The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-25
From the Louisville Journal.

ChapAaans In COngrcss-Tho Position OF DE-.
aife Lame. 33aH
There was a meeting Of the people at Port Royal,
Henry county, on Thursday last, TO hear the cam
didates for Congress in this district. While Dr.
Lane was holding forth, a leading Locofoco handed
question in writing to Mr. Marshall The oues-
ton was addressed q both candidates, and Colonel
Marshall after reading it, handed ii to Doctor
Lane. The note was as follows e'You are request
ed to say whether not you in favor of appro-
priating any sum or sums Of money for chaplains
or any religious purposes, and whether you believe
it constitutional
To this question Doctor Lane replied TO this eff
feet; That every man in this country should say
his own prayers-that he did not think they did
any good to Congress, though it was possible they
might propitiate the throne of Divine grace--that
he would not vote cent of the public money to pay
chaplains, because there was no warrant for it in
the Constitution, though he would agree to give
prayers, if they must Be had Colonel Marshall, in
reply to the question, said he thought it proper to
have prayers, and would vote in favor of the usual
appropriations to pay chaplans for their services.
We call the attention of that portion Of our COM
munity who believe in the decency and efficacy of
public prayer TO the positions of the candidates for
Congress on this subject. Christians generally think
that no great work, public or private, should be
undertaken without duplicating the Throne of
Mercy to smile on it. Such an acknowledgment
OF the dependence of man on the bounty of Heaven
Is universally regarded as proper, not only by
Christians, but by the various heather nations who
have adopted forms of worship. Prayer is con-
sidered necessary; it is regarded perfectly in
dispensable act ON the part of every man. by every
Christian There very few men, however irreh-
gious they may be- who are willing to insult the feel
ings of Christians generally by openly arraying
themselves against the prOpriety of that custom
which prevailed in patriotic ngressofseventeen
hundred and seventy six, and which has continued
TO prevail in all the Congresses which have since
been convened, namely, of asking the blessings and
superintendence Of Providence on the labors of the
Representatives of the people. We say that but
very few men indeed have had the effrontery to
deny the efficacy of prayer, whether they were dis
soute or not Mr. Petit, of Indiana for several
successive years, made himself odiously conspcu-
Gus to the professors of religion generally by NOV
ing, at the beginning of each session. that the SER
vices of chapsns for Congress should be dispensed
with. Year after year he made this motion, al
though but very few members voted in favor Of his
proposition As was naturally TO be expected,
Pettit's private character is exceedingly dissoute
and his constituents have resolved that they will be
no longer disgraced by such Representative, and
have accordingly dropped him. DIR. Lane has deibe-
ratey declared before public meeting, that, if the
people Of this district see fit to elect him to Congress-
he will take the place heretofore occupied by Petit
Like Petit, he Processes TO be willing give one
days pay to a chaplain, but he we'll knows that
no arrangement such as he says he is in favor of
could possibly be made with any clergyman in the
country. The only question is, whether Congress
shall continue to employ chaplains they have al
ways hitherto been employed; and on this question
Doctor Lane takes the ground occupied by the no.
torious Petit. Can any man point TO any member
oil Congress who co-operated with Petit, who was
hot, IKE rctuthmsei man OF dissoute character
A few days ago, in announcing the forced with
drawal of Petit from the list of candidates for Con-
gress' we asked VINO would take fetuts place and
make the annual motion 70 dispense with the forms
OF rehg1on IN our national counciis Little did we
then suppose that our own particular district was
TO furnish candidate ior the vacant post
Now, We call on those Christians in this district,
VINO are IN avor OF preserving the uine-honored
custom oil acknowledging the dependence OF pub
nc podies on the grace oil heaven, 70 say whetner
they are wiling 70 vote ior man VINO taxes the
groun6 tnat such are not proper,
WIN Chrisuans aenperateiy sustain a man VINO
merry ABOUT giving one gay pay 70 man 70 say
prayers, " mey nausf OK hqd, purely ridiculous
The very moment IN which II Is resolved that Con-
gress as body shall dispense with the services OF
chaplains, there viii be no further prayers pro
nounced in the halls OF the Capitol. Such conduct
would greatly delight all the infides In the land, 1T
Is true; but IT would also shock the heart OF every
Christian IN the world The French National As
semDiy aoonsneu prayers ana the iorns oil rengion,
and dccreed that religion itself was gross mPoe-
ture, and immortality dream OF mere fanatics,
and thus rendered itself ga byword and a Kissing
throughout the earth; and were the Congress OF
the United states 30 lar TO initiate the example OF
the french Assembly as TO abolish The custom OF
invoking the Divine AID In behalf OF the legislation
Christendom.
Our revolutionary forcfathers were men Of reli-
gious sentiment, who, throughout the long, ardu-
Gus, and perilous struggle which resulted in the
establishment Of our national Independence, con-
stantly recognised, by their public acts, their de-
pendence on the arm OF the Almighty. They took
no step without nrst besceching the blessing OF
Heaven on 1t. II has, therefore, very truly been
said that the foundations of our Government were