Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-05-22

cTdtlC NdJeSty, He DIuS ldIcWeH W tne
folly and extravaganza of the White
House, and thanks his fortune when he
finds himself onco moro breathing the
pure air of heaven.
Mr.. Charles Ogle, of Pennsylvania, an
original Jackson man, and at present a
member of the Wing party in Congress,
dined with the President not long since,
and was forcibly struck with the air of
extravaganza which pervaded the Presi-
dental mansion; and knowing the argu-
ments which were urged against John
Quincy Adams, when he occupied that
house, he was led to examine this sub ject,
and gave the result of his inquiries in a
speech which he delivered about two
weeks since. The facts which he prescn-
ted, showed that Mr. Van Buren, had ex-
ceeded all former mcumbents of the
White House in his expenditures, and in
his aping of foreign courts and foreign
manners. Mr.. Lincoln, of Massachusetts
replied to Mr. Oglc, and denied some of
the charges which had been made against
the President. A report of Mr. Lin
coins remarks appeared in the Globe,
and they have been quoted in the Locofo-
co journals, as contradiction of the gold
spoon story, by member of the Wing
party. Mr. Lincoln said, among other
things, that if there was any thing wrong
in relation to the furniture at the White
House, the Committee on Public Build
ings and not the President, were to blame
for 1t. MIR. Ogle replied to Mr.. Lincoln's
remarks last evening, with great power.
He repeated the gold spoon story with
additional force, and gave some new items
ofextravagance, withthc substantial facts,
figures, and the recciptcd bills. Mr. Oglc,
at the outset, denied the right of Gov.
Lincoln to speak for the Wing party, as
he had professed to do, if he persisted in
maintaining that the items of expenditure
for the furniture of the White House, as
exhibited in the accounts, were all perfect
ly reasonable. The Wing party, he said,
were in favor of reform in these things,
and opposed to extravaganza. And when
a man found his speech reported at full
length in the Globe, and sent by thousands
over the country, he might be sure he did
not speak the sentiments of the wing par
ty, lie should be the last person, he be-
lieved, to object to any reasonable furni-
ture in the White House. He should not
object to any respectable furniture OF
American manufacture to American
mirrors and carpets; to busts of WASH
ington, and Franklin, and Columbus, OF
any other ornaments of that description
He consider,d them propcrand necessary
But he did object to the foreign trash COL
lected in that house; and he believed that
no man mould dare to 60 before his con-
stltucnts and justify such extravaganza as
was there manifested. lie found, among
other items, $1,000 charged for French
comfcrtables, and French chairs, and Of
ottomans, purchased during Mr.. Van
Buren's administration. Then there were
| some "tobarets," or tably-cats, he couldn',
tell understanding of foreign mann
tacture. Then there were Fanny Kemblo
linger-g lasses, in which to wash the deli.
cate fingers of this Democratic President
after dinner; and 500 for bunch O
artificial flowers, to place on the table
before him. He objected to buying these
articles, and many more of "a similar dos.
cription, with the peoples money; ant
he believed that every good Wing would
object to such expenditures.
1t had been said that it would let dowr
the Presidents dignity to mention these
things. Dignity forsouth! Instead O.
the dignity of virtue, of wisdom, of valol
you throw around the President the "trip.
perry of courtiers, and then call him die.
nifed. And what is dignity-true dlgni.
ty! There is the dignity of rank, and the
dignity of the mind. Now however higl
the rank, if the dignity of the mine be
wanting, there is no real dignity. If the
mind of MIR. Van Buren, be mean, you
may place him in the White House and
surround him with French furniture anC
foreign gew- gaws, but you cannot give
him true dignity. The circular room
MIR. Ogle said, was well furnished wher
MIR. Van Buren, took up his residence a
the White House but he had not beer
there more than eight months when, a,
appeared by the account, he laid out ONT
thonsand three hundred and seyen dollar.
to f1 three acindom curtains! Thewindow
curtains were good enough before, for any
republican in the land. These things hac
been denied in the official organ of the
Administration-the Globe-but he helc
the facts in his hands, and he should sent
them abroad to the people.
In August, 1887, six months after Mr.
Van Buren, took possession of the While
House, said Mr.. Ogle, we find the United
States charged with the sum oftwo thou
sand dollars for pOld leaf and oildino