Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-08-07
simple in f,shion; bnt that, for a mansion so spacions and

simple IN fashion; but that, for a manson so spacin'ls ana
~ magnificent rs that wheel, the nation had provided 10,
the residence Of the Chief Magistrate, tie furniture, $
ar rs had seen, was neither tnn good nor 10" aoundani
In this, am not aware that am alone among the Wings
although may not indeed be so happy as To inrelth,
approving VOICE &c all. But does such a difference M
ply drrriicil"n of principle any where: Inc miemhe'
suggests that my manner Of life and habit at thinking
may have given me a taste for articles of ex'ravaganc,
What does he know of my habits OF HE! sir, ! ca
tell HIM they have been rs hon"rably labor'ous, and a
'lainly republican,, AT least, "a his own. Ben from NJ
crssily nr chnicr, | am III no wise ignorant OF th"S'
duties and offices which hrcnmr the hnnblrsi station
have been taught 10 torl a. faithfully, aud {" direct m
thoughts as upr chilly, a the least proud one here
One lesson more have ! learned, that, in reference
he c"ndnct of others, The tongue is an unfnly organ
which an evil spirit may indulge, hut winch cando
and n love at truth should al all times RESTRAIN.
MIR. Chairman, IT can only be- necessary To review III
r,r,,arks Of the member to show the aDsnrd'ty "t thea
intended application. While he condemns the eXtrava
sanc" Of the furniture, he is silent IN respect I" the AZ
hr"prrltinns through which il was procured. IacSe"p
prOVri1ii0nS ARE Tie arants IF i~reiSi0tiOn by Mc R,pu
~sr"tah'rcs RI mr. pnnpie. Whose vas the work % con
-truciing the costly mansion, and 10 what end was
reared: More than f,rty year, have now elapsed sine,
III" building was erected, nj the charge of ,nure thai
half n million of dollars TO the nation, and FROM tia.
time To the present It has been occupied III thu manner
u which It is now used. Congress, through all thu
intervening period, have voted the sums Tor furnish
ng the house, as they had previously done for lis con
Siruction. FIT were intended that the occupant should
himself provide the furniture, wherefore these grants
They courmrucrd before the house was taken POSSESSION
Of by the elder Adams, and the occasion for further
supplies have SINCE been voluntarily antIci patrd upon
every succession To the Presidency. Besides, the spa
cinus halls and lofty ceilings Of such n mansion rrquir,
much which would be suited to no other residence =
The rcasonahlrnrss of compelling a President elect 10
m ouilav exceeding his annual salary in the purchase
Of furniture for a house the occupancy Of which h.
has no. the election 10 refuse, and The tenancy of which
At the expiration "fevery four years, IS at the DISPOSE!
oftiir popular v"icc, with the certainty tihc sacrifice
upon The cost of the property in the attempt tr dispose
III il for any other place or use, cannot gravrly be con.
tended for. The credit of the country itself wnnld snf.
fer by such an arrangement; for either the officer, BY
the absorption of his salary IN the purchase of su table
and sufficient furniture for the house, would be deprived
If the appointed means for his proper support IN the Of
fee, or, by the neglect of such provision, would exhibit
10 the world, in his public station, the dscrcdItahlr
contrast of magnificent apartments mcanly destitute or
ScantIly furnished with whatever was appropriate L"
their occupation. lisa great mistake TO suppose that
these accommodations are tr the personal relief, or To
The private advantage Of the President. He is made by
them, and by the amplitude Of his salary, EN- phaticaIly
The hast of the nation lis guests are tn" guests of the
penplr. Til" Executive mansion is the place for their
reception. THIS house Of The propl" is the sitting p"-
sition in which, in the person Of Their Chef Magistrate,
they receive from the representatives. of other people
tn. homage due 10 the severe gnty of this great lt"puh.
lie. Here ambassadors and ministers, The accredited
messengers from the proudrst and most powerful,
the enlightened and most refined "f The Kingdoms Of
the earth, are received and entertained in the name of
the hospitality ofihe nation! And here, too, the cour-
rises Of official station are exchanged between the
high inuctionarics ofthe Government, and extended I"
all classes Of The citizens. The House, it is well knGwn,
is open Ia all, aud is dIly visited by many. Is It too
much, then, that the place and lis aprrndagcs are be-
you'd The requirements of private station: venture
The assertion, that so far as the personal interest ofthe
y rps l.ut * romeo ruru. n sDpak not of the present III
cnmhrni, but nf whoever has been or may be IN the OF
fee II would b. preferable, far preferable, 10 him Ia &c
rupy, athis own cost, n smaller and more humble dwell
ing, than To submit 10 the inconvcncncrs and heavy
rxactirns which his required residence IN the Exrcu-
tive mansion necessarily imposes. Sure | am That, IN
n rccmninry point of view, II would be much better for
any incumbent in the office 10 receive ten Thousand dol.
lars, and furnish his 0wn labItatIrn, than with twenty
five thousand Ia maintain the style OF living and public
which every President in succession has
deemed hat in conformity with the design, as well as
the lihrral,ty of present provisions.
