day, but Mr.. l..
preferred saying at once What he had to
say. He began by replying to some re-
marks of MIR. OGLE incidental 10 the
main debate, taking occasion, in the
course of his reply, TO state certain par
ticularG in which his remarks on a former
day had been misstated, probably be-
cause misunderstood, by the Reporter for
the Globe newspaper. After disposng
ofthis preliminary matter, Mr.. L. pro-
Oeeded 10 the main subject before the
Committee of the Whole, upon which he
spoke as follows:
The member from Pennsylvania (said
Mr.. L1NCoLN) has insisted that the ten
dency Of my remarks was to justify the
purchase of extraYagant articles of furni-
ture for the Presidents house. repeat
that attempted no such justification, for
had neither seen many Of the excep-
tionable articles nor inquired into their
price. The argument, SO Gar aS it went,
was against that false standard of econo-
my which measures the value of a thing
by its cost, and decides upon its fitness
with no reference whatever to the place
or occasion for its use. The selection
of furniture for such an establishment is
matter Of taste, about which minds may
we'll differ; and | said that while some
would consider as most appropriate the
rich and snowy, others would prefer the
plain and simple in fashion, but that,
for mansion 20 spacious and so magni-
cent as that which the nation had provi-
ded for the residence OF the Chief Mag
istrate, the furniture, so far as had seen,
was neither too good nor too abundant.
In this, | am not aware that am alone
among the Wings, alth 1ugh may moi in
deed be so happy as to meet the approx.
ing voice Of all. But does such differ
ence imply derelicton of principle any
wheres The member suggests that my
manner of life and habits of thinking may
have given me taste for articles of ex-
travagance. What does he know Of my
habits of lifeG Sir, can tell him they
have been as honorabIy laborious, and as
plainly republican, at least as his own.
Be it from necessity or choice, am in no
wise ignorant of those duties and Offices
which become the humblest station. |
have been taught to toll as faithfully, and
to direct my thoughts as uprightly, 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 love of
truth shond at all times restrain.
Mr.. Chairman, it can only be necessa-
~ TO review the remarks Of the member
to show the absurdity Of their intended
application. While he condemns the ex-
travagance of the furniture, he is silent
in respect 10 the appropriations through
which it was procured. These dppropri-
atoms 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 building was erec-
ted, at the charge Of more than half
million Of dollars to the nation, and from
that time TO the present it has been oc
cupied in the manner in which It is now
used. Congress, through all this inter
1ening period, have voted the sums for
furnishing the house, as they had previ-
ously done for its construction, II it
were intended that the occupant should
himself provide the furniture, wherefore
these granlsG They commenced before
the house was first taken possession of
by the elder Adams, and the occasions
for further supplies have since been vol
unfairly anticipated upon every success
sion 70 the Presidency. Besides. the
spacious halls and lofty ceilings Of such