The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-01-15
neutrality-suspicious. to
Congress-.

hNSutuSNy BAeSShsSo "
monstrancc agains: the appointment O
Chaplains to Congress, by inhabitnnt,
of Livingston county, Kentucky.
Read and laid upon the table.
To the Senate and III. of Representa-
.tives Of the United States
The undersigned, citizens of The Uni
ted States, residing in the county o.
Living ston, and State of Kentucky, res
pectfully solicit the attention of the Ma
tional Legislature to the following facts
The people constitute the righteou,
source of political authority; % power
can justly be exercised over them or over
their properly, but such as is derived
from them. The constitution contains
full specification of all the powers
that have been delegated by the people
to their political representatives. none
but civil powers are therein or thereby
delegated; their Representatives, there
fore, not being vested with any ecclesi.
cal authority have no right to lcgisla,e
on religion nor officially to do or per
form, or direct to be done and perform
ed, any ecclesiastical act or ceremony.
Hence, it appears, that hiring preachers
officially, and paying them out of the
peoples money, are acts of supercroga-
ton, unauthorized by the constitution,
and transcending the powers delegated
to the National Legislature. And again
Your petitioners beg leave TO state
that, inasmuch as no ecclesiastical au
thority'has been delegated to the Nation
al Legislature, it can have no right tc
create an ecclesiastical office, or to M
duct any person into an ecclesiastical
office, or to exercise any ecclesiastical
functions. Consequently, the appoint
mcnt of Chaplains 10 the two lcgslativ,
Houses, in an authorized act of legis
lation; an exercise of power not derived
from the people, and not authorized b,
the constitution. They beg leave fur
ther to state that, the measures in ques
tion are rendered douhly obnoxious b.
the legislative appropriation of public
money to pay wages to priests hired Il
perform public praying Those individ
uals of the National Legislature VIII
set value upon such services, have al
undoubtcd right to purchase them. ant
pay for'them with their own money bu
the Legislature has no right to take and
expend the public money which has beer
collected fol other and constitutions
purposes. in the purchase Of services
which eugross the time and attention
due to other objects, and which are deslr
ed only by individuals Of that body 70
their individual edification. IL the lie
pislature should enact law for tn
express purpose Of imposing dirce
tax to pay the wages Of priests hired to
perform prayers among the represent
a,iyes, such n measure would meet
reception adapted to its unjust objec
and odious character. And inasmucl
as they have DO moral or constitutions
rights to impose such tax, so neithe
have they a right to take money from
the Treasury, and thus indirectly TO 'a
the people for the benefit Of priests o
, chaplains and the suppor, Of Offices an
officials unknown to and unauihorIze
by the national constitution.
D All which is respectfully submitted
, &c. October 2s, 1888.
t tSigned by 50 persons.)
MoEE AsrrauITiEs--Ihe Wepef