Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-06-05

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HON. CHARLES UMN RI :,
Defence of the Clergy,
Pn..age Of the Nebra.l.n BilI.


tlgue the Senate by argument There is a
time for all things, and the time for this has
| passed. The determination OF the majority is
| fixed but is not more fixed than mine. The
| bill which they sustain, | oppose. On a
former occasion, | met it by argument, which
though oiten attacked III debate still stands
unanswerable. At present am admonished
! that must be content with a few words OF
earnest protest against the consummation of a
great wrong. Duty to myself, aud also to
the honored Commonwealth of which | lind
myself the sole representative in this lmme-
date exigency, will not allow me to do less
But have a $ &c al duty which would
not omit. l have on my desk remon-
strances against the passage OF this bill, some
OF which have been placed in my hands since
the commencement of the debate to-day-and
1 desire that these voices, direct from the pep
pie, should be heard. With the permission Of
the Senate, will offer them now.
The Chair, (Mr. Stuart.) The remon-
strances can be received by unanimous con-
! sent.
Several voces-Let them be received.
The Chair.-The Char hears no objection.
Mr.. Sumner.-Taking advantage of this
! permission, now present the remonstrance OF
large number of citizens of New York against
the repeal OF the ssouri Compromise.
! ] also present the remonstrance of the cler-
4 gy and laity of the Baptist denomination il
i Michigan and Indiana, against the wrong and
| bad fa tn contemplated in the Nebraska bill.
| But this is not all.
hold in my hand and now present to the
| Senate l25 separate remonstrances from cler-
! gymen of every Protestant denomination, in
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, Connecticut, constitu-
finn hn CT Nav EoO1opd Statos frhoso ya
monstrances are identical in character with
the larger.one presented by my distinguished
colleague, Mr.. Everett whose term of ser
vice here ends in a few days, by voluntary
resignation. and who is ROW detained at home
by illness-and were originally intended as a
part Of it, but did not arrive i'll season to be
annexed to that weighty document. They are
independent in form, though supplementary
in their acknowledging to swell the protest
of the pulpits of New England.
With pleasure and pride now do this SER
vice, and, at this last stage, interpose the
sanctity of the pulpits of New England, to ar
rest this alarming outrage; believing that the
remonstrants, from their eminent character
and influence, as representatives of the intel
lgence and conscience of the country, are pc
cul arly entitled to be heard and. further,
believing their remonstrances, while respect
opinion and fact. Like them, sir, do not
hesitate to protest here against the bill yet
pending before the Senate. as a great moral
wrong, as breach of public faith, as meas
ure full Of danger to the peace, and even ex-
isteace of our Union. And, sir, believing in
God, as profoundly do, cannot doubt that
the opening of an immense region to SO great
an ehormity as slavery is calculated to draw
down upon our country his righteous judg-
ments.
"In the name of Almighty God, and in
his presence" these remonstrants protest
against the Nebraska bill. In this solemn
language, which has been strangely pro-
nounced blasphemous OH this floor, there is
obviously no assumption of eccles astical pow
er, as has been persersely charged, but simply
devout observance OF the scriptural injunc-
ton, "Whatsoe' er ye do, in word or deed, do
all i'll the name of the Lord. Let me add,
also, that these relnonstrants, in this very lam
guage, have followed the example of the Sea-
ate, which at this present session has ratified
at least ohe i'm portait treaty, beginning with
these precise words, g III the name of AL
m ghty Cod Surely, ii the Senate may thus
assume to speak, the clergy may do likewise
without just critc .sm, at least IN this body.
But am unwilling, particularly at this time,
to be betrayed iuto anything that shall seem
like a deielce OF the clergy. There is no such
thing at my hands. There are men in this
Senate justly eminent for learning, eloquence,
and ability; but there is no man here conpe
tent, except III his own concet, to sit in judy
ment on the clergy of New England. Hon
orable Senators, who have been SO swift with
criticism and sarcasm, IN ght profit by their
example. Perhaps the Senator from South
Carolina, Mr. Butler, who is not insensible
70 nhol irht lao III,
thing of its graces. Perhaps the Senator
from Virginia, Mr.. Mason, who finds no
sanction under the Constitution for any re-
monstrance from clergymen, might learn
from them something OF the privileges of an
American citizen. And perhaps the Senator
from illinois, Mr.. Douglas who precipitated
this odious measure upon the country, might
learn from them something of political wis
dom.
Sir, from the first settlement of these shores,
from those early days Of struggle and priva-
tion-through the trials OF the Revolution
the clergy have beeh associated, not only with
the pieLy and the lea ming, but with the liber.
ties OF the country. For long time, New
England was governed by their prayers more
than by any acts of the Legislature, aud, at
later day, their voices aided even the Declara-
ton of Independence. The clegy of our time
may speak, then, not only the virtues. but from
the echoes which yet live in the pulpits Of
their fathers.
For myself, desire to thank them for their
generous interposition. They have already
doue much good in moving the country. They
have already done much good in moving the
country. They will not be idle. In the DAYS
OF the Revolution, John Adams, yearning for
independence, said-"Let the pulpits thunder
against oppression!" And the pulpits thun-