But the member complains Of it rs 4 monstrous abuse,
that the President of the United States, in addition 10
his salary, and The use of a furnished house, should
have the grounds about the latter kept in order at The
public expense. He says the President ought to fur
nish his own house and employ his own gardener, as
his salary is amply sufficient. | have only 10 add In
what have before SAID on this suhjr Ct, that such
has not l"cn The Judgment or the pleasure of the
People. For f,riy years, their Representatives sit
lrng in these halls, without division in sentiment or
vote, have provided The house, supplied the iurni.
lure, directed the enclosure and Improvement If the
grounds, and required their occupation by the Chief
Magistrate. The salary may he sufficient for the officer.
On thus punt take no issue with the member. y"
may the PR d rm # cigh, dollars BE- ample c"rnprn.
sat,on for a Representa- vr in Congress. But dnrs
The srrupnl' u member himself rrr"'vc nothing m re-;
dennnd Of lrm I" say # eight dollars Il day is moi
abundant rrcnnpcnsr Tor the value of his lahnr> here :;
aud vet, does he keep his hands clean from all he per.
rri-;,rS rf ,Iorp > Has f. M f,nvprnnunt s,ut,r,rry
IN his ro"mi: NJ Congressional m'nknIfr of costly tx.
nj Inns very moment m MS pocket! Has hr
never "rdrrrd L" his l"dg ugs Inc hrautfnl ''rnil"s-rd
and lacr.rdard note paper and "inncy sealing wax
for the use Of any of his family, or received to hS own
use n disiribntivr share q! the ">pnls, : in costly rd'.
lions RI books pr nttd at The OK prnse ni ihr Treasury:
Sir, let ne mol be misunderstood. do not condemn
him in this, for the legislation Of he II use allows It
But say h. rccr'ves these things by n more qurstiot'n-
BILE authority tl.an does The President If The United
States The accommodations which are made thp bur
den Of his complaint When, therefore, thu mem.
her r"cs Ia his constituents and To mine with Tn"
objections iha, the Chief Magistrate Of the nation is
In his most courteous langnagc) ~robbing and cheat.
ing The people in rrcriving, under an appropriation at
Congress, The use Of a furnished house and The care Of
a garden, in addition to his salary, let him. al the sam"
time, honestly admit that to his own pay he adds, at III"
public charge, pcrquisitrs Of considerable value, aud
which u colleague nf his, Mr.. Prtrkin,l on another nc
casinn pronounced, although ] think by gross exaggr-
IiLlbH, 'tldl ~ ulii'ui " NV - "''' S'i az
sidrnt IS much rather In be- justified in the use OF the
furnished lodgings than the member in the enjoyment OF
his pcrGuisites: for the latter may he refused, while the
fnrmrr, consistently with the existing arrangements oi
the Government, cannot be declined.
! regret, MIR. Chairman, that it ~ necessary Tor me
to pursue this ungrateful subject further. | fear, IN
doing il, shall exhaust the patience ut the committee.
But the member caviIs with me for sustaining the APP
preparation for The salary of The gardiner at the Pr"si-
den 5 square. In my remarks, on a former day, TO
" lich he excerpts, SAID that this had been a usual ap
preparation for many years, and that ! saw no new rea-
son, al this time, for It's disconiinuance. have now IN
my hand n certificate from the Commissioners OF the
Publ Buildings, showing that the gardener, The very
same individual, with the same character ct service,
and at the same rate Of compensation, has been IN the
employ Of the Government for the continuous period OF
fifteen ;ears, having been first engaged IN ls2o. VIII
read The certificate here, as notice that shall oher y on
The trial Of the issue between the member and myself
before my constituents:
"OsrrcE or rur coMMis,IoSrR Of PcRltc BrILDiyG,.
at appears from the books of this office thu john
Ou<lry was appointed gardener atthc President : spar
n The Ist of August, lS25, nj n regular salary OF tour
hundred aud fifty dollars per annnm TOR his servic"s.-
He has received that salary quarterly, up to The 3lst
December, 1890, and is al this time the gardener at the
Presidents souorc "W. NOLAND."