The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
rmRTY-sEcoND CONGRESS SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
MONDAY. January 3.


The Chair laid before the Senate report
from the Secretary of the Interior, communica-
ting the reports of the Surveyors General Of
California aud Oregon
Also, the report Of the Secretary of the Sen
ate, showing the disbursements from the con-
tingent fund for the year last past
Mr. Fish presented the memorial of the pro-
pretors of the New York and Havre mail
steamers, praying that Congress would either
increase their compensation, take their vessels
at their cost, or abrogate the existing contract
Mr. Smith presented the memorial of the
guardians of the son of DR.. Wells, of Connect-
cut, praying in behalf of their ward the COM
pensation To be allowed the dscoyerer of the
an@sthetic agent, now used in tho army and
navy in surgical operations
On motion Of Mr.. Cass the memorial was
laid on the table
Mr.. Cass pre.cuted the memorial of the
Maryland Baptist Union, praying the interpo-
sitiou Of the United States to secure to Ameri-
cans abroad the rights of religious worship
according to the dictates of their own con-
science.
Mr.. Cass have been requested to present
the petition which sent to the Clerks table,
from the Maryland Baptist Union Association,
and to move lts reference to the appropriate
committee do this with pleasure, not only
from regard TO ths motives and position of
those who make this application, but also be-
cause heartily concur with them in tho i'm
pOrtance Of the subject and in the propriety
Of calling the attention of the Government to
it-an object dear to us aud to the world, in its
consequences now aud hereafter.
We have right to be heard in such All APP
peal as this, for we have tried the great exper-
iment-an experiment no longer, for il has be-
come experimental the entire separation of
Church and State, and have shown that unre-
stricted freedom of worship is not only best for
the political interests of n country, but best
ior the true interests of religion itself
Ia what manner II may be proper for our
Government TO present this grave question to
other Governments | do not undertake at pres.
ent to say | shalt move its reference TO the
Committee on Foreign Relations, feeling salts
fed that they will give it their earnest atten-
ton, and in the hope that they will make re-
port which will be authoritative, a. the express
sion of our views, aud still more those OF our
constituents; in any communications the Ex-
ecutye may open with foreign powers Ger
tainly there can bo no objection to firm and
friendly representations and | cannot doubt
that these declarations Of the wishes OF the
American people will have weight everywhere
and am satisfied they will ere long produce u
salutary effect in some countries and eventual
ly in all
Mr. Hale said that he approved very highly
the object of the memorial, but he did not
think it altogether the place of this nation to
make the appeal asked for. Religious freedom
and liberation were forbidden by the laws of
those nations to whom this appeal was to be
made This was, then, on the part of this Gov,
ernment an attempt 10 put in operation IN
those countries higher lava law higher
and above the supreme law Of those nations,