Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-18

4
the legislation of former Congress was too low,
too pitiful, have originated in the heart head
Of any man not lost 10 all sense of honor, truth,
and Justice"
Mr.BADGER. Quite complimentary Laugh
ter a
Mr.. DOUGLAS. Very complimentary in.
deed. Renewed laughter. How Christian
like! How chaste for the pulpit! Perhaps it
was wise to use it in the pulpit if it must be
used at'all; for, upon my word, / know of no
other place where it could be used with impu-
nifty Could such language be used in de-
cent gentleman's house; could it be used upon
the public street; could it be used in public
meeting; could it be used anywhere, among
gentlemen, without dissolving all the social re-
lations, If i did not lead to still severer conse-
quenees? have never been taught that the
pulpit was the place where insult is to be poured
forth, where epithets are to be hurled, where
SANDER can be Illuminated with impunity; and
for the reason that it is the pulpit and the Sab
bath day, no man can reply or expose the false
hood. If he attempt to expose it afterwards,
he is accused of profanity, of infdelity, and OF
making war upon our holy religion But again,
sir, find:
"But how shallow plea, how himsy mask is
tins! II 1t We're not impossible TO marvel much at
the shifts and devices Of those who make politics
WHICH all integrity. ana Vlr-
tue, and good faith 10 win The objects ofiheir per-
sonal ambition, we might marvel greatly at this
resort of our honorable senator"
| Sir, this gentleman is one Of my constituents,
but have never seen him. believe he emf
| grated from the town, or certainly from the
State of my friend from Connecticut* Mr..
ToUCEY very recently, so that have not
the honor Of his acquaintance; and do not
know that | shall be particularly anxious to
form the acquaintance of such Christian
teacher He does not teach that charity, and
kindness, and good will on earth, which GER
tainly. my mother and my preacher were in the
habit of instilling into my youthful mind.
Sir, do not wish to occupy time unnecessa-
rily; but feel that the Senate are entitled to
know how much weight is due to the opinions
OF these gentlemen who now claim to speak by
the authority Of the Almighty upon political
question; and feel that it is due that the Sen
ate should know the character of the sermons
which they preach in their pulpits on political
questions. We are told that on a sim gle day,
within the last month, one thousand FIVE hun
dred or two thousand sermons of this character
were preached in the New England States /
| have seen extracts from over five hundred of
them, and my impression is that this is a fair
sample of the whole, and is as free from pro-
family and vulgarity as the average of them. !
have now before me specimen, a choice speci-
men. to which / wish to call the special atten-
ton of my friend from North Carolina, for /
know that he will enjoy it. It's from the same
sermon:
"Why, if we TO measure the intellectual
strength and stature of the giants of these DAYS by
such exhibitions as this, the fable of Jack the
Giant Killer might find realization in the proves
OF any child of ten years who sits before me- who
has read the dictionary and The sixth and ninth
commandments"
There! Who does not admire the beauty
and wit of this passage2 Is he not worse
than an infdel who doubts that the word was
received at Goods mouth2'
| The reverend orator proceeds to argue the
question, but | will pass by his argument.
| Nearly everything which is stated in it as a
fact can prove to be untrue by the records OF
Congress; but am rather deferred from doing
SO, because he assures us he received the words
| "at Gods mouth" and therefore the records of
Congress must be false Sir, in this line OF
argument we have not fair chance. He over
rules, by a single expression, all our arguments,
destroys all our facts reverses the history of
the country, annihilates and expunges all the
records to which we are accustomed for the
evidences Of truth in former legislation He
! says: f..3
| points and arguments embraced under this head
of the subject And after this review, and after
many weary day and night of thought and read
ing in reference to it find il neither in my judg-
! ment nor my conscience to say but one thing OF
the proposed abolition of the Missouri covenant,
and that is: that, il consummated, it would be a
most fragrant breach of honor, truth, good faith
and Justice worthy of Nero Napoleon Ill ,
but unworthy of any man in whom there dwes
the least reverence for human right or divine pre-
! cept.n
Well, that is his opinion of us ALL If he
only knew how bad it makes us feel for him to
say So surely he would not have been so cruel
as to have said it. 1t is gratifying to know,
however, that there is small minority on this
floor who have escaped this severe chastse-
ment
cit is ia this regard that il is fit to say TO our
rulers ard Legislators who advance and advocate
this measure, we do wicked and ungodly thing
one which Will not merely call down upon your
heads the execrations of an indignant people bur
| the curse of an angry Judge who from His high
| throne in heaven looks down and watches all the
| affairs of men,"
| thus we were all excommunicated--exco
muncated by the authority of the Almighty,
and the people were invited to visit upon us
their Indignation and disgrace As I said be-
fore, some Of the people responded Immediately
by hanging and burning me in efigy, perhaps
in this reverend gentleman's presence, certainly
within few doors of his residence Yet, con-
fess, ! have not full faith that he possessed
either the power of prophecy or of revelation.
| doubt his authority. In another passage,
speaking of Congress, he says:
!" A total disregard of all these measures of pub
lie concern neglect even Of the most indispen-
sble and ordinary business of our Congress, the
wheels OF government almost stopped, the sena-
tors and representatives. may plot, and war; and
wrangle, for the violation of the national honor ,
private and public claims, at home and abroad
cast CONTEMPORARY aside, or thrown into the gulf
of oblivion which yawns beneath the table and
committee"
Thus you have the Judgment of heaven pro.
nounced upon all here. have great many
to share with me in the responsibility. This
man says he receives the word at Gods mouth;
of course, therefore, you cannot disbelieve him.
Speaking of the effect of the bill, and the mo-
tives for its passage, he says:
"All harmony, and ORDER and quiet, and sta
n q all frut nd ou 4