Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-29
PETITION TO CONGRESS FROM THE
sPIRITUALISTS.

MT SHIELDS last week, presented to the United
States Senate, petition, sgnel by Ii, 900 believers
IN Spiritual manifestations. After briefly recop.
itulating the contents Of the memorial, MIR. S
said,
=. have now given faithful synopsis Of this pet
uon, which, however Unprecedented in itself has
been prepared with singular ability presenting the
subject with great delicocy and moderation.
make II rule TO present any petition 10 the Scnat,
which is respectful in its terms, but having dis
charged this duty. may be permitted to say thai
the prevalence of this deusion at this age of tn,
world, among any considerable portion of our cti
rens, must originate, in my opinion, in defcctiv,
system OF education, or in partial derangemen
OF the mental faculties, produced by diseased
condition of the physical organization. | cannot
therefore, believe that it prevails to the extent in
dicatcd in this petition.
Different ages Of the world have had their pecu
liar delusions.
Alchemy occupied the attention Of eminent mcr
for several centuries, but there was something sub
lime in alchemy. The philosophers stone or th,
transmutatiOu Of base metals into gold, the ciiri
rite or water of life," which would preserve
youth and health, and prevent old age, decay and
death, were blessings which alchemy sought tC
discover by perseverance, and pioty Roger Bacon
one of the greatest alchemiss and greatest men oi
the 18th century, while searching for the phioso-
piers stone discovered the telescope, burning
glasses and gunpowder. The prosecution of that
covefies.
In the sixteenth centu ry lourished Cornelius
Agrippa, alchemist astrologer and magician, one
of the greatest professors Of hermetc phios-
ophy that lived. lie had all the spirits Of
the air and demons Of the earth under his COM
mand
Paulus Jovious says that the devil in the the
shape Of a large black dog attended Aggripa
whenever he went.
Fhomas Nash says, at the request Of Lord Sur.
Eraan,ug nd otbor T., 4 4
ed up from the grave several of the great phioso-
pliers Of antiquity among others, Tully, whom
he caused to redeliver his celebrated orntion for
Roscius To please the Emperor Charles tie
Fourth, he summoned King David and King Solo
mon from the tomb, and the Emperor convcrsed
with them long upon the science of Government
This was a glorious exhibition Of spiritual power
compared with the insignificant manifestations of
the present day. | will pass over the celebrated
Paracelsus, for the purpose of making allusion to
an Euglishman with whose veracious history every
one ought to make himself acquainted.
In the sixteenth century DIR. Dee made such pro-
grcSs in the tasmauc mysteries that he acquired
ample power to hold familiar conversation with spr
its and angels and to learn from them all the secrets
Of the universe. On one occasion the Angel Uriel
gave him black crystal of q convex form, which
he had only TO gaze upon intently, and by strong
effort OF the WILL he could Summon any spirit he
wished to reveal to him the secrets of futurity.
Dee, in his veracious diary says that one day
while he was sitting with Albertus Laski, Polish
noblemen there seemed to come out Of the Oratory
spiritual creature like pretty girl Of seven or
niue years Of age, with her hair rolled up before
end hanging down behind, with gown Of silk Of
changcable red and green, and with train she
seemed to play up and down, and to 90 out and in
behind the books, and as she seemed to go be-
tween them the books displaced themselves and
made way for her. This | call spiritual mani
iestaton Of the most interesting and fascinating
kind. Even the books felt the fascinating influence
Of this spiritual creature for they displaced them
selves and made way for her. Edward Kelley an
irishrnan, who was present, and who witnessed
this beautiful apparation, verifes the Doctors
statement: therefore it would be unreasonable to
doubt story well attested, particularly when
the witness was an Irishman. Laughter.
Doctor Dee was the distinguished favorite Of
Kings and Queens-a proof that spiritual science
was held in high repute in the good old age of
Queen Elizabeth.
But of all the professors Of occult science, her.
metic philosophy or spiritualism, the Rosicurcians
were the most exalted and refined, with them the
possession of the philosophers stone was to be the
means of health and happiness, an instrument by
which man could command the services of superior
beings, CONTROL the elements, defy the distractions
of time and space, and acquire the most intimate
knowledge Of all the secrets of the Universe There
were objects worth struggling for.
Among the modern professors Of spiritualism,
Sigllostro was the most justly celebrated. In
Paris his saloons were thronged with the rich and
noble. To old ladies he sold beauty that would
endure for centuries; and his charming Countess
gained immense wealth by granting attending
sylps to such ladies rich enough to pay for
their service. The "Biographe des Contempores"
"a work which our present mediums ought to con-
suit with care-says there was hardly fine lady
in Paris who would not sup with the shade of
Lucretius in the apartments Of Cagliostro.-
There was not n military officer who would not
discuss the art of war with Alexander, Hannibal
,ol,s 40 cell, .ks,
not argue legal points with the ghost of Cicero.
These were spiritual manifestations worth pay
ing for, aud all our degenerate mediums would
have TO hide their diminished heads in the presence
Of CagostrO. 1t would be curious inquiry to
follow this occult science through all its phases of
mineral magnetism. &C., until we reach the present
latest and slowes phase of all spiritual manifesto
ton but have said enough 10 show the truth of
Burke's beautiful aphorism "The credulity Of
dupcs is as inexhaustble as the invention Of
knaves"
This speech was listened to with much attention;
but frequently interrupted by laughter.
Mr.. Wellor-What does the Senator propose to
do with the petition?
Mr.. Pettit-Let it be referred to the three thou
sand clergyman. [Laughter.]
Mr.. Weller-l suggest that it be referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations. Laughter
Mr. Shield am willing to agree to the refcr-
cnce.
Mr.. weller-It may be that we may have to
ontcr into foreign relations with these spirits
Laughter, Ii so, it is proper subject for the
consideration of that committee. 1t may be ne
cessary TO ascertain whether not Americans
when they leave this world, lose their citizenship
1t may be oxpedient that all these grave questions
should be considered by the Committee on Foreign
Relations, Of which am an humble member.
move its reference to that committee.
Mr.. Mason-I really think it has been made
manifest by the honorable Senator who has pres
ented the petition that he has gone, further into
the subject than any Of u.s. and that his capacity
TO cucidate 1t is greater than that Of any other
Senator. ] would therefore suggested to him that
II should either go to a select Committee on his
notion or be referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs, Of which he is Chairman. Certainly the
Committee on Foreign Relations have nothing to
do with it. Perhaps il would be better TO allow
the petition to lie ON the table.
Mr.. Shelds-This is an important subject, and
shonh not be sneered away in this manner
Laughter l was willing to agree to the motion
g.. n.l.c LII Il. III