Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1845-02-27
Correspondence 81 the At!ss
Washington, Tuesday, Feb. IL

Pratt. Of New York, moved that the
rule H. suspended, Tor the purpose OF
gong into Committee Of the Whole.
He gave notice that, # the motion
carried, he would move TO take up the
bill for furnishing and repairing the
Presidents House.
The motion vas adopted and Mr.
Saunders took the chair.
Mr. Pratt moved Ia take up the Bill
Indicated by hun.
Mr. Hardin urged action on the Post
age bill
The former bill was taken up. The
first section appropriated s2O,UDO, IN
addition 10 the proceeds of the sale Of
old furniture, Tor furnishing the Pres
idcnt mansion. The second section
appropratcs SIS 600 To he expended IN
fitting up the grounds, ard for repairs.
Nj Burt moved To- amend the Bill
by striking out S2O, 900, aud inserting
Slu,ON.
Mr. Henley, of Indiana supported the
amendment, and said that ten thousand
dollars was more than enough. Too
much money. had IN former times been
lavlshed on the Presidents house. A
great amount Of the peoples money had
been squnndcrcd. He wanted to avoid
the clamor that was generally heard in
the election, ngains, the extfavhgan,
expenditures, Many OF the charges
that had been made, Of gross eXtrava-
gnnccs in furnishing the Presidents
house, wcro true. The story which
had circulated SO generally, IN relation
TO the gold spoons had some truth
IN II. He might be called u demagogue
for expressing these sentiments. He
he did not craze for such lmputatlons.
lie was IN favor reirenching useless ex-
pnccs. II tins constituted him a
dcmagoauc he, he was willing TO he call
ed SO. He alluded to the many pro-
osltions that had been preached TO re-
ducc the public expenditure. This
was well enough, MS far as il went
but, most unfortunately, when the
time to act arrived, gentlemen were
not true 10 their professions. The pub
lic voice demanded economy and, If
members will not obey II, they would
have heavy reckoning to make with
their constituents.
Mr.. q. W. Jones opposed the appro-
pr,atlon IN the Bill. He referred to
the various sums that had been, from
tune TO time, expended Tor this object,
and commended that great extravaganza
had been INDUCED in He thought
that the President ought TO furnish the
house himself, out of his salary. He
sad that his pay was most cXorbitant;
and he could affords to apply MS much
of It as was necessary 10 keep his resi-
dcnce in repair, IN that way. He said
that Tor number OF wears past, too
much money had been been laid out
in tho manner now proposed, and
the charges that had been made before
the country were to great extent true.
He then spoke, generally, in favor of n
reduction of the public expenccs.
Mr., Dillingham;, Of Vermont, ndvo-
Gated liberal appropriation This was
the property of the nat,n. The Pres
dental mansion belonged TO the coun-
Try, and should be kept in condition
tn make II comfortable TO the inhabit-
ant of It, and those who enjoyed the
hospitality dispensed there. The PEG
pic themselves enjoyed the benefits Of
the expenditure Of this money as much
,AcPrcsident. They visited there, and
were entertained; and it was as much
to promote their own convenience as
that Of any body else, that this money
was TO b. expended. Ii was due TO
the nation, TO our character as a liberal,
enlightened tlourishing people, that the
Chief Magistrate should occupy resi-
dence that was respectable and COM
Portable.
Mr.. Holmes offered an amendment
providing that the Presidents house
shall be used as one Of the depart
ments, and that private house shall
he rented for the use of the President,
so that we may return TO republican
simplicity, Not acted on.
Mr. Douglass spoke IN favor Of the
appropriation. He said the Presidents
house was not even in decent cond,
ton. The chars Were rckettv. and
there was danger IN setting down in
them. Fhc carpets were in holes
and IN walking over them, one had al.
ways To be on his guard for fear he
should trip himself and fall. No pri-
waite gentleman in the city had as infc-
nor furniture as the President. He
was opposed 10 the hue and cry abont
extravaganza, when II was proposed to
makeas necessary expenditures as these
lie had said he would agree 10 expend
| so, If Mr.. Clay had been elected