Jeffersonian Republican

JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN

From the Pennsylvania Inquirer.

A Republican President and his Palace Furniture.

We recently alluded to a speech delivered in Congress, by the Hon. Mr. Ogle, of Pennsylvania. It has since been published, and is likely to open the eyes of many unsuspecting citizens as to the real character of Martin Van Buren. It shows him up as an aristocrat of the highest pretensions, and with little sympathy either for Republican manners or American industry. This the more culpable, as Mr. Van Buren at the commencement of the campaign for the Presidency, set out with great professions as to simplicity, retrenchment, economy and reform. A large portion of the people were deceived by these professions, and supposed that by elevating Martin Van Buren to the Presidential chair, they would assist in reducing the expenses of Government, as well as engrafting upon our system, more republican and economical features in relation to the mode of living at Washington. There, at least, it is thought and justly, that something of the old revolutionary spirit should be preserved—that the Chief Magistrate of the Nation should afford a bright and shining example to the people,—and by the encouragement of home industry, native genius and national resources—tend to diffuse a truly American spirit, and thus assist in the preservation of this great Republican fabric. How miserably they have been disappointed, Mr. Ogle has fully shown in his masterly and fearless speech. He has torn the veil from the features of Martin Van Buren, and shown him up as an aristocrat in the fullest sense of the term.

The spirit of democracy has been grossly outraged, while economy, retrenchment, and every similar principle professed, before the election, because calculated to gain the sympathies and the votes of the credulous, have been laughed to scorn by the principal inmates of the 'Palace.' The 'White House' has been made to resemble the gewgaw establishments of the Old World. Extravagant and superfluous trifles have been introduced into it, and at a moment too, when the wildest Loco Foco doctrines were disseminated through the columns of the official. No wonder that the log cabin system has been denounced and ridiculed by these imitators of foreign manners and customs—by these Republicans in theory, but Monarchists in practice. No wonder that, detected in their deceptions on the people, they should become querulous, and assail those who fought the country's battles in her hour of greatest need, as cowardly and vile. No wonder, indeed, that the individuals who have squandered millions upon millions of the people's money—who have been fattening for years upon the treasury, cling with such desperate tenacity to places of power and profit. But let us look into a few of the facts grouped together by Mr. Ogle. They will serve as a sort of mirror to reflect the principles of Van Burenism, to show how basely the professions of the President before he was elected, have been violated by his subsequent conduct. Mr. Ogle opposed an appropriation for alterations and repairs of the President's house and furniture. He said that the President received $100,000 for a single term of four years; and that the people were not disposed in addition to this, to maintain for his private accommodation, a royal establishment at the cost of the nation. He alluded to the gold and silver spoons and knives and forks made use of by the President, and then noticed a splendid set of French China for dinner service, all made to order in France, and imported at an expense of $1000. He proceeded:

The next piece of democratic 'furniture' on the President's table to which I would invite your very particular attention is the 'Sur-tout,' or bronze gilded Plateau, a large ornamented or picture tray, which stands on the centre of the table. The Plateau, with the richly gilded baskets, tripods, and Etruscan vases which accompany it, cost in Paris 6,000 francs, or $1,125, and is the only piece of table 'furniture' which has not been purchased since the democratic days of retrenchment and reform. Some four or five months after Mr. Van Buren took possession of the palace, he paid $75 of the people's cash to Mr. Zachariah Nicholas for dressing up the Plateau, and now it looks quite new. It is composed of seven parts, measures thirteen feet six inches in length, and two feet in width, and is ornamented with mirrors. It is handsomely chased and gilded, with wreaths of fruits and vines; also with figures representing Bacchus and the Bacchantes, and pedestals upon which there are sixteen figures holding crowns to receive the lights, and sixteen cups to change them at pleasure. Accompanying the Plateau are two Etruscan Vases, gilded and garnished with flowers; also, two richly gilded tripods, copied from antique patterns; also three baskets, richly gilded, each with three figures upon a round stand, embellished with ivy and lyre-formed leaves, for six lights each, ornamented with flowers.

