The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-05-12
TuE GOLD sTORY-DECEPTION OF THE
ADMINISTRATION
Correspondence Of The Boston Atlas.
Washington, May 2


gold plate into the Presidential mansion; and he IL
1auded as the most domocraic of all our CHIEF mag
lstrates He is the first President mat ever Prov
ded n British coach for the royal use; and nc Is
the first il is believed, that ever h|ed the Whlte
House with French furniture, or loaded his dinner
table with foreign trinkets and gewgaws at the
public expense. NJ,
coaoh and the French furniture and the gold spoons,
and the ma gnifcent European table ornaments, IN
my former letters; and perceive, by paragraph
in the Bostun Morning Post, that the truth OF my
statements is denied, the authority of Gov. Lin
coin, OF Massachusetts, member OF the COMMITTEE
on Public Buildings, in the present Congress. Now
| will pledge my personal reputation upon the liter
al accuracy of every word that have ever wit
ten upon the subject; and l Will engage to
prove, by the positive assertions of credible wit
nesses, by facts and figures and items OF eXpendi-
ture given in the official reports OF the govern:
ment, the entire truth of the gold spoon story. l
wrote an account of this eXtravagant hhery IN the
White House before the subject had been men ton
ed upon the floor Of Congress. obtained my iacts
from members who dined with the President, ac-
cording to the custom, IN the early part OF me ses-
sion. The Language which used is rs follows
Mr. Van Buren, is evidentlya vain man, and his
vanity lies within narrow circle. lie IS iona OF
pomp and show, and the lrnppInSs OF power as an
his actions declare He dresses in the height ct
fashion, and his equlpngei is the most magnificent
that dashes through the avenues ofthis magnificent
city. His public dinner parties are also splendid
beyond description. Inc tao'e is r'ckeu out win
ali the ornaments that the richest jcweller can pro-
duce. The center is Furnished with pyramid OF
fantastic fnery, and complete SET y GOLD Plate
HAS RECENTLY BEEN ADDED to the furniture o. me
White House, to dazzle the eyes OF visitors: 1htS
serpice comprises kniues, forks, md SPOONS or
GOLD-dishes Of gOLd, and arms Of gotd, Mr. Van
Buren, is as gay and polite as a French dancing
master; and no receives every man. WIN thae ever
lasting hypoctitcal smile, which marks the man for
a knave 1t is said that the Magician cannot look
an honest directly in the face, for single
moment; his eye roves and dances ike inc eye OF
a basilisk.
This language was employed TO Illustrate the
character Of Mr. Van Buren,. The members from
whom | obtained the account OF the dinner table
and the gold plate, the Hon. L. Z. Chitten-
den of New York and the Hon.L. w. Andrews, of
Kentucky, who examined the spoons, knives and
forks with particular They still believe these
articles to be gold. The dishes, urns, and other
parts of the dinner service executed in style
TO correspond with the spoons, and 1t not solid
gold, are made to dazzle and deceive. Mr. An
drews took inventory of the gold plate, aud a
sketch of the foreign ornaments on the table winch
it was said he intended 10 have painted by liiho-
grapher. The "pyramid of fantastic hnery' in
the center o the table is French ornament, and
is called Plateau. 1t was purchased in France, at
an expense of $4,000 of the peoples money. No
other President had sach an article in the
White House 1t consists of an immense gilded
tray, or platter, containing pyramid OF golden
fIlagree work, on the summit of which there are
several golden Cupds, sustaining golden candle
sticks. The table is also ornamented with other
fnerv Of the same desert plIon, and with vases OF
artificial flowers one bunch uf which, as l snail
show presently, cost the sum ofone hundred dollars
The ceremonies of these democratic dinner parties
are conducted on the most courily system Every
thing is forced formal, and far removed from that
republican simplicity which should distinguish the
residence of republican President. Vlsiters are
at first shown into an antoroom, whore they are
prepared 10 appear in the august presence of the
Chief Magistrate. They then ushcred into
the reception room, announced, and introduced TO
his Majesty. Nearly an hour IS then spent lnsol.
emn and oppressive silence. confidential friend
two obtain seat near the throne, and occupy
the ear OF the President until the dinner hour ar
rives. Similar Formally is observed IN passing
from the reception room to the dining hall and the
guests finally find themselves seated at the Presi
dents table The brliancy of the candeliers--
the gIittering Of the foreign gew gaws-the multi
tude of strange dishes, and the coored glasses ut
terly confound and bowilder all PLAN, honest re-
publcans-and it IS long time before they begin
ments. A number of Dutch and French dishes
are then brought in, and the guest is supplied with
u dozen different specimens of outlandsh cookery,
not of which is agreeable to his taste, and tho
plates are often changed before he can tell wheth
er ii is agreeable or not. Thus he goes through
with dinner, tasting of every thing and eating moth
ing-lnconvenient, uncomfortable and unsatsfed
I'm the midst of luXurIes he find nothing to suit
his taste, and he ghs for the solid comforts of Log
Cabin fare. flo fluids his plate surrounded with
wine glasses of various sorts and sizes-wne bot
ties, and inc cooers-but nothing equal to the
good old beverage, hard cider. He washes his fin.
gers in Fanny Kemble glasses and wipes them on
a damask napkin; and after exchanging parting
sautaton with his Democratic Majesty, he bids
farewell to the folly and extravaganza ofthe White
House, and thanks his fortune when he finds him
selfonce more breathing the pure AR of heaven.
Mr. Charles Oge, OF Pennsylvania, original
Jackson man, and at present member of the
Wing party in Congress, dined with the President
not long since, and was forclbIy, struck with the
air of extravaganza which pervaded the Presiden-
were urged against John Quincy Adams. when he
occupied that house, he was led to examine this
subject, and gave the result of his inquiries i'll n
speech which he delivered about two weeks since. !
The facts which he presented, showed that Mr.. |
Van Buren, had exceeded all former incumbents of
the White House in his expenditures, and in his
aping of foreign courts and foreign manners. Mr..
Lincoln, Of Massachusetts, replied to Mr.. Ogle, and
denied some of the charges which had been made
against the President. report of Mr. Lincoln s
remarks appeared in the Globe, and they have |
been quoted in the Locofoco journals, as a contra
d,Etion OF the gold spoon story, by member ofthe
wing party Mr. Lincoln said, amorg other things,
That If there any thing urnnn in ra liz, a.. ~