The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-09
THIRTIETH coNeREss. Flr.t sermon.
SENATE.

& ~
81 THURSDAY, December Q, Is47.
The journal Of yesterday was read after which,
number of petitions were presented by several Sena-
tors
Mr.. Breese offered resolution, that, when the Sc
nate adjourn 1t adjourn to meet on Monday next
II was agreed 10.
Mr.. Niles then in his seat and announced the
death Of his colleague, tho Hon. Jabez Huntingdon,
who had died during the last year, at his homes on
whose life and character he dwelt with much feeling
for some time
Ater passing the usual resolutions, to wear Grape,
&c, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, December 8, l647
The journal Of yesterday was read by the clerk
Mr.. Jameson moved that when the House adjourn
II adjourn over TO Monday, in order to give the
Speaker an opportunity Of selecting the Standing
Committees.
The Speaker sail that the unfinished business of
yesterday the first in order but as IL referred TO
the adjournment Of the House for the purpose made
II could be considered by general consent.
Mr.. Petit and several others cried out, "read,"
81 read, !" "readr'
The resolution was then read and agreed to-
Mr.. Pollock gave notice of his intention TO intro
duce bill to reduce the charges on postage
nThe Speaker said the motion Of the gentlemen was
out Of order. 49,
The joint resolution TO appoint Chnplans for both
houses was taken up, when -
MIR. Petit said thai he would detain the House but
flew moments. He had solemn conviction that
the House had no power under the Constitution TO
appropriate money for religious purposes. 1t was
his full conviction, that the House had no power to
egislate upon the subject. At the time Of the adop
mai ms the IF ,,h.,
were Puritans and the people Of Maryland were Ca
tholic, and II the House passed upon the subject
they would violate the freedom Of conscience Your
constitution provided that we should not interfere
with the subject. Yesterday he solemnly held up
his hand to support the Constitution, and he did not
object that we should have chaplain 10 open the
House with prayer every morning. and offer It up to
the Almighty God for them, but could we get pro-
per person to do that for us He had no objection
to one If he could be got but we could not do so-.
He would therefore move TO strike out the words
various denominations" He was of opinion, II
there be religion at ALL 1t ought to be true reli-
gon--a Catholic reigionand il we are to have one,
we are to choose it out of AGO different denomi.
nations that profess to have 1t. If the Senate
should choose the true orthodox peacher ont Of oil
these, we poor fellows would have to listen to he
'eredox preacher, whose prayers upon any principle
cannot be heard here The majority Of the Senate
be Catholic, we shall be excluded from choosing
person for ourselves, and he would therefore move
to strike the words various denomnationsn
The next amendment that he would offer was
that the members should pay from out of their own
pockets for the services Of those persons.
He would repeat again, that he had no objection
to open the House every morning by prayer, and he
would pay as much any other member for that
purpose He had no idea Of paying them out Of the
funds OF the House for such purpose. He had been
abused over and over again for the course he had
pursued on the subject, and no later than two
weeks ago, person In New York had abused him
for his conduct last session. he had called him an In
idel and other hard names. Mr. p. was very severe
on the person alluded to- charging him Of being gull
ty Of crimes for which he had but a narrow escape
from the Penitentiary.)
He continued by saying he would 60 for any re-
spectacle man who would come forward and offer his
services, and he would pay much as any one Of
the houses would agree to. If you elect man for
the House, he ,ntended you could do 30 for any
other part of the Union. Let us then pay for our
chaplain, BIZ AAEsdsas for themselves and
not for the Union.
Mr.. Petit then offered his amendments that tho
words "various denominations, be struck out. and
that the members pay the chaplans out of their own
pockets, but they were rejected.
The original resolution was then put and adopted
Mr. Henly moved that the standing committee of
the House be appointed. II was agreed to-
Mr.. Vinton offered resolution to the effect that
the rules of the last session be adopted for the gov
eminent of this, except that Of the Committee on
| Commerce.
Mr.. Henley asked II he had understood the gentle
man from Ohio as offering his resolution as sub
| stitute for his. -
Mr.. Cobb Of Georgia rose TO a question of order
as the amendment of the gentleman from Ohio pro-
posed to change standing rule of the House.
The debate was continued by Messrs vinton, Col.
lamer, Rhett, Holmes, Schenck, McClelIand, Hen
ley, and jameson when our Reporter left