The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-16
The Remembrance Of the New England Cier'
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gymon.
The presentation 10 The Senate, on Tuesday, Of re-
monsirance against the Nebraska BILL signed by more
than three thousand New England clergymen, gave rise
Of the most exciting debates of The session The
petition was presented by Mr. Everett, with the state
ment tBa il was understood TO be signed by large
ohty of all the elergymsn OF New England eircum.
stance which shows with how much industry and energy
the opponents of the bill have sought excite and i'm
body the religious sentiments OF the northern people
The petition itself will attract attention a remarkable
paperJ II is as follows:
To the honorable e Sa and he House Of Representatives Of
the United stasss ia Congress assembled
The undersigned, clergymen of different religious de-
nominations IN New England, hereby ia The name OF al
mighty God, and in His presence, do solemny protest
against the passage OF what Is known the Nebraska
BILL" any repeal modification of existing legal proh
billions Of slavery la that part Of national domain
which is proposed TO organize into the Territories OF Ne
braska and Kansas.
We protest against great moral wrong breach
OF faith eminenty injurious the moral principles OF the
community. and sabversive of ali confidence in national
engagements; measure full OF danger to the peace
and existence OF beloved Union. and exposing
to the righteous judgments OF the Almighty
And your protestants, In duty bound will pray
Dated Boston, Massac husets this LIST day OF March,
A. ID. 1864.
Mr.. Douglas called the attention OF the Senate to the
petition, and dwelt with emphasis and severity upon this
interference the part of cergymen with the political
affairs OF the country He treated the remonslrance
response TO the circular issued by the leading abolition
lists in Congress upon the introduction of the Nebraska
bill He denounced it asserting arocious ialsehood
and an arocous calumny against the Senate, and that It's
authors had pros,uted the pulpit, posuied the sacred
desk to the corupting influence Of party politics. He
fall ha hnfx a. IN fhn dupt
OF men who, either from ignorance wilfu false know
edge, will avail themselves OF their sacred calling to
ragn the conduct Of senators in the discharge of their
duties Mr. Douglas said that there seemed 10 be at
tempt to pile upon the tables Of senators offensive docu
mens SANDER after SANDER libel after libel order that
the abolition press may copy as coming from the rec
ods of the Senate, and 90 back and give it credit in the
country He said these offensive documents Struggled
in and concealed from the knowledge of until
they happen look into them and what they contain
He said these gentlemen expect to carry on political
campaign by quoting from records that
traitors TO God, to their country, and 10 humanity.
He though, it time Tor the Senate 10 put stop to
the introduction into lis proceedings of such calumnies
upon their characters
Mr. Houston nothing informal or mons,rous in the
memorial He saw in i, no indgnity to the Senate 1t
that they had only exercised privilege which belonged
to all American citizens.
Mr. Mason would not deny to any citizen the privilege
Of memoalizng Congress; but this petition came from
class of persons who had laid aside the character Of Amer
citizens and addressed their petition as ministers Of
the Gospel AS ministers OF the Gospel, they had come
here to denounce the action OF the Senate In their char
acer ministers OF the Gospel they had the temerty to
threaten the Senate with the vengeance OF the Almighty
whom they proiessed TO serve. Such language not
respectful the Senate Without any disrespec for the
petitioners personally, for their cloih--whch 10 say
the least, they did not gracehe opposed TO the
ception of the memorial
Mr. Butler said these memorialiss had abandoned the
religion, which ypihed by the meek and lowy lamb,
10 engage 10 political contests He had great respect for
clegymen but these memoriaiss had abandoned the
pulpit for the political arena he thought they deserved
TO be Iesuked.
MIR. Adams conlrasted The conduct OF the memo
ralisls with the acts OF the Apostles, and said that
they had lost the potency which the signers supposed
their sacred calling would give it.
Mr. Everett said he had presented the petition with
uot reading it, He did believe the sgners OF it
ua,ed by political motives. They religious, sin.
cee, and most intelligent, body of men. They intended
no dsrespect to the Senate.
Mr.. Petit excited good deal OF merfimen by sug-
gestng that the memorial be referred TO the chaplain OF
the Senate for report as !; seemed 10 involve theo-
logical instead of political question
The debate was continued with much animation by
Messrs. Seward, Hunter Douglas, and Badger and on
the motion OF Mr. Badger, the subject was laid on the
table
We have given this brief synopsis OF the debate for
the purpose OF bringing distinctly 10 the minds OF our read
ers the character of the opposition which is auayed
against the Nebraska bill What is there IN the SIMPLE
proposition TO authorize the people Of the Territories TO
regulate their own domestic in their own way,
unebarassed by congressional or treaty restrictions,
which should eglmaely provoke this religious crusade
against the measurei II there be any question Of faith
involved in the matter it is strictly political and not re-
gious faith Upon the preiext the clergyman may
regard every existing law resting upon the faith oil The
government and make every proposition TO repeal exist,
ing laws the occasion OF religious excitement. Mr.
Everett cannot relieve these reverend gentlemen from the
charge OF lending themselves and their sacred Offices
the schemes Of ambitious politicians We hardly know
how any one can have much charity as TO excuse
them on the supposion that they ignorant that
they were mere tools OF such abolition leaders Chase
Sumner Gddngs, and Seward. These leaders took the
start OF all others this question: and in their pro-
gramme OF opposition direc, appeal to the relg