The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-08-14

SWtke Oub OJ tHC OeHeFHs .UPPtOpTIuT
t,on Bill d small item for alterations
and repairs Of the Prssidenfs house,
HOUSE, OF Rep, APRIL 16, 1910.
When Mr. Lincoln obtained the floor,
itlwas late in the evening, and perceive
ing that he was fatigued By the long sit-
Ting, il was proposed TO adjourn the de-
bate to the following day but Mr L. pre-
,fened eaJ ing at once what he had to
say. He began by replying to some res
marks Of Mr. Ogle Incidental 10 the
main debate, taking occasion, in the
course ofhis reply, to state certain par-
ticulars 10 which bis remarks on for.
mer day had been misstaied, probably
because misunderstood by the Globe
newspaper. Aller disposing of this pre- !
liminary matter, Mr. L, proceeded to the |
main subject before the Committee ofl
the Whole, upon which hespoke as fos-
lows:
The member from Pennsylvania
(said Mr. Lincoln has insisted that the
tendency Of my Eenarks was 10 justify
the purchase ofexirayagant articles Of
faruituref for the Presidents house. Ire-
peat that | attempted no such justifca,
tion, for had neither seen many Of the
exceptionable articles nor inquired into
their price. The argument, 90 far as il
went, wac against that false standard of
economy which measures the value Of a
thing by it's cost, and decides upon its
fitness with no reference whatever To-
the place or occasion for its use. The
selection offurnilure for sueh an estab-l
lishment is matter Of taste, about which
minds may we'll differ; aud said that
while some would consider as most ap-
propriale the rich and SNOWY, others
would prefer the plain and simple 10
fashion, but that, for mansion SO spa
clous aud so magnificent as that which
the nation had provided for the resi-
- dence of the Chief Magistrate, the fur-
! sni.ure, so far as ! had seen, was neither
too good nor too abURdant In this, i
am not aware that l am alone among
the Wings, although l may not indeed
he go happy as 10 meet the approving
voice fail. But does such difference
imply dcrilic,ion Of principle any
wherel The member suggests thai
my manner oflife and habits Of thinking
may have given me taste for articles
of extravaganza What does he know
of my habits ofllfe2 Sir, ! ca1 tell him
they have been as honorably 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 humbles
station. lhave been taught to toll al
faithfully, and to direct my thoughts al
uprightly, as the least proud one here
One lesson more have learned, that il
reference TO The con nducl Of others, th,
tongue is an unruly organ, which an 0.
vii epirit may indulge, but which cando
and love Of truth should at all time
restIain.
. Mr. Chairman, il can only be neces
sary 10 review the remarks ofthe mem
ber to show the absurdily of their inteu
ded application. While he condemn
the extravaganza Of the furniture, he
silent in respect to the appropriation
through which It was procured. ines
appropriations are the grants Of legisla
tion by the Representatives of the Peo
pie. Whose was the work Of cousruc
ting the costly mansion, and to what en-
was il reared : More than Forty yea,
have now elapsed since the building wa
erected, at the charge ofmore tnan ha
million Of dollars 10 the nation, 40
from that time to the present il has bee
occupied in the manner in which it ~
now used,. Congress, through all th
intervening period, have voted the sun
for furnishing the house, as they had pI
viously done for its construction. If
were intended that the occupant sbou
himself provide the furniture, wherefoI
these grants ? They commenced b
fore tie house was fret taken posses
ion ofby the elder Adams, and the o.
. casiJns for further supplies have sin,
been voluntarily anticipated upon eve
succession TO the Presidency. Besid
K the spacious halls and lofty ceilings
& Auch.a mansion require much viii
n would be suited to no other residenC
The reasonableness Of compelling
d President elect to an outlay exceedil
a hls annual salary in The purchase Of f.
q niture for house, the occupancy
y which he has not the election to refus
and the tenancy Of which, at the expiI
4 lion Of every four years. is at the di
posal Of the popular voice, with tho ce
Iain,y ofthe sacrifice upon the cost
4 the property in the attempts 10 dispose
it for any other place or use, eanr