Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-08-29
From he Balfinore Patriot
CLAY AND POLK--THEIR IDEA
OF RELIGION,

ILA1 AMI FOLh--IHElh HE
OF RELIGION.
Some Of the PoIkises by way OF shield
ing tbier candidate from the impuiation
of cowardice in not resenting in proper
manner the outrageous insult offered him
by Mr.. Wise, say that Mr.. Polk was 4
member ofth church. A Tennessee pa.
per, however denies il, and says that for
profanity he is very little behind Captain
Tyler. However that may be, We think
we can present a case, in which both Of
the present candidates were interested
and if il does not prove the cowardice o.
Mr.. Polk, it will prove that on one coca.
sion, he acted very little like "membe'
of the church" or Christian. 10 looking
over Miles, Register Of 1882, We find that
while the cholera was raging with fatal
iiy truly alarmingto the country--attack.
ing and desolating whole towns and CIT
les, and battling the skill Of the most emf.
nent physicians, Mr.. Clay, seeing this
state of things, Eel, that we ought to ap-
peal to Him, the Saviour aud Protector OF
all, to avert the calamity which seemed
about to sweep over the country. He
accordingly introduced resolution in the
Senate of the U. S. for the appointment
of committee to wait upon the President,
and to "reques, that he recommend day
to be designated by HIM. ofpublic humili-
alton, prayer" &c. The following were
the proceedings 10 the Senate:
"June %, 1882. The following reso.
luton offered by Mr.. CLAY, was taken up
for consideration:
"Resolued By the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of the United States Of
America. in Congress assembled, 1'hs, a
,lnt committee Of both houses walt on the
| President OF the United States, and re
quest that he recommend a day. to be
designated by him, Of public hum liation
prayer and fast ng, TO b. observed by the
people of the United States, with religious
solemnity, and with fervent suppllcstioa,
to Almtg hty God, ihath- will be g,aciausl,
pleased to continue His blessings upon GU
country, and that He will avert from i
the Asiatc scourge which has reached
our borders-or if, in the dispensation o
HIS Providence, we are no, to De exempt
Ell from the calamity, that through Iii,
bount'iul mercy, its severity may be mit
gated ana It's durstlon shortened
MIR. TAzEwELL asked for the ayes ant
noes on the resolution, which were order
ed.
After Mr.. T. had called for the aye.
and nays, and had remarked that hi
would not say one word.
Mr.. CLAY rose and observed that hs
had onlyy one word to express. The res
olution had not been submitted wnhou
consultation with the members Of the Sen
ate, whose opinion was entitled to NOR,
respect than his own. II was indeed frs
suggested 10 hun by reverend memb-
Of the clergy, aud, alter deliberate cons'd'
Grafton, he, (Mr CO. thought the occasion
fit for the recommendation of the Religion
ceremony which the resolution com,em
plated. II was the practice of all Chris
tan nations, in seasons of general an
and great calamity, to implore Divin'
mercy. OF al the Presidential scourge
which hal afflicted our race, the Asiatl'
cholera. in some of its characteristics
was the most remarkable. Its rang,
of operation had been more extensive thar
perhaps any other known or recorded, IN,
small pox excepted. 1t had broken out il
Asia, and, after desolatng soma Of it,
fairest portions, prnetral,d thu northern
part of Europ-, and, sweeping over I
great part of that continent, reached I'll,
British Channel. 1t passed over the Brit
ish Isles, where it rag ID, but with misiga
ted severity. We had hoped-valn;y
seems hoped that the wide expsnse o
the Atlantic would have been protective
barrier against It's ravegts in our far dis
tant land. But il has been introduced in
to America, and if i, has no, actually en-
tered our territory, it now hangs on oul
borders in It's most frghtful form.
The progress Of the extraordinary
scourge is sometimes marked b. apparen,
caprice. |. will approach city or dis
trict Of country, reconnoiterlng il as il
were, with military eye, suddenly fly
off to distance, leaving the inhabitants
rejoicing IN their escape, and it will then
Unexpectedly return and pursue its work
| VI ucdtus ~ uttoInSj wv, 10 'iStiuiS Il
various ways, despatchlng some in few
hours, whilst in regard to others, their ex-
crucating ,o'tures are prolonged a much
greater length Of time. Hitherto the skill
Of medical sci nee, liberal and enlghten-
ed as it now is, has been altogether in.
competent TO provide sure and effective
remedy.
Should the resolution be adopted said
Mr.. c., the act of the President, in con-
formity to its request, will bs merely re.
commendatory. Voluntary as to all. 1t
would be obligatory upon none. There
seems to be peculiar proprieiy, on the
ground Of uniformity, IN the proposed
measure. Already, in different parts of
the union, the clergy Of several denomina
tons have, it is believed, had their atten.
ton turned to the subject. Different days
of prayer and humiliston will be proba-
bly, recommended. II is desirable that
the whole nation, on the same day, shall
present its united prayers and supplica-
tons to the throne of mercy. And there
can be but little doubt, that although there
will be nothing coercive in the recon.
mendation of the President, there will be
general acquiescence IN it. The meas
ure will be grateful to all pious and all