It does appear to me, sir, that the Plateau with its fine mirrors, in which the honest hard-handed Loco Foco democrats can look at themselves, almost every moment, during the formal progress of a court banquet, would be regarded even by a bank Whig as a pretty formidable article of dinner furniture.

Having disposed of the pictured tray, Mr. Chairman, I will direct your attention for a few minutes to the magnificent set of Table Glass, contained in three separate bills. The first bill is for Champagne Glasses, Clarets, Goblets, Cordials, Water Bottles, &c., bought from Messrs. Lewis Veron & Co. for nine hundred and twenty-four dollars. The second bill is for richest cut Tumblers, cut Centre Bowls and Stands, cut Floating Island Dishes, cut Pitchers, &c., purchased from Blackwell & Co., for fourteen hundred and fifty-one dollars and

Bought of James P. Drummond, No. 74 Maiden Lane, between William and Nassau streets. Importer of and dealer in China, Glass and Earthenware, wholesale and retail—

6 quart and 12 pint all flute Decanters, cone stoppers, barrel shape, $20 $84 00
6 dozen Claret Wines, cut pillar stem, $7 22 00
6 do GREEN FINGER CUPS. $3 22 00
6 do CUT WINE COOLERS, $9, 54 00
6 do cut champs, $9 18 00
18 pint Water Bottles, flint and flint 20 06
2 Casks, 75
240 75
Bottles returned, 20 00
Duplicate, $220 75
Received payment, JAS. P. DRUMMOND."

Mr. Chairman, these three bills for table glass make together, the clever sum of $2,596 50— an account, I should suppose, sufficiently large to purchase the most democratic set of table glass in America. What, sir, will the honest Locofocos say to Mr. Van Buren for spending the people's cash in Foreign Fanny Kemble Green finger cups, in which to wash his pretty tapering, soft, white, lily fingers after dining on fricandeau de veau and omelette souffle? How will the friends of temperance the real teetotallers—relish the foreign "cut wine coolers," and the "barrel shape, flute Decanters with cone stoppers?"

I will now, sir, present you with a receipt for another ornament found on Mr. Van Buren's dinner table, that tells very much, sir, in regard to the true character of his democracy.

"Received, Baltimore, 14th November 1847, of T. L. Smith, Esq. one hundred dollars, in full for a set of ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS FOR THE PRESIDENT'S TABLE.

$100 dollars.
JOHN THOMAS."

I am willing to concede that the expenditure of $100 is, in itself, a very small matter. The question, however, is not how much cash was paid by Mr. Van Buren for the bunch of artificial flowers which decorates his table, but whether the People's money shall be expended or such aristocratic French finery? and whether Mr. Van Buren, who has been raised to the most exalted station on the earth, and whose example upon society must necessarily have a most powerful and extensive influence, shall by the introduction of foreign gew-gaws into the house of the American People, contribute to corrupt the plain, unostentatious, and Republican manners of our people, by creating vain desires for external show and for foolish displays of splendor, which are not congenial with our frugal habits? The influence of this example has already had a most injurious tendency within the District of Columbia, where many men are now found vying with each other to make a splendid appearance, even above their rank and means of support. I will give you an instance or two, Mr. F. P. Blair, the humble editor of Martin Van Buren's 'official organ,' came to this city some ten years ago a plain, simple republican in his manners and style of living, having been brought up and educated with all the domestic and economical maxims of the hardy and frugal Western country. For some years after his arrival, he was content to dwell in a comfortable house of fifteen feet front, furnished in a plain, substantial way: but, behold the charm of Executive manners! How altered the man. He now aims at rivalling all the Foreign Ministers and Heads of the great Departments of the Government in the splendor of his spacious mansion, in the profusion of his table, and in every indulgence which an empty vanity can covet. He, too, gives brilliant entertainments to the members of Congress and great officers of state, in imitation of the sumptuous Court banquets at the palace.

