The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-17

from almost every clergyman Ia the city of New York.
and was headed, II recoleet Alright by the OF
bishop OF that eity-Bshop Wanwright-and the memo
rial ITSELF was stated IN the papers, signed by the
names OF large majority no, The whole bedy OF the
clergy 0 that city. No objection was taken to that
moral to Its terms none To the fact OF its presen
ation after the TO which referred had left this
body II received in the usual manner and ordered
lie upon the table, and took the OF the other and
numerous memorials OF like character that have been
presented here since the passage OF the bill to which they
relate. hope, and think it would be wise and expe-
dent that this memorial should be received and disposed
OF IN the usual manner am quite sure II would be DO
ing injustice to the individuals who have signed il, many
OF whom personally known TO me, to ascTlbe to Them
any desire TO kndle angry passions or 10 embark IN Fo-
ical agitation | am we ought TO give them credit
for having expressed honestly and sincerely the feelings
and opinions they entertain IN relation TO this Measure
do not know that have any thing say upon
this subject. thought it was due in the relations In
which ! was placed in regard TO the memorial that
Mr.. PETIT. | am for the greatest liberty TO the
greatest number And shall not deny any class OF
ton they may appear-of whatever denomination they
may bethe right of petition. And under the general
term petition" provided for in the constitution. am
willing To embrace memorials and remonslrances OF what
ever name, kind, description they may be, provided,
always, they respectful to the Senate.
But this matter should be viewed in another highland
that is, as to the propey OF the time OF their presen,a
ton. The first obecl0n therefore, that make TO this
remonstance is not in relation TO it's terms, but to the
ng-is upon the basis and calculation, or hypothesis,
that good is out of it, that there something
pending, or likely to be pending to which It may refer
In that vew II is certainly too late to present this
mortal now; though for that care but little. The
bill TO which it relates has passed from usn all prob
ability, not to to US; have done deed. for
good for evil for veal or for woe and we are to re-
ceve the righteous judgment of the people, suppose.
and OF the Almighty for having done that deed Isup-
pose these memoriasts intend to convey the idea,
although they do not say so in words that in subecng
ourselves TO the righteous judgment Of the Almighty
those judgments TO be terrible and fearful, and to
be torment and misery and punishment to US
However, shall not construe it, for my grati
cation at least am willing to take it for granted that
the righteous judgments OF the Almighty held in reserve
for US, will be those Of approval and reward. doubt
not that shall all receive through our fellow citizens
and through the whole country, that judgment Of reward
and approval. But as have said before, the bill was
passed from us not to reurn gone entirely TO the other
House And as to the mere question OF the proprety OF
plng tables up with these remonsrances against
measure already passed, Why can see no propriey in
But the senator from Mississippi [A1r ADAMsl says he
has great respect and great for the cergyor
the ministers OF the Gospel as such-while they keep
their robes unspotted and pure and white; but when
they descend to the turbd pool Of politics. and get bedab
bled all over with the mud and slime and filth that he
would make you believe found in that pool OF politics.
he says he then should lose all respect for them and
should L. if could be led to believe that the waters OF
the pool OF politics more filthy than the waters which
flow through their contradictory streams of theology
should believe with that senator if thought the waters
OF the pool OF politics were no more pellucid and pure,
cheering and heahful, than the waters OF the
pool which surround their stagnantd dogmas OF theology
no two OF them agreeing upon any one proposition But
totally incompetent 1uQge IN tnS m&tteI 10e6e
men, has been well SAID by the from Virginia.
Mr. MASON, have not come to you as citizens OF the
United States claiming to exercise under the constitution,
as secular citizens Of the United Sates their right OF
tton al all times But they shall be denied that
right by me, whether they the OF citizens
not But they have not demonstrated here in their own
names citizens in behalf OF their fellow citizens
But they clam to here the ambassadors, they
tell us, OF higher and Omnpoent power. In the name
we declare ,hs and that and the other thing to You
in the OF God they declare these thngs and under
the sanction Of His authority will they say that to them
alone has God given the power 70 divuge or TO divine
His will and law upon earth Well sir, being totally
competent avowing here my total incapacity and nabi-
ty to expound, divine, and illustrate that law, shall
leave different forum and in different place They
do not say that sbll will njure the country-hat ia
wrong to their feowcitizens and to themselves but
they say il is violation OF law OF Him, their master,
who sent them. The propriety OF such remonstrance
may we'll be ques,oned yet shall not undertake to
question it, sU'a
This is, then, an ecclesiastical, and not political
question. They have Withdrawn il from the political
They have said that they sent by their di-
vine Creator, the maker and entorcer OF the divine law
and commissioned to launch his thunders upon de-
voted heads, his anathemas and hisjadgmens. Now
secular body, entirely incompetent TO Judge Of
what that law is, whether we have offended II or not
These men say they commissioned TO expound II TO
earth Bat inasmuch as the Senate have provided
themselves for all these contingencies when the judiciary
OF the country when the people, IN their ecees,asca ca
pacy, send their petition or memorial here, they under
stand that competent to understand their interests
and provide for them suppose they have taken this
win view oi meeu0K present COnulNOn vi
Senate. We have provided ourselves with officer OF
that law egpounder OF the divine law brother OF the
cass with those who demonstrate here, an officer OF
this body, who from his age, his high sandng his many
endorsements here, 10 understand 10 as capable at
least and being selected by body OF the amount of learn
ing and intelligence that this Senate has, ought 10 be
peror, think, any oil them. And as he is an officer OF
that law which these say we have violated and out
ragged will suggest, at any rate, and believe shall
propose that this remonstrance be referred to the Rev.
Henry Sicer, chaplain OF this Senate, for examination
and report thereon. [.aughter1 Now, want TO know
whether the officer OF the Senate whom have elected
and appointed to expound the divine law and the divine
WILL upon his responsbility--I will not say oath OF Office
officer OF this Senate after camly and deliberately
weighing action here and comparing II with the whole
tendency and bearing and spirit OF the revealed will OF
God will say that have violated that law. IL
he will, then believe shall be ready TO reac my voie
and vote to adopt his report believe would 90 to my
colleagues in the other House, and beg them for Gods
sake send the bill back here that we mkht retrac our
support OF IT.
This then is an ecclesiastical question; we are threaten
ed with the anahemas and hunders OF the Almighty ter
violating His law, of which, secular body here. we
are no Judges, though have provided ourselves with
an officer who Judge OF that law and to him, think,
this whole matter ought to be referred think that
would be disespecu to Of the memoriasts pc
iitioDers. They claim that they gentlemen OF the
cloth that they preachers OF the Gospel Well sir,
we have one here who il gentleman oil the cloh--a
preacher OF the Gospel Of long experience and should
be extremely glad to have his Official report upon this
question to whether we are in danger whether we
in fact have the Just and righteous Judgments of God
hanging over us If il be in order, will move that this
memorial be referred to the Rev. Henry Scer chaplain
nj IN Sonae nj the limited Statps TIau9htey