The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-08-27

| duplicate,
Received payment.
f JAS. P. DRUMMOND." =.
Mr. Chairman, these three bills for table
glass make, together, the clever sum of 50, 596
59--an amount, l should suppose. sufficiently
large to purchase the most democratic set of
table glass in America What, sir, will the
honest locofoco say to Mr. Van Buren, for spend
ing the Peoples cash in FOREIGN FANNY KEmBLE
GREEN FINGER CUPS, in which to wash his pretty
tapering, soft, white. lily fingers, after dining
on frcandeau de veau and olnelette soutfie?
How will the friends Of temperance--the real
tetotallers--rclish the foreign 'cUr WINE COOL
ERs' and the sBARREL-sHAPE FLUTE DEcANrERs
WITH CONE sToPrERs?' .s. .......... --.
! will now sir, present you with receipt for
another ornament found on Mr. Van Buren's
dinner table, that tells much, very much, sir,
nregard to the true character of his democracy:
Received Baltimore, 14th November, 1887,
of L. l.. Smith, Esq one hundred dollars, in full
for set of artificial Flo,Oers for the Presi-
dents Table,
"'lou dollars. JOHN THOMAS"
am willing to concede that the expenditure
of 500 is, in itself, a very small matter. The
question, however, is now h0,D much cash was
paid by Mr. Van Buren, fer the bunch OF, ART1-
FIcIAL FLOWERS which decorates his table, but
for such aristocratic French fnery? and wheth-
or Mr. Van Buren,, who has been raised to the
most exalted station on the earth, and whose
example upon society must necessarily have
most powerful and extensive influence, shall,
| by the introduction of foreign gew. gaws into
the house Of the American People, contribute
to corrupt the plain, unostentatious, and re-
publican manners of our people, by creating
vain desires for external show and for foolish
displays of splendor, which are not congenial
with our frugal habts2 The influence Of this
example has already had most injurious ten
deDcy within the District OF Columbia, where
many men are now found vying with each
other to make a splendid appearance, even
| above their rank and means of support. will
give you an instance or two. Mr. F. P. Blair,
the humble editor Of Martin Van Buren's Off
cial organ, came to this city some ten years
ago plain, simple republican in his manners
and style Of living, having been brought up
and educated with all the domestic and econom-
cal maxims Of the hardy and frugal western
country. For some years after his arrival, he
was content to dwell in comfortable house OF
| fifteen feet front, furnished in a plain substan-
| tial way; but behold the charm of executive
manners How altered the man! He now
aims at rivailing all the foreign ministers and
heads Of the great departments Of the govern
mentin the splendor Of his spacious mansion,
in the profusion of his table, and in every in-s
diligence which an empty vanity can covet-
He, too, gives brilliant entertainments to the
members Of Congress and great officers Of state,
in imitation of the sumptuous court banquets
at the palace. On these occasions, as l bave
been credibly informed, for the purpose of pro-
ducing more dazzling effect on the vision Of
his locoloco brethren, he actually hires rich
chandeliers and other snowy democratic 'orna-
ments at a charge of ten per cent. on the prime
cost at splendid china, plate, and glass fancy
store on Pennsylvania avenue. But do not
feel disposed to interfere with or modest the
editor Of the Globe in his enjoyment Of noble
mansions, luxurious banquets, borrowed lights,
and every other external advantage which
|causes little man to swell into fancied impor-
|tancc,' inasmuch as he enjoys all those advan-