New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-03-21
! FROM H.aSHLyNGTO.N
Special Correspondence Of til Nta erIsans grsss.

WASHINGTON, March IA, 1854
We have had sort Of supplemental discus
sion upon the Nebraska bill in the Senate to-
day, which grew out Of a petition presented by
Mr.. Everett, of Massachusetts; and as it was an
occasion of some excitement, for the moment,
perhaps 1t may amuse and edify your readers ii
| give them q brief synopsis of it,
Mr. Everett briefly called attention to the
petition which was lying on the Clerks desk 10
huge roll OF manuscript tied with large cord)
which he had been requested to present to the
Senate, and which was signed by three thousand
and fifty OF the clergymen of New England He
hoped that a remonstrance from so intelligent a
body of men would be allowed its proper weight
with the Senate.
Mr.. Pratt, of Maryland, presented petition
from the Baltimore Board Of Trade relative to
the Improvement of their harbor, etc.
While others were presenting petitions,
Senator Douglas was at the Clerks desk in !.
specting the huge petition from the Puritans. |
Mr.. Douglas, having returned to his seat,
rose with good deal of feeling in his manner
and denounced the New England protest as
libelous, calumnious, etc.
Sam Houston took the floor in defense Of the
petitioners, whose right to be heard was as good
as that of Senators themselves They used no
language stronger than he had applied to the
measure when it was under discussion. He had
solemnly entered into with the Indians; that ii
was violation Of plighted faith in the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and he told Senators
at the time that it would awaken storm of
agitation at the North. This was then denied
but now look on the table-there was a protest
signed by more than three thousand ministers
Of the living God. daughter.
Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, was for treating all
petitions respectfully, but these men were here
in character unknown to the Constitution;
they had laid aside their character as citizens,
and we're here as ministers Of the gospel, Asa
body, these men were eneroaohing and AFRO
giant, lie moved that the petition be not re-
oeived
Mr. Butler, Of South Carolina, had great re-
spect for ministers Of the gospel; could almost be
passive under their rebuke But these men had
left the pulpit and entered the political arena,
They assumed, as Gods organs, to be foreman
Of the jury which was to pronounce verdict
against us. The Senate should not submit to
their rebuke.
Mr.. Adams, of Mississippi, had great respect
for elegymen while they kept themselves to the
purity Of their office, but when they descended
from this to mix IN the dirty pool Of politics. etc
Sam Houston said the Senator from Virginia
had represented these petitioners as invoking
Gods vengeance on us, but this was not so,
They were denounced as agitators; but where
did agitation begin This Senate was the la
boratory whore it was first manufactured.
Mr.. Everett, of Massachusetts, here yentured
a gentle defence of himself and the protestants.
He was sorry that the presentation of this pc.
tition had awakened so much feeling. He
thought the language Of the memorial had been
misconstrued 1t was represented as protest
upon the action already done by this body, but
on examining it he found that it bore date the
lst of March, and the bill was passed on the
4th he had no doubt it was signed while the
bill was under discussion. He believed, too,
that elergymen of all political parties had join
ed In this remonstranee, and that nowhere in
the world could there be found q like number
of men Of more worth and intelligence. He
had considered 1T strictly his duty to present
this petition, for though the bill had passed the
Senate it might yet come back for amendment
and meanwhile he had moved to lay this petition
on the table.
Mr.. Petit said the Senator from Mississinni
had expressed great respect for ciergymen while
they kept out Vt the turbid pool Of politics,
Now he tpettitl did not think the political wa.
ters any muddier than the streams which run
through the contradictory systems of theology,
These men had made this an ecclesiastical CUES.
lion, and denounced us as ylolators Of Gods
Jaw. We have chosen an officer to expound the
iiyine will to us, and he should move to refer
his petition to the Chaplain Rev. Henry slieer,