On these occasions, as I have been credibly informed, for the purpose of producing a more dazzling effect on the vision of his Locofoco brethren, he actually hires rich chandeliers and other showy ornaments at a charge of ten per cent on the prime cost, at a splendid china, plate, and glass fancy store on Pennsylvania avenue.

These are only a few of the items noticed by Mr. Ogle. The entire catalogue is too long for our columns. But we cannot omit the following extract, in which allusion is made to the "BLUE ELLIPTICAL SALOON," known in former times as the "GREEN CIRCULAR PARLOUR."

"This apartment," said Mr. Ogle, "is nearly oval in form, and is forty feet long, by thirty wide. In its beautiful shape, rich French furniture, showy drapery, costly gilded ornaments and general arrangements, the 'Blue Elliptical Saloon,' has frequently been pronounced, in the judgment of the best connoisseurs, the choicest room of the palace. It is believed to have been prepared and furnished very much after the style of the most brilliant drawing rooms at the Tuilleries, Fontainbleau, Versailles and St. Cloud. To give you, sir, a proper idea of the 'real magnificence' of this saloon at this day, I will first enumerate some of the articles with which it had been furnished before Mr. Van Buren became its occupant and shall then show that he expended, in 'improving' the furniture of that room, during the first ten months of his Presidency, the sum of $1,805 55 of the People's cash, Sir, not of his own. 'The Blue Elliptical Saloon,' among other furniture, had the following:

1 superb, French Gilt mantle time-piece, representing Minerva leaning on her buckler, on the face of which the clock is placed; the whole standing on a square bronze pedestal, adorned on three sides with military trophies in bas relief. The entire work is bronzed, chastely carved and richly gilded.

2 large GILT FRAMED MIRRORS.
3 SPLENDID GILT EAGLE CORNICES
1 large glass and Gilt chandelier of thirty lights ornamented with female figures and a bust of Diana. The branches being embellished with the head of Minerva.
1 pair elegant bronze and heavy gilt mantle branches, garnished with ivy and leaves and female figures carrying trumpets.
4 BRONZE and GILT CANDELABRAS, Supported by a figure standing on a round pedestal and bearing a round pedestal with five lights
1 pair of bronze and gilt andirons, with eagles in antique colors.
1 set of Porcelain vases, decorated with the rich landscape of Passy, embracing the mansion of Doctor Franklin, when he lived in France.
1 bust of Washington.
1 GILT CONSUL TABLE, with marble top.
3 sets of DOUBLE SILK window curtains,
24 GILT and SATIN CHAIRS.
4 Do do SETTEES, for recesses.
2 Do do SOFAS and PILLOWS.
2 Do do FIRE SCREENS.
1 large elliptical French carpet.

This carpet was very elegant, and cost 9,059 francs. It was of the most brilliant and dazzling colors; had a splendid embroidered work in the centre, representing a Bald Eagle, 'large as life,' with a scroll in his beak, inscribed with 'E Pluribus Unum,' and with the usual accompaniment of arrows in his talons; while the flag of America, emblazoned by the stars and stripes, waved over his head.

I said sir that Mr. Van Buren had expended $1,805 55, within ten months after he had gone into possession, in making improvements in the 'Blue Elliptical Saloon.' I prove this expenditure by an original voucher, which I hold in my hand, dated December 12, 1837, containing the bill and receipt of Messrs. Patton & Co., New York, for materials &c. furnished to improve the President's House. The entire bill, as receipted, is $4,316 18: of that amount $1,805 55 was for articles &c. for this room, viz:

Here, then we have a specimen of Van Buren Democracy, Retrenchment, Economy, and Reform. A greater outrage was never perpetrated upon the American people. We shall advert to this speech again."

“3 windows,” (curtains)	$1,307 50
SATIN MEDALLION,	176 37
Silk cord,	24 66
Plain satin,	38 12
Galloon,	74 50
SILK TASSALS,	42 00
Gimp,	54 65
Repairing and covering 14 chairs,	24 00
Do