Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-12-17
WASHINGTON Cry. Dec


WAsHINGror Cry, Dec. II, 1889.
Educated IN the Protestant Church, and ian. hit by
my partRs, and led 10y cdsca ion, to ent ria an
hab tual respect for the Revera Clergy certainly
wonta he among the Ia IN in tais world 10 saw
aught aga INST profes sion, which, long its BRO.
Tess r. racice what they preacn and adhere to the
pure morxi y thar taught by lie Redecmer Of
the world is conducive of very blessing, and she1s
sreund mankind light and lustre, which lnfdelty
cannot din, or the sp nit of barbsr SIN blight.
III, then, may be bell we'd when avow myself The
friend OF the Reverend Clergy, hope that no one
VIII either suppose that mean now to offer any thing
who sustain it; and who honestly believe, that with
out its maintenance, we can have no hap piness here
no hopes in those worlds TO which we Ay, when we
cast III this tabernacle OF clay and in the eloquent
"hom gloom to ory."
Custom and respe ctful regard for public opinion.
and sincere respect for the religion Of Christ both
demand that there should be attached well edrrat
ed, pious, and intelligent chaplain, to each OF the
Houses of Congress- Such officers should a WAYS be
elected; men 10 fulfil those duties have heretofore
been elected and they vii b. elected this session.
As the day not distant, when the chapans are TO
be elected, deem it my daty to express hope that
the Infamous and outrageous scandal that has here.
tofore been cast on cur halv region by the eandi.
dates for the office OF chaplin, may not again be re.
peated.
At the last session there were upwards of fftv
candidates in the city, all from remote sections of the
country all of whom were sent here BY their lust of
" C.
ton which it is supposed. by the uninitiated cler-
gyman acquires discharging the duties Of chaplain
to The American Congress.
On the arrival If the candidates in this city, they
one and ell commenced a series Of eectionee rinp
which was disgusting to every man Of decency as
it scandaous and bellous to that religion which
they professed, but which, am quite sure, formed
portion Of their characters.
SO eager were some OF these clerical Office hunters
for The places of chaplains, that they posted the m
selves In the avenues and at the very portals Of the
capitol; and there arrcstng members in their pas.
sage, solicited their votes. In OF two instances
tn sadly Numbered, and akng private citizens
for public men, begged Of them the favor Of vote
bluudcr Of the kind, in one instance fell under NV
own obserya ion, and recolIect that detailed eli
the facts connected with il, in Of my dispatches
Nor did their eectioneerng address end with their
simple personal solicitation Of votes They address.
ed circular letters TO gentlemen the subject:
made promises Of requital, which were indecent
and absurd they derogatory to the pulpit. and
which when they made them, they knew they never
could fulfil
Nor was this all They went further They de.
scended to the miserable business Of treating and
wine bbbing and Of Pamperng the grosser appetites
Of the " free thinker and free liver and in public
restaurants, were seen to hold forth the cup that
was proffered to pay for the vote.
Nor was this all. They associated with men sf
grossly immoral habits; and endeavorea by an Ian
to their licentousnes, TO get them to interfere
with their friends in Co gress and secure TO them
their surages and TO add 10 the gross indie of
the whole, they retaied AID detail scandal and de-
traction against each other, and played of those ai-
fees, which would brng blush even from the most
abandoned pot house and cross. road poli ician In
word, they cast ndsIible rcproach ON the char
acter OF the clergy, violated all the vreprieties Of
society, and disguised every one with their cease
less impotence and importantly.
As the Office OF chaplain, for the sake Of gratifying
public opinion, Is necessary, let be filed this
sion, without suffering any Of those disgusting
which have heretofore occurred, to take place. And
the better way to do this s to invite the reverend
gentlemen OF the city, Of all denominations, TO eff
cias aternately and let all be paid in the ratio Of
the service rendered. BY this means, all would be
assisted IN small degree; and intercourse would
OF the city, which could not fail 10 produce salu-
tary effect
III this cannot be done, and il shall appear proba
BILE that we are TO have the disgraceful clerical
sguabbles that have disgrsced the Commencement Of
previous sessions, then for the sake OF morality re.
ligion, and virtue, let the office be abandoned.
As for the practical utility ef the Office, no good
thing grows out Of IL. The chaplain has n round OF
duty merely nominal, to perform; and, instead Of
being kind 81 spiritual guide for the House and
The prayer he ascends TO Heaven, and the blessing
he invokes for "he Prssident Of the United States,
the Iice President. the Members of both Houses and
the Heads Of The Departments must be uttered nc
cording 10 order; and the time he devotes 20 the
Throne OF Grace 10 limited, 10 by the watch
Of the Speaker What he utters il not heard by one
member out Of ten. One half Of the House s engaged
IN conversation and laughter. in writing whilst
he ~ praying; and the whole affair, matter how
well designed has mere the appearance of profan.
alton 81 the religion of the Cross than argess offer
ed at the Throne Of Jehovah, In gratitude for the
presentation Of Him who redee med world from sin
As man professedly, an advocate Of the purity
Of the Church; humble defender Of the iaithh
have said thus much, in obedience TO the simple
dictates Of duty.
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