Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-03-23

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is often conducted, but Of the grave and impOr. .,
ant nnture Of the duties that devolve upon it,. lc
Whoever considers the nature and the ends OF I
prayer, and learns 10 appreciate its value, VIII
perceive its expedency on many occasions when \
il is far less apparent than is at the opening OF
The deliberations of body like this acting as II {
does, epeyy day, under immense responsibilities
standing rs the constituted guardian of great IN {
terests, subject to strong excements and needing
constantly the pure aud peaceatpe wisdom that
cometh down from the Father of lights
Who, sir can estimate the value vi the gentle,
soothing, subduing influence OF even transient
season of social worship on entering this Hall
How many pure and elevntng associations cluster
around the sacred service Here, ready to begin
orr common labors raise our minds TO the
contemplation of infinite purity, rectitude justice,
goodness mercy, and TRUTH blended in beautiful
and lovely harmony in the Being we adore. How
transforming the power Of IN approach, to s1ch
Beingt How II stills the iun,ult of passion, and
strengthens the ties Of our common brotherhood
Where else can he felt such snbtlning power the
motives for obedience to the injunction, "let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and enInor md
evil speaking be pat away from among you, with |
all malice ?" Who ofus does not need this inf1n
eDce? Whose heart can he iEsensibe 10 its pow
er, and whose hand will it not draw forth in the
greetings of fraternal kindness and good willy
But this is not all. How is The relution between
this body and its constituency consecrated by the
remembrance Of that constituency IN the aspira-
tions that daily ascend from this place ma
tons Representatives legisating for great PEG
pie, looking up TO the God OF Naiions Tor blessings
on that People, md on the Legislation which is
moss deeply to infect their interests . What
sight for angels is this
And then there is, connected with and crown
ing the whole, the noble idea, brought out with
such beauty and force in the eloquent speech Of
the gentleman from Virginia !; l mean the author
hv The txyo HIM of Con-
gress Of the Being and the Providence of God
an attesation OF The deep conviction that in Hin
the nation lives, and moves, and has its being. 10
many, indeed, il may all be but mere form an
idle unmeaning ceremony. But it nevertheless
stands out beiose the world as the pledge of n ma
TONS allegiance to the God of Heaven. Revoke
this pledge - remove this landmark set the con-
templaed example, and you begin work whose
end you cannot see. Sir, let lis beware OF the in
luence of such an example, and remember. that,
without the strong conservative influence OF con
seious dependence aud responsibility peryading
Ibis land, the forms of our Governments with
their highest sanctions and their strongest bull
warks will become but the spiders web before
the wild blasts of revolutionary fury which will
sweep over our country when the authority oil
Omnipotence shall be UNDECIDED and disregarded
But there is another light in which this subjec
is to be viewed. The question before us is no
whether we shall now, for the first time, intr0duc,
religious worship into this Hall hut whether
having had il here for half century, we shall
tam 1t out Now, sir, whatever we may think
with however pure motives we may perform tht
act, it will lie impossible to give il, in the eyes Of
This nation and the world, any Other character
than that of Indifference at least, ifpot actual hos
TINY, to the religion Of our fathers. "The Con
gress OF The United States cannot endure even the
forms of religion. Ii has tired them for half
century, and finds them vain, idle, and proflless
ceremony" Such will be the taunt of infdelity
Who here is willing to give an occasion for il !?
Sir, we city upon hill, that cannot bt
hid. 1t is not our business 10 teach religion, ex
cept by example; but it is our business TO under
stand its connection with all good government, an(
to be watchful thai we do nothing, either indi
viduas or as public body, 10 diminish its sacred
ness weaken its sanctions, or impair its purifying
influence on the public mind.
Prayer is the only visible tie, save the oath yol
are authorized TO administer, which binds h
body to the throne of the All-Powerlul AMI ALI
Wise. Shall we sunder il =? Can we do it, un(
he guiltless? Can we do il without shocking tn
moral feeling Of the country? Are we awar
how wide spread and deep is the feeling of lie
pcndence? How naturally the heart of frail, fee
bile, guilty man leans on the support Of Almiglt
Power-looks to the guidance of Perfect Wis
dom, and hopes in tile mercy of Infinite Love
IL we think that this feeling is confined TO thos
who fAake n formal profession of religion, we ar
mistaken. Prayer is The natural breathing OF cor
SctOus ueDtuAcllCt. II CuHNlCulu VI It's IEOpT'et
and obliga ion is nearly universal insomuoh tn;
there is scarcely nation 81 tribe Of men npo
earth where nre not TO be found affairs insc ibe,
either to the "unknown COD" who is "ignornntl
worshipped," or 10 Him tat made lie worI'
and give;h to oil life, and breath, aud all things
Never, perhaps, wus there u nation IN whc
this feeling was more universal, or where il ",
under the guidance of higher intelligence, tia
in this nation, at the commencement of its ext.
tence. Our fathers called, 9. in the day Of trou
c,' on Him who promises TO "answcr, ~ al
who did answer them, by seasonabe and sign
deliverances From II feeble hand we hive III
come a great nation. On foundations laid by
wisdom sought from above hts been reared ~
BILE snperslruelure and we are, at this momer
rejoicing in The fulness of blessings une9ualled
the history of man. And shall we, notU, iorg
the Being who has thus wrought for us delive
ances Impaired wisdom TO our cuuncils-glve
maturity and strength 10 our institutions, al
made US great aud prosperous nation? Can
separate ourselves from Mis- providence G.,
we stand moment in our own strength, or wa
a step in the light Of our own unaided wisdom
Tell me not, that all this has no connexion wi
the proposition we are now considering. Sir,
has much to do with il. From no place will
neglect or refusal 10 acknowledge" cd tell wi
greater effect on the country Than from this lila
(What we do is not done in corner. The pow
of our example is tremendous. Not more sure
would disease of the heart be felt through d
human system, than would the act which the m
lion before us contcmpla!es send chilling moi
influence to the very exlremities of our Union
But, sir clear Us are the benefits OF the usa
we are considering, aud obvious as would be 4
evils of its ,fisconinnance, there Is an ohJectit
still unconsidered which seems 10 be regarded
some as quite nsurmnuntnbe. II viii, say &c
tIemen, produce union Of Church and State.
us consider this objection.
What is y union of Church and Stale? h i,
union OF ecclesiastical aud civil power In Gre
Britain, the church is represented in the House
Lords, and The Government compe $ The supp'
Of the church. The collection of thes for 4
support of the ministry, and The imposition OF CT
il disabilities upon those who not within 4