Washington sentinel., 1854-03-15

riaze Congress in respectful terms. lie did not
know what the objec of the memorial was, put
he should suppose from its contents and from ine
character ofits signas, that the memoriallsts be-
lieved there was something radically wrong IN
that bill. They charged that il was violation OF
national faith. He had made the same charge
against il in debate. He had shown il was vio-
lation Of solemn plighted faith with the Indians,
and that il said 10 the Indians that all treaty obll-
cations were 10 be considered as nothing more
than solemn mockery. He had also said that the
repeal of the Missouri compromise was as fagrant
breach of faith as the violation of the Indian
treaties.
Mr. ii. said this matter had come unexpectedly
before the Senate. He saw nothing informal or
monstrous in the memorial II was dated on the
1st of March, and the bill passed the Senate on
the 9TH. II therefore was not got up after the bill
had passed II simply expressed the wishes Of the
signers Of il. The right ofpetition was one which
belonged 10 all American citizens, whether minis.
ters of the gospel or not II charged that the Ne
braska bill was violation of faith
He had in debate held that it did violate the ma
tiona faith pledged by solemn treaties 10 the In
dians. He regarded the repeal s-,the Missouri
compromise as fagrant violation OF faith as was
the setting aside of the Indian treaty stpulaiions.
He had predicted that the bill would lead TO agita
tion and this memorial, signed by over three
thousand ministers of the living God-his vice.
gerents on earth--was evidence OF 1t. He trusted
that the excitement had now reached its acme,
ana would soon De quleted. lie eafneslit nopeu
the country would soon be restored 10 the tran
quillty it enjoyed before that measure was intro
duced.
Mr.. MASON said that the rights of all citizens
OF the United States to petition either the Senate or
House upon any subject properly before Congress
was one which he hoped never 10 see denied
All such memorials should be received and treat
ed with the respect due TO them. He hoped never
10 see the day when the Senate would treat such
petitions in any other way.
aI hoy cnF, I'll,
different from others. 1t came from a class of
persons who had laid aside the character of Amer
lean citizens and addressed their petition as minis.
ters of the Gospel They petitioned as ministers
of the Gospel, and not as citizens As ministers
Of the Gospel, they had come here and denounced
the action of the Senate. They did not stop there.
In their character as minister's they had the te.
merity 10 threaten the Senate with the vengeance
ofthe Almighty, whom they protessed TO serve
Such language was not respectful TO the Senate.
Ministers of the Gospel, as such, were unknown
to the Constitution Of the United States, and God
forbid that they ever should. II had always been
the policy OF our people TO keep ministers Of the
Gospel and the government as far apart as possi-
BILE, and the wisdom Of that policy was made
manifest by the paper to-day presented. The
history of the world had shown the evils of asso-
catng them in any shape with government; they
always were arrogant. On this occasion they had
in the name Of the Almighty, invoked his ven
geance upon the Senate for measure Of political
legislation Let three thous or three hundred
thousand citizens Of New England send their
protest TO the Senate, and it would be treated
with respect But these memorialists do not
come here as citizens They come as ministers
Of the Gospel and, in the presence of their Master
and in his name, threaten his vengeance upon the
Senate for what they declare to be moral wrong.
Without any disrespect for HE petitioners person.
ally, or for their cloth-which, TO say the least,
they did not grace-he moved that the memorial
be not received
Mr.. BUTLER said he always entertained the
highest respect for cergymen, but these memo
rialists had abandoned the pulpit and entered the
political arena; and speaking as the vice-regents
of the Almighty, had presumed TO pronounce his
judgments upon the Senate They had abandoned
the religion which was typifed by the meek and
lowly lamb, 10 engage in political contests He
thought they deserved the censure ofthe Senate.
Mr.. ADAMS said that the act Of these memo
rialists was so different from the acts ofthe apos
tles that it lost all the potency which the signers
supposed their sacred calling would give 10 It.
Mr.. HOUSTON followed in further defence of
the menoralists.
Mr.. EVERETT explained that the memorial
was put in his charge just as the Senate met, and
he had presented it without having read it. He
did not know its contents until after it was pre-
sented. He believed it was si.ned before the Ne.
braska bill was passed by the Senate.
He did not believe the signers of it were actu-
ated by any political. motives They Were reli-
gious, sincere, and most intelligent body Of men,
not surpassed by any equal number in the Union
Of doing on all great moral questions-expressed
their sentiments. They intended no disrespect TO
the Senate.
Mr.. PETIT followed, and proposed that, as
the Senate had regularly chosen spiritual ad-
wiser, that the memorial be referred to the Rev.
Henry Slicer, chaplain to the Senate, with in
structions to report whether the Nebraska bill
was violation Of the law of God.
Mr.. DOUGLAS continued the debate. and was
followed by Messrs. SEWARD, HOUSTON, and
BADGER. And, on the motion Of the latter gen.
,leman, the subject was laid on the table.
SENATE REPORTING.
Mr.. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Prints
ing, to which were referred the letters Of Robert
Armstrong, proposing to surrender his agreement
for Senate reporting. and the letters of Tucker &
Overton and A. 0. p. Nicholson, proposing 10
enter in such arrangements, reported the same
back and asked TO be discharged from the further
consideration Of the same. The report was laid
on the table for the present.
Several resolutions Of inquiry were submitted
and agreedto.
And, after an executive session,
The Senate adjourned.