The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-15

arragn ths Senate Of the United States In the name
- e. q I 1
confederates. He could bde his time; the day would
come when not man could be found who would say he
ever was opposed to the great American principle Of self
Mr HOUSTON again spoke.
Mr SxwARD Gree soi) Of NJ Y, said he did not intend
TO be drawn into any discussion the Nsbaska b
but he had few words to say concerning the ucdent
leading to this discussion The motion not to receive the
petition was out Of order because the petition had been
received The other notion to refer the matter to the
Chaplain. was not seriously meant
Mr. PEnn-K the rules win allow il, will insist
rules admitted such notion therefore II would
pressed The Senator from Illinois and others having
expressed their sentiments have no objection to the
desire though he did not believe this the right
to reply to memorials and protests from the people but
rial he asked to DO the sane He then ssid the prs
senaton OF this memorial here ID wrong IL s either in
regard TO time place. or circumstance, character Of
makes think those who will reflect on tho subject
viii see no censure justly be cast upon the
rast in regard to time 1t has been the habtual prac
tee Of the Senate to receive memorials upon not
yet before body for action which might
Of such character the memorials upon the subject
OF liberty Of conscience to American citizens in foreign
countries which have been received without question
This matter was subject Of legitimate consideration
Tor The Senate Although the Senate had acted, its
ton yet inchoate and liable to be reviewed When the
bill hall pass the other House. ever 1t does 1t proba
bly, viii come back with amendments Even II this were
convinced
of memoalists otherwise that they had acted un-
wiz ely and injuriously If So 1t is not too late to re
scind our action We take to repeal the
act II 1t shall pass Was there anything wrong in
pec the character of the who
this memoriay It is said they cergymen but they
nevertheless American citizens, and the broader
qualification Of citizenship the lesser and
ferior character and description Of cergymen Every
man who citizen Of the United Sates and according
citizen, yet Is subject of the United States government
has right to petition the Congress Of the United States
upon any subject Of national interest which can be
legitimately subject of legislation Is there then any
well grounded objections to the fact that they describe
themselves as cergymeni Certainly not 1t is the right
he thinks there is in his character position
which entities his opinion to higher consideration
which leads to the belief that he understands the subject
himself by the appeation which designates his profess
sion his character his Office It is only this prn
deschnS II as
lures of States They come here with their resolutions
in character of petitions remonstrances under that
provision Of the constitution which guarantees the right
Of petition and upon no other ground Of constitutional
right whatever Is there any well grounded objection to
the language the time Of the memorals think not
While on the one hand It is such memorial q secular
person like myself would not be apt to dictate sign,
because there is solemny of tone seriousness and
Affect yet the other hand IT is professional and
natural the part Of the memoriasts. It Ia in the
character Of those who make It, 1t said they
to speak the will and Judgment and pleasure Of the Gre
ator and Judge of and nations do understand
them as assuming to speak such thing understand
them the saying in as
the presence Of Almighty God and in his name address
the Congress Of the United States" What is wrong
here any day during the session without acknowedg
ing and declaring that you begun in the and
in the name and with an invocation and blessing Of
Mr. M4soE-If the Senator will look at the memorial he
viii find that the gners carefully exclude their charac
ter Of citizens They speak Of themselves al cergymen
In Cod md IN pv,1nko
the protest.
MI. sEwARD-Im may agree to the fact that they do
not state their citizenship but believe there Is dis
rute of the fact that they citizens Of the United
tates.
Mr. MAsox-Non ccnstat
Mr. sEwARD-I say that it is practically known to ns
that the clergy Of this country persons invested with
the rights Of citizens. They came here declaring that
universal and Eternal Presence in which we are all every
day and hour of lives and from which We never
iSs even " u r 70 WSs
that but mode of arresng attention to their earnest
emonstrance and prayer while there occasions which
the Almighty, ii is equally true that all our actions
ought to be in the name Of the Supreme Being We may
put of lay aside the thoughts Of that awful presence
during secular labors and during life Of care
fusion and turmoil but when come to close our eyes
upon the world cannot shut them without the re6ec
ton that here in the sight Of the Judge Of all
men Every man when he writes his viii or instructions
for those to after him reces that Is done n the
name Of God" should not adopt this mode Of address
but know it is the habit 1t is in the character Of those
who have signed this memorial. l see no objection
to it. it disrcspectful to the Senate Of the Uni
ted States that men should say they speak to
them in the name Of God and in His pre-
senceS it be SO, 1t must be because we
government and providence of that Being in whom,
whom, we i've and through whom we exist upon earth
1t is also objected that there is another offensive remark
that the memoraliss think the against which
they protest immoral in its nature and that among it's
consequences it will draw down upon us-not upon the
Senate but upon the natonthe judgments Of Almighty
immoral There is neutrality between morality and
immortality We may conscientiously differ in ascertain
moral immoral These think it Is of one character
others think differently 1t is right to act let them
think what they will It is their right to tell us
their opinion just as they understand and be-
leve. BY the judgments Of God understand this
that every human act Of any magnitude s connected
right act is connected with usefulness happiness and all
the blessings of just rules and to those acts which,
whether we deer them moral or immoral, whether in
consequences of error, danger, peril unhappness and
ruin This in my Judgment is all the expression means
Mr.. BUnER-I ask the Senator whether in his opinion,
signed it had the paper before them at the time they
sgnedt It Purported to have been signed on the LIST
of March, and the bill passed the Senate the Sd. Will
he tell whether they did did not sign their names
blindly without seeing the memorial
Mr.. SEwARD-The Senator will excuse me from answer
ing his question for have not gone nearer to the paper
to look at II than am when stand at my desk.
Mr.. Bur1xx-I venture to say they saw the me-
morial-they could not have done It.
Mr. SEwARDI was saying, these persons being clergy
men-being devoted to the service of God an 1
the care of souls--have language OF their own,
and that in this language they have embodied their
opinions Of secular question: and In II there ID nothing
which by just construction ought to give offence. come
now to the close Of what have to say, which Is that
regard this q question of idle Importance. TIL
right Of petition is constitutional right, an nvauabl
one, and shall be found criticising languag
Of petitioners to whether have for cav
jecton Petitioners may say precisely what they please
and what they Think in whatever tone language they
think proper They may use, for me- whatever epithe
they pleasethey may invoke my head any judgment
they please-still, with conscience void Of offenc
against God and man, can go on here performing my
duties precisely what they said had been in Lam
guage Of courtesy, compliment and Of praise For this
have risen to vindicate the memorial and to do
justice to those from whom II has
Mr.. BADGER, CMhig) of N. c., contended that despite
the special pleading Of the Senator from New York. the
memorasts did assume to speak in the name Of the Al
mighty. He thought these mem0ralists were Of the
character given by Scott to Parson Alack
aack he II good enough but jealous" After
speaking time he moved to lay the subject on the
table, which was agreed to-
The K0UrA CASE.
Mr. BELL, (whg) of Tenn offered resolution calling