Litchfield enquirer., 1830-05-20
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Safuvdav, May 8.


 DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
 s Safuyday, May 8. .s s4 s
 RULES OF THE SENATE.
 2ale 1st. The President shall take the Char eve " day at the time which the Senate shall have ad- ourned, and after prayers shall immediately cat 1he Senate to order, and # quorum be present. proceed
 MT. Haiey moved to amend the 1sf Rule by striking out the words aier prayers" and made the follow ing remaFigs gy
 1Mr President, the Senate has convened here for which our wifi have right to expect, and it is not my opinion necessary to take up the tune of the Senaie, in calling their attention to public prayer, and very much doubt the right Ut taking money from the treasury pay for services rendered in this way" MT. .vasdson said Mr. Presideat, The first Rule reported by the com mee for the government of the Senate, in the dts charge of its various dutcs among other things pro vdes that after prayers the President shall call the Senate to order" The honorable member from the 7th district has moved amend that rule hy eras ing therefrom the words afier prayers" To this amendment, however highly respect the opninn oi the honorable mover, my dissent must be gwen, oo'h these rues in behalf of the committees you will allow me- Mir. President, to suggest, not only the vews o the committee, but my own also. All will admit' 'ha'
 m every Snsas sas. raSk m s ceedrngs sn3nrf be s4r9Rfr tea5 hsSissnve Pr1, aid from that Almighty Poscer which sustains and in whose hand our life is. -e <
 To this custom, the committee have yielded their ready assent, presuning that the Senate would not give their approbaton to the report, had the comm tee been the first to depart from 1t. Another vous, and necessity can exist for repeating il to the Senate; we had supposed that it was impressed on every heart Eachindividual of the human family dependent as he e when advancing to the discharge of his o,ca Important concerns, should ask divine pro teciion, and more especially. when entrusted with framing laws for the welfare of community, the pre- servation of their rights and beres should he deem t duty as well as high privilege, to seek that aid. The honorable mover suggests as reason for the a. mendmen that the Senate have time teir oaun, to devote to any object but Legislation, their time belongs to their c0nsuents,' but surely, our con stuents will be the last complain while performing thei' service, fl we should presume to mplore the eficacions influence of that experimenting power upon our aboars, which governs and sustas them 's
 Mir. Pitkin sad thaithe committee in framing rules, which they had reported to the Senate, presumed, that prayers as usual would be attended every morn- that after prayers, inc President should call the Sem ate to order. The object of the mover of the amend ment now under consideration, is by striking out the words "aiter prayers" to dspense with them alto
 While an disposed, said Mir. P, to give credit to the honorable mover of this amendment, for his sn neri!y, cannot but express my extreme regret, that subscribe to the reason which he gave for the propos ed amendment. k9S s.A
 fl rightly understood him, his principal reason g, sent li money, in hearing public prayers; and tlatin attend ing to tho latter incur iheir displeasnre. am not sware, sir, that the good people Of ths State have ever complained of the practice of having public rrayers every morning. in each branch Of the Legsa- nre, practice as old as the government itself, and me, which has, also, prevailed in the Legsatnres of 'sery christian community with which have been
 But, #, in the now organization oi this body we houd, by continuing this privilege of our predeces- me must submit to incur tla, dspeasure. will not, however, Mr. President, do so much injustice to the eope of this State, as to suppose they will condemn practice, hitherto deemed sacred.
 will not believe, without further proof that they ave abandoned the idea, that, for their national, as ie as individual happiness they are dependant on | iyine aid. Nor will yet believe they do not enter re under religious obligations and have religious du- es to perform, and that there is an intimate eonnex- m between the performance of these datee and na- onal happiness and prosperity and that among shsse utes that of publicly asking for divine assistance, n la exerc,se Of the high and important functions en- usted to them, should not be cOnsderedthe least 10 should. sir unnecessarily consume the and important considerations which naturally arise. om the novel and unexpected motion now before US, nd which should govern in right decision of it. I g leave however, to call to the recollection of the onorabe member of the Seaaie, the opinion enter ined on this subject by one of the wisesi men ths any other country has produced. allude, sir, to eopinion of Dr. Franklin, expressed in the General oavention of l781. gr sSs,Y That enlightened body commenced iisd deliberations ithoat having public prayers. Serious differences on aroses as is vel known, among she members ot at body, which for time, threalened their sepnra- 1n, without accomplishing lhs great object oi their eetng. M sfess sa 1s Ha@sn wisdom seemed to fail. n this sieuation r Franklin suggesed the pr0priey of Importing as- stance from the Father of tghl. HetheFeiere nov Tor public prayers in that body every paoFniag an pp0rt of this moii0n he expressed his most firm be- sf that God governs the affairs of nations, we'll as en aRd among other things asked, whether if spar is heavenly Father. they could expect to raise an npre without his will. And, may not sir, be per ialed Q asks whether we can expect to prosper in nrcef 0lTEt VI ETII -.1a MY q