Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL CHAPLAINs.


Reo1ed (the Senate concurrng That two Chapains 10
Congress- OF different denominations, be elected, by each
House ocatc dung the present session, and that they
shall interchange weekly.
Mr. PETrir rose to deain the House for few
only, simply reiterae what he bad heretofore said the
subject which this resolution presented their consideration,
and for the uerance which he had been exposed great
reproach III impressed with the solemn conviction that
this House had power-hat the Houses Of Congress
together had no power, to appropriate the public money for
religious purposes and hence he opposed the passage
OF this resolution To him the proposition pan that the
National Legislature had power all lcgsate on the
subject OF religion and surely they could not appropriate
money for purposes respecting which they had no power 10
legsae. No member that floor would surely present the
absurd proposition that they had power egsate on the
subject OF religion any form, for the trainers Of the Cons-
had wisely prohibited their doing by the provisions
Of that instrument which given TO them for their govern
When the States organized their Governments
of them there existed established religion in others there
various religions alike tolerated while in there
great prepondeance of The New England States
almost all puriancal Maryland almost xcusiyey
Catholc!he universal religion, the Catholic faith having
been adopted by them Other States had many religions.
In order therefore, avoid collision Of creeds, and the in
Of these denominations, and TO avoid ampng
on the rights and privileges Of any, in the Constitution pro-
vision inserted prohibiting Congress from making law
respecting established religion IT, then, Congress could
not legsas the subject of religion, il certainly followed
this at least clear his mindthat they could not appro
pirate money where they could not legisate.
lew days since, in the presence Of the Speaker and
the House, he held up his hand and, soemny appealing u
the Supreme Being, promised 10 support the Constitution
these United saes $50 help God !" and il his sin
cere purpose to adhere TO that solemn obligation. He wa
bound to support the Constitution he understood IT, and b,
could not recognise any power possessed Of the right
construe that instrument him, control his actions
under il.
lie did not wholly Object TO the adoption Of the resolutions 20
ne was prepared with an amendment provide substantially ~
the accomplishment Of the purpose He did not object
the election Or appointment capans and the opening Of th
deliberations every m fung by appeal to the Throne
Grace and he had Doubt constituted as they wcre tha
this body would need such appeals Whether they shouJ
be able TO derive much good from them he did not know
would be well for them if they should get devyu man /,
pray for them he hoped they should c one for they were
assured that the ferven prayer Of tho righteous ayailel
much' The prayer Of any oher would rot be heard ant
hence by the choice Of any othe hey Should not be profied
But he had, to the resolution, se u4 objection and Il,
gave notice that he should ocr a amendment and ar
addition 10 IT, First, amendment he should ask IN,
House strike out the words 'dicn, denominations
and for very good and obvious reason which must appea
20 all men 0! common Why IT, he asked tha
the two House Of Congress should be compelled 10 employ
chapans Of different denominations under thi. resolution
If there were religion all there must be a true unyer
sal, catholic religion. Bot there many ects Will,
out Of six hundred and forty different denomina,ns into
which the Christian world is divided there be but one gb
and true regonand be held that there cou Ia but on,
right and pure and hoyhis House nigh, chose ne pht
and the Senate under this resolution must be cou,e, viii
the heterodox the House might re in this position II N,
Senate should first chose lis chaplain elect from lhe n
church Under such circumstances the Senate woulihay
pure and undeflcd religion preached them Iut the Hous