The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-08-05
POLITICAL.
Lincoln Us. Ogle.
From the New York Evening Post

From the New York Evening Post.
We have a set Of journalists noted for their
arrstocratic tendencies, who are all at once snit-
ten with love Of democratic simplicity. They
complain tba; the Presidents hsuse is altogsih-
or too sumptuously furnished and accuse Mr..
Van Buren Of wasting the public money to a.
dsrn his dwelling place.
The plain truth Of the matter is. that Cou
gress have built great house for the occupa.
hon of who ever may be President of the United
States. Having done this, they have proceed
cd to furnish it in style corresponding TO the
magnificencc Of the building, and to lay out and
keep in order the grounds around il at the pub
lie expense. The furniture originally furnish
for the White House. as il is called having been
destroyed BY the British in the last war, during
Mr.. Madison's administration, new appropria-
tirns have been since made for the same pur-
pose,and the buildin. is not completely furnish
ed even yet.
ms may be extravagance for ought we know
for we do not profess to have st,died that part
ofthe question, but this at least is certain that
II is not the eXtravagancs of Mr.. Van Buren,
1t is the doin. Of Congress who have made III,
yearly appropriations with perfect unanmi,y
without even an objection interposed by sin
gle member. All at once Mr.. Osle. in the ses
sion of Congress which has Just closed. start
MP, obtains an inventory Of the furniture of tn
White House purchased under the apprepria
tions OF Congress, and charges all the ex,rsva
gsnce upon Mr.. Van Bnrsn.
We published the other day paragraph i
answer 10 Mr.. Ogle from a speech Of Mr.. Lin
coin, whig nember of the House of Repre-
sentatives and one Of the committee on Publ
Puildings within whose province it is to propos
appropriations for tho furniture Of the Presi
dents House. To avoid all cayil we cop
from whig print, the National Intelligencer
ssme farther passages from whig report o
Mr.. Lincoln's speech generating Mr.. Van Blu
rem wholly from all participation in the nxirav
gance, II extravaganza il can be, charge how
eyor to which he is no more liable than his pre-
deeessors. and indeed no moro liable than Uar
r'son will be, If he should be 50 lucky as to en-
ter the White House in the capacity Of Chic
Magistrate oflh Republic.
Mr.. Ogle in answer 10 those who argued tha
i was not MIR. Van Buren's fault if Congress buI
large house and furnished it expensvely, re.
marked that 1.-THE receiver is as bad as thu
thief" Tothis Mr.. Lincoln thus replies:
Who is the receiver and who is the thief
From the days of Washington. through long
succession Of illustrious men. every Preside n,
oflhe United States. including the elder Adams
Jefferson. Madison. Monroe. ]. @. Adams, Jack.
son. and the present incumbent. have received
'he benefit OF similar provision in their official
sstisn. The house, the furniture, the garden.
asa 'be cultivated grounds have been alike the
enjoyment of each, and at the public ch,ros.
~ may be Instructive TO this COMMITTEES 10 be i'm.
iormeu OF the grants ef Congres for some of
these osjee'y, during the several periods Of the
respective admin strations. have now before
me statement. collated from official docu.
ments Of appropriations for The purchase er fur.
niture for each Presidential term. after the rs.
movsl Of the Seat Of Government to tho FEEDER.
al city.
"Bys law ofths I'd Of March. I7e7 ius, pre.
vious to the commencement of the Admlnistra.
ros Of the elder Adams. Congress made the fol.
loving appropriation:
"Procssds Of sale Of old furniture. and so
much ia add; oc thereto az ,lIs Prssijsn- nav