Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-01-25
VOL. g..
Congressional Chaplains.

LINBsvIJLE, 1851.
FRfsND JOHNSON There is one thing which
desire to bring before the people for their Sc
rious consideration, and 1 know of no better
method than by doing il through the columns
Of the Bugle. 1t is something upon which I,
and perhaps many others desire information.
and il some learned and pious ID. d. .ror Right
Honorable Member of Congress wosld be 10
kind rs to give satisfactory informatioup he
would draw forth the admiration of many.
For wha: reason is Chaplain employed In
Congress- Though all may be aware that such
person is employed by onr Representatives,
yot who can tvll the utility Of such measure
But say the clgionists, 'hs business " to call
down upon the heads of that honorable body
tho blessings Of God, that they may be enabled
by Divine aid TO lcgisletc in all things with .
Christian spirit, having in view the glory Of
God, aud the happiness Of all mankind" III
indeed this is his business. would that he may
o,,.rd ,,, his business better in the future, than
he has in the pa,. But We may he told that .
prayer is offered up ever, day that congress
assemblies for tho protection and guda.ce ei !"
members in their legislation. 1t makes no dif.
ference how many prayers may be offered up.
the business of tho Chaplain Is to secure the
Divine aid for the members, and if that aid is
obtained, there will be righteous legislation.
Such being the case, when we look at last VIM
ter's proceedings, we must see that he did not
attend to his business, unless Divine assistance
is much different from what think it is. II
the being to whom lie sent his supplicstions
heard and answered those supplications, they
must have been sent to the wrong place, to
His Sltorie's Majesty, not the All-Wiss and
Merciful Creator OF the Universe. But people
have 50 many different ideas of God and His
character. that perhaps he did pray to An God.
But if he prayed to the Ever Living and True
God, and it is a fact as the Church declares,
The prayers Of the righteous will be answer
ed then they have had nobody but hypocrites
for Chaplains since the 6rst sitting Of Congress.
for it is a notorious fact that wickedness has
been the great characteristic Of American leg
islation.
But some, again, may say that prayer every
morning will have vast amount of influence
on the members in inducing them to do their
duty better, and aet more uprishtly than they
otherwise would. Are they, then, such an in
moral and needless set of beings, that it is ne
ccssary to employ somebody to jog their memo
rics every morning before they can do anything
If 80, they are unworthy to be there, aud their
constituents had better bring them homo, for We
have no assurance that the Chaplain himsslt
does not reed some person to jog has mem
ory occasionally that he may not neglect Ais
duty. But what do a majority Of the members
care about prayer or its influence. as long a.
they either doal in the bodies and souls of hu-
man beings, or are upholders Of ths internal
systemi They swaggor into the Council Cham
bcr, bloatcd and intoxicated with alcohol, and
perhaps curse the man whom they have en-
ployed to invoke the assistance Of God in theiz
| legislation, on account Of his 'long prayers
Again ask, for what j, the man employed
Is it because the expenses of the government
arc so small, and its revenue 80 large, they de
not know what to do with the surplus money
except in employing such mens A child knowI
better. Can they not pray for themselves, OF
are they ashamed to do III Or is it fact that
God Almighty is such Being, that when sci
/ of men become so dcbascI lie will not hear and
answer their prayers, but If they will 30 at il
systematically and lire titled priest to engage
in their cause, and by his earnest and sacred
plcaGings win over tho Almighty to their favor
they can then succeed in their infamous designs
Observation proves either this to bc the case ii
their opinion, or that he is employed merely X
keep up form and is a complete farce.
have put forth these few thoughts with al
sincerity, hoping that the people will examine
into the matter, and if any one can show tina
such an individual is indeed beneficial, it in al
right, If not, why tax the government for nsT
forms and ccremonicsl
Yours, truly, A. J. BROWN.