The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-03-03
CONGRESS-.
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TuRsnAY, Fob Is HOUSE. The Dill to 70.
plenish aud repair the Presidents House taken
up The first seclioa appropriates 1000, in ad-
dinn tho proceeds OF the snla Of old futni1re for
furnishing the Presidents mansion The second
section app opriaie cS, 900 To he expended in fitting
up the grounds, and fnr repairs
Mr. Burt moved to amend the Bill by striking
eco, 900, and inserting s / 600.
Mr. 'Ieoley, Cornl of Indiana, supported tho n
mendncut, aud said that ten thousand dollars was
NOR" thrn enough. Too much monny had. in former
times, heen avi-hed the Presidents house. A
great amount Of the peoples money has thus been
sQGandered. lie wanted 20 avoid the camor that
generally heard in the elections against these
eNtravagant expenditures Many Of the charges that
had h'an made, Of gross extravaganza in furnishing
the Presidents house, were true. The story which
had circulated so generally in relation to the "golk
spoons, had some truth in i,
MIR &. W. Jones opposed the appropriation in tho
Bill He referred 10 the various that had been
from time to time expended Tor his Obi 'ct and con-
tended that great extravaganza had been INDUCED in
lie said that, for number Of years past, too much
money bad been laid out in the manner now propos-
ed, and the charges that had been made before the
country were. Ia great extent, true.
Mr nilirghnm, Of Vermont, advocated Liberal
appropriation. This the property Of the nation.
The Presidential mansion belonged to the country
and should be kept in condition to make il com
Portable to the inhahiiant Of it, and those who enjoy
ed the hospitality dispensed there The people them
selves enjoyed the benefits Of the expenditure Of this
money as much MS the President. They visited there
anj were entertained: and il much Ia pro-
mote their convenience that Of any body else
that this money was TO be expended. II was due to
the nation, 10 our character liberal, enlightened
and lourshng people THAI the Chief Magistrate should
occupy residence that was respectable and comfort
able.
Mr. Douglas (loco) spoke in favor Of the appropr-
alton. lie said that the Presidents house was not
in decent condition, The Chairs were rcket-
ty, ana there danger in setting down upon them
The carpets were in holes: &, in walking over them
had always be on his guard for fear he should
trip himself and fail. No private gentleman in the
city had as inferior furniture the President. lie
opposed to the hue and cry about extravapance
when it proposed TO make as necessary cxpen-
d;ures those lie had sld he would agree to ex-
pend 100000, If Nr Clay had been elected, and he
felt little more inclined to grant that sum, as his
ravorite candidate was to be the occupant of the
White House.
The Committee rose and the whole bill was re-
jected on its passage 62 against 10.
SENATE. Memorials on the subject of Texas
and Post Office reform. were presented by several
Senators.
Mr. Archer presented memorial, signed by 1000
citizens Of st. Louis Mo, asking a clmnge in the
Naturalization Laws. He hoped that when the peo-
pie came forward in these imposing numbers, their
voice would be regarded-if not heard, they
would make it heard, hereafter
Mr. Allen asked what the intention Of the Ju-
dietary Committee, in regard TO the bill they had re-
ported! and, also, he wished to DO informed some
thing ahout the commissions, of which he OCCASION
ally saw notices in the papers-what they do
ing, and under what authority did they act?
MIR Berrien stated, what he thought every Senator
knew, that the Committee on the Judiciary in add-
ton to the power to send for persons and papers,
were mpowered to issue commissions of inuuirv -
They had issued such in New York, Phadephin,
Baltimore and New Orleans. The two former, he
believed, had been cIosed-and ne expected that from
Baltimore would be returned, executed, this week
The subject would be laid before the Senate for their