, 1844-12-21
Twenty.Eighth Congress.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Washington CITY, Dec.

Inc last session Ul Tie S6ti t"h'
.eress has atlenglh commenced. The
day dawned bnght and beautiful, and
the crimson sunlight beamed al o!
ga an the gorgeous draPery OF the
Halls Of Congress.
In tie House, for a couple of hours
pre- i"u' To the Speaker taking The
CHAR there was quite an interesting
ana animated scene. Old and new
members. from all quarters, met and
Shook hands as brethren, and tender,
~ inquired about each Others health.
THIS reminds one of the prize fighters,
who always shake hands lein,e en-.
lerlrg the ling. TIE galleries. were
crowded with spectators anxious to
beanld the fist move of tie political
machinery. Some of the ladies' we're
looking down with intense Interest.
" ndeiing. no doub;. whether some
of the good ln"king ne members are
married or single.
Mr.. jones. nj respected Speaker,
appears in eXcrllent health. When
he entered tie hall. he received VAIN
congra,ul;t tons it"ma al! parties. lie
Is II great deal too good nn'ur.d i"r
The urrulv subjects I.r has t" m,nare.
Al IL "rI OK. he give Il p"rreuiou>
stroke with tie mace, wien. a II hy
magic. lie nISr ceased, and ihc
lluuS- caue to"rder. The dr"ppin.
1T u pm misht have been heard.
On the calling uf the ro!l. IT'S mem
hers answered 10 their nrrrs. Sew.
eral members elected To fl vacan-
cIes were summoned aud sworn. A
quorum beng in attendance. the uSu.
al resolutions. apPrlslng the President
OF the fact, were adopted.
Mr.. Holmes OF .. t., then rose and
moved that The House proceed To tie
election Of chaplain.
This, ~ was Anticipated. called
on, Mr.. Petit Of lndlana. lie vehe
mently opposed the mu,ion. and de-.
nourced the plan of compromising
chaplains nut of the public treasury,
as b~rn- IN ehtcr the laying of the
foundation Of Hu established church,
He had recently seen AT Il large pub
H.. as>enhhlaae. the blessing of tie
Deity invoked. when the next mo-
ert afterwards MS commrncrd the
slr-ug st the most rabii pcIIilca
M THIS was ~mnchery. Rel
gi"n and politics went not together
But he CONSIDERED Ills ravn.ent o
chaTiarus from The pubic treasury a:
an attempt Ia unite the two. II was
true HAT tie law provided That the
chaplalnS of each House should bt
of different srctS. But there were
manv more secfs than two. AnC
thus EpiSc"paIianS. Bapii>'s, Meth"
di>ts. ard u d zen other sects, were
virtually compelled To pay the scrvI
ces Of men uf srctS which constituted
tut Il small I"rt'on of tie whole
This being the case. he rhuu-ht til.
better pan would be for memher,
who dtsired C~hapiains 10 pay then
ouI of Their pNn packets. With tbs
view lie had prepared an amendien
L that effect. In viii
the ameudmrnt he had appended
lit headed bv hlmseIf With So,
Now If every other member Of thu
House aud Srnlte would pay abou
So oh. tie whole sum m'ghl be rais
ed. and the c~iinplain- PAID. without
violation OF the Cun,tIlufIrn. lit
was afraid. however, that with penu
~ on the "ne hand and bigotry oI
tie other. the project would be de
tsa'ed. lie tlnuyht, nOtwIlh>t md
m, It was his duty - try It, hecauS'
he knew the people would supper
him. He was not in the least atrai'
Of The cry Of 'iuii,iel. &c., nor OF tn,
att 'ckS III the pulpit and The prc,S.-
This step WAS what he considered hi
dury, ard he was re>ulvrd 10 take il
After iur'irrr remarks he offered III
amendment. Together with the sui
>cripu u list appended.
Ailer >nrre discussion on knott
points of order, l,e question was pu
on the amen imcnt. Only 90 vote
we're CAST IN the affirmative. 81
wa, rejected. The motion OF Mr.
Holmes Mas then agreed To, aud it
understood thtt Il chaplain will be {
tected tu-nrurroW.