The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19

GENERAL PIERCE AND THE WHITE HoUsE.-It
is usual. on the Inauguration Of new Presi-
dent, or shortly thereafter to sell off all the old
carpets and second hand furniture of the White
House at auction. and to equip the establish
ment with something of the appearance of q
change Of its inside dressing. This is right; but
the paltry appropriations heretofore allowed
for this object, of five or six thousand dollars,
have been wholly inadequate, whether regard
ed in the light Of public liberality or in the
true spirit Of public economy. And, now, with
some sixteen millions surplus in the treasury
with the country overlooking with prosperity
and with the gold mines of California apparent
ly as inexhaustible as the coal mines of Penn
sylvania. it is high time that the official resi-
dence of the chief magistrate of this mighty ma
ton should be put into genteel state Of repair.
and with some little outlay in the way oftaste-
full embellishments and attractive decorations
The exterior Of the White House at present,
is, perhaps, well enough; but in the interior it
is a poverty-stricken. cold, cheerless concern,
very little better than windy old barn. But
Benton's letter on the extravagances ofthc East
Room. during the administration Of John Quin-
cy Adams, and Ogle's speech on the Brussels
carpets and gold spoons of Martin Van Buren,.
in 1910, have had their effect upon the fearful
time-serving demagogues Of Congress; and the
consequence has been that the appropriations
to the White House have been limited to the
most niggardly allowances. Two or three look
ing glasses, half dozen common vases of ar
tifcial flowers on the mante pieces. and
couple of handicapped tables, and sofa or
two. constitute the furniture Of the East Room
the only decent public room in the establishment
In the contiguous little rooms there are some
second hand chairs and sofas, stray pic
ture or bust, here and there-a present from
somebody-and these make up about oil OF the
establishment that is open to the public Al
most any stranger, especially from Europe,
would expect to find at least an apology for
picture gallery in the Executive mansion But
there is no such thing. There is not even
room with q list Of the portraits of the several
Presidents that have lived in it-as there shouId
he, every man Of them, full length and large az
life. with his family around him. How inter-
esting would such collection be. And i
there no man in the Senate or in the House bold
enough and public-spirited enough to make
movement in this direction. Public economy is
one thing but beggarly barbarism is another.
The poverty and meanness of the interior of the
Presidents house arc disgrace to the country,
and every good citizen should render helping
hand to improve it; and the cowardly fear
which too many members of Congress have of
being hauled over the Goals by their consttu-
ents should be frightened out Of them by their
constituents.
Mr. Fillmore has been compelled. for the last
two or three summers. from the uninhabitable
condition and unhealthy location Of the White
House to abandon IL for more comfortable
quarters in the country or in Gcogetown and
wc do trust that from the simple considerations
Of public respect. and public deccncy, and pub
lie sentiment, the empty ragged cherries.
windy old barn, in which the President is com.
PEELED TO live most Of his time, will be PIT
into a condition somewhat consistent with the
responsibility Of his Office, to say nothing Of tho