Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-09-12
From The National Jptenigeneer
MIR. CLAY'S VIEWS OF RELI
EIDJrC TITTV

Tue Uost malicious representation oil Mr.
Clay, arlful attempts are at the same time
made 10 concliNe the moral feelings IN
behalf Of MIR Polk Now, we here recall
a case in which both these gentlemen took
part, and the reader will Judge who mani.
| tested the trucs, sense ofmoraI obligation.
In 1882, while the cholera was raging
with alarming latali.y--a,tacking and des.
ola,ing whole towns and cities and battling
the skin of man, Mr. Clay intro.
duced a resolution into The Senate Of the
United States for the appointment Of com.
mittee to wait upon the President and to
"request that he recommend day, TO be
designated by him. of public humiliation
prayer" &c. The following were the
proceedings in the Senate
June, 20, 1882, The following resolu-
ton offered by Mr. Clay was taken up for
consideration
Resolved By tic Senate and House Of
Representatives., That joint committee Of
both houses wait on the President ard
request that he recommend a day
OF public humiliation, prayer and fast
ing to be observed by the people of The
United States with religious solemni,y, and
with fervent supplicaton to Almighty God
that he will be graciousiv pleased TO con-
tinue his blessings upon our country, and
that he will avert from it the Asiatic
scourge which has reached our borders or
if in the dispensuiion of his Providence, we
are not 10 be exempted from the calamity,
that through his bountiful mercy its severity
may be mitigated and its duration shorten.
ed"
Mr. Tazcwel asked for the yeas and
nays.
MIR Clay rose and observed that he had
only one word TO express. The resolution
had not been submitted without consul,a.
ton with the Senate whose opinion was en-
titled to more respect than his own. 1t was
first suggested TO him by a reverend mem.
Der OF The clergy, and after deliberate con.
slderatlon, he (Mr Clay thought the occa,
sion fit for recommendation Of the religious
ceremony which the resolution conlempla-
ted. 1t was the practice Of all christian ma.
tons, in seasons of general and great ca.
lamity, 10 implore Divine mercy. OF all
the peslliental scourges which had afflic ed
our race, the Asialic Cholera, in some Of its
characteristics was the most remarkable.
, Should the resolution be adopted (sad
Mr.. Clay) the act OF lhe president, in con
| tormiy 10 IFS request, will he merely rec
, ommendatory.-Voluntary as TO all i, vii
be obligatory upon none. There seems &c
be peculiar proprie,y, on the ground o
uniformity, in the proposed measure. Al
ready, in different parts Of the Union, tn,
clergy of several denominations have, it II
believed, had their attention turned to tn
subject. Different days of prayer and hu
initiation will be probably recommended
1t is desirable that the whole nation, on tn,
same day, shall present its united prayer
and supplicatlons to the Throne Of Mercy
| And there can be but little doubt that al
, though there will be nothing coercive in tn
, recommendation Of the President, Their
viii be general acouiescence in it, Tn
2 measure will be grateful 10 all pous and |,
, all moral men, whether members of rel
8 gous communities or not. In times Of M
q lonal or individual distress. all who suffe
feel an irresistible impulse TO appeal TO lha
Being who is alone able to afJrd adequa,
> relief
| should have hesi,atcd to present thi
resolution, (said Mr. Clay if !, had becI
unsanctIoned by precedent And durin
the late war similar resolution was adob
ed by Congress, al the instance OF a men
Der of the House of Representatives fror
i Vire nia and the Presideh. issued bis recon
!, mendation accordingly.
i A single word, Mr. President, as 10 my
G self am member Of no religious sec
] am not professor Of religion. regr'
, that am not. | wish that ! was ar
trust ] shall be- But have, and Away
have had, profound rcspec, for Christian
ty, the religion of my fathers, and for il
rites, its usages and its obseryanccs.
mong these, lha, which is proposed in ih
i resolution before you has always comrnai
- ded the respect OF good and devout men.
hope it will obtain the concurrence of N
e Senate.
y Mr. FRELfyGHcrsEs said he infsrre
Il from the call Of The yeas and nays that n
/ resolution would be opposed, and he thcf,
Il fore desired again TO refer the Senate TO IN
l. precedent OF 1914. TIE resolution at lbr
q time was induced By the state Of war
which the country had been plunged wit
! Great Briion, and was offered by Mr. Clol
!, ton Of Virginia. The preamble, whic
r he read, laid II down as the duty Of Coz
!, gres, to adop, measures OF this eharact,
:, IN times OF ''calamity and war" The pro
: osition had passed the Senate without opp,
e sI'ion. Hin time Of war ], was the duty
n the people 10 ask tho special protection
Is God and "a sunnlica,s The ipfnr,os,,.n,