Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-11-04
From the Cincinnati Chrsnicle.
REPUBLICAN ECONOMY,
ILLUSTRATED BY THE HOUSE
HOLD OF PRES. VAN BUREN,.

HOLD OF PRES. VAN BUkEN.
Tn our article headed Political Morals,
We alleged, as one Of the great vices Of
he national administration, that it preach.
d one thing and practised another, that,
n one word, hypocrisy was Its leading
Il depends for support upon
! succession of humbugs. One of the spe-
,ifcutions under this charge is, that II
charged extravaganza and proAigacy on
Ihe administration of John @. Adams,
whose total expenditure was thirteen mil
lions. and then expended more than Thir-
ty Millions for ITSELF Further, that while
simTl.city as u Republican
virtue, they praciised luxury lnhs extreme
forms, and initiated tie manners Of for
eign courts and princes. This charge IS
by autI entic documents.
" e have before US mot OIe's speech)
but an official Report of the Committee on
Exp, mixtures on Public Buildings Of which
Mr. John w. Allen, member of Congress
from the cayuga District. in this State.
was Chairman. The document is alto.
q, Their the most curious thing we have ev-
CIR seen in public h sorry. 1t goes into
minute dcta l. Of the various items OF OK
nerd lure in the purchase of furniture for
the Presidents House; and if It could be
sent 10 every farmer in the lard, would
convince them all that il is time we had
reiorn,-time we practsed more and
preached less-time, if ever, this republic
made a decision between the imitation OF
T. reign manners and habits, and the orac.
lice of those republican Virtues which dis.
lli6guished our iorefaihe rs.
It will be remembered by all, with what
horror the supporters of General Jackson
looked uroo the appropriation of SIX
| THO, SAND Dollars for Furniture IN
the then unfinished part of the PreSi-
dents House.
The Committee make the following
statement of appropriations for the Presi-
dents House during the administration OF
Presidents Jackson and Van lIurcn.
"The committee have examined the acts
of Congress passed .s'nce March, 1929
and herewith give an abstract;
Act Of March 3, 1929 for fur
rshing the Presidents House, un-
der the direction Of the PreSi1ert
of the United States. sI4OOO,Ot
Act Of March 2. 1891, "for
furniture and repairs of fnrni-
ture." 5000 OF
Act of March 8, 1888, "for
furnishing the Presidents house
10 be- expended under the drec-
ton of the President in addition
10 tie proceeds of such decayed
furniture as he may direct 10 be
soil, 10000 OF
Act of June 80, 1894, for
completing the furniture of the
Presidents House. 5000 O.
Act Of March 3, 1887, 6 for
furniture for the Presidents
4 House. 90 600
In addition TO all this, it up-
e pears that the nett proceeds of
D sales of old furniture from Dec.
d emher, 1888, to Dec, 1887,
am.un,e1ro $3.50 Q
1t appears, then, that more than sever
}. " thousand dollars, have been approprii
: ted bv these ECONOMICAL administrator
. for Furniture alone, Ofthis, twenty-fi'
: thousand was in the term of Mr.. Y. b
e reni
e The manner in which this has bee
e expended, would surprise any one wi
r. was not familiar with the history
: courts, and who did not know Il
: proneness Of human nature to self<
: indulgence.
p With wha. pretenee can we exho
b the people TO republican simplicity
J. manners and habits, when the practiC
le of the Chief Magistrate aud of the el
tire government is a standing examp
TO the contrary? The committee wi
e great propriety remark
II 1--WE have been recently told by OF
o in high authority, that, in order to avo
$ national debt, sererc economy IS Hcce
e sa1y; and also, "this is the surest pr
vision for the national welfare and
is at the same time, the best pre1erv
e tive of fhe principles on which o.
) institutions rest simplicity and econ
!, my in affairs of State have never faile
is to chasten and invigorate republic;
s principles, while these have been
surely subverted by national prodigali
under whatever specious pretexts
e may have been introduced and foste
:, ed" Further from the same source
y -"These considerations cannot |
lost upon people who have never bee
inattentive TO the effect of their polio
Z upon the institutions they have create
;; for themselves; but at the present me
Q ment their force is augmented by til
n necessity which decreasing revenu
must impose" Again :-"These al
circumstances that impose the necess
~ of a rigid economy, and require il
prompt and constant exercise. Wit
the Legislature rest the power and du
ty,of so adjusting the public expend
lures as to promote this end"
The committee fully concur in tn
above sentiments, and they only regrc
that practice has not accompanie
profession.
We are all prone to follow the eS
ample of those in high places, an
hence it seems to be imperatively th
duty of men occunvino them IN h