The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-17

len, that 40 my Judgment Il dae 10 the government,
and 70 the pubhc trust which have hitherto admins
tered that should cary out the policy OF the govern
menl and refuse 10 recognise these ministers o the Cos.
pei 60 nomns move therefore, that the petition be not
/ OF its character.
/ Mr. BADGER. lthas been received
4 Mr. BUTLER Me- President, this petition, as the
senator from North Carolina remarks, has been received,
and all that ls lett for do is to protest against the
pEoestans have great respect for the pulpii ia.
deed such is nay respect for il that would almost sub
mil 10 rebuke from minister of the Gospel even IN my
official capacity. But, sir, when organization,
for the hrs me, believe. in the history OF this govern
ment, ol clefgymen within local pfecinct--wlin the
limits OF New England-when see those who assume.
the senator from Texas has said be the ycegerens
OF Heaven coming to the Senate OF the United States,
not even as citizens, my friend from Virginia Mr.,
MAsoE has Justly remarked but the organ OF God,
10 protest against the action OF This body cannot with
hold my dlsapprobaon OF them, They do not come
beEe petinoning or presenting their views under the
sanconng obligation OF responsibility citizens under
the constitution of The United States but they have ed to
quit and step into the political arena and speak
as ibe otgah of Almighty God. Sir, they 10 be
the forenan OF the jury which is 10 pronounce the
die, OF the judgment OF God upon earth They do not
protest ordinary citizens do but they mingle in their
protest what they would have believe is the judgment
| OF The Almighty. When clergymen quit the province
which is assigned themquit thai province in which they
dispense the Gospeltha Gospel which s represent
ed as lamb, and not as tiger lion, which would
make and agitaionwhen they would convert their
craft into lion going about seeking whom he may de-
vour instead OF becoming The meek and lowly represent
atyes OF Christ they dvest themselves OF all the respect
which entertain ior them Sir, they are the represent
alves OF the lamb-he pure lamb OF Christ. Now, |
know not wna ends they intend to accomplish who have
signed this paper shall not say word against them
as individuals No doubt they mostly good men and
ganize themselves cleTgymen and come before their
country and protest against the OF The Senate
OF the United States they deserve at least the grave
Mr. ADAMS Mi, President, during the discussion of
the Nebraska bill which recently passed tais body did
not open my mouth, nor should now but for some re-
lima hiatt thad GiaHaa Iaxn
Mr. HousToN one OF my old and particular tlends My
friend from Texas says there ag atoD and that he pre-
dcted j. and that the display upon your table Is an evil
dence o agitation Suppose there is agitation, at whose
door does the fault lie if there be fault Was the action
OF this body right il wrong Ii we did what was
right and proper according the republican institutions OF
this country and agitation grows out OF IT, the RESPONSE
by neither rests upon the distinguished senator who
introduced this bill nor upon those who voted for it.
What was that action This body by its vote removed a
legislative upon the institutions OF the South
passed thirty ago, under which the South has la
bored from that day TO this but for the sake OF peace and
union, has submitted to it until now, wheD for the first
time in thirty years, that legislative censue could be
peaed and the southern States placed where the constu
'ion places them--upoa political equality with the
northern States. Then we are committing very great
outrage when We simply that the people OF every por
ton OF this country within the limits of constitutional
authority shall be governed by their own laws and in their
own way That is the whole OF the offence.
! concur with my friend from South Carolina with re-
gard TO the petition which has been presented and laid
upon the table Ii is addressed the Senate and House
of Representatives by body of ministers OF the
Gospel. trust have high regard for that vocation
any other individual respect highly those ministers
OF peace and good dwi!! on earth; but when they de-
scend from their high vocation and mnge in the turbld
pools of politics. then treat them just as would all
other ctzens-l treat their memorial and renonstrance
precisely as would that OF other citizens 1t is so un
like the apostles and ministers OF Chris. IN the early days
OF Christianity that their remonslance loses the potency
which they would suppose il be entitled from their
styling themselves the ministers OF the Gospel. The
early Christian ministers attended TO their mssion-the
one which was given TO them by their Maser-and, un-
der all circumstances refused to entange themselves with
the appropriate duties OF civil government Our Saviour
when upon earth, could be induced to give opn
ion In reference TO the municipal powers OF the govern
meni lie refused 10 do so upon all occasions hese
individuals however have descended from their high es
tate assai the action OF this body Therefore, though
consider the distinguished senator from Massachusetts,
M EVERETT, in presenting the petition, did wha, he
considered TO be his duty, remakng al the same time
that from the high character OF the petitioners, he hoped
the petition would receive all the respect which due
10 IT, nevertheless regard thus memorial as entitled to-
and having received. respec, than coming
from an equal number OF private citizens
tune again to differ with my friends in relation to this
measure but that difference is not sufficient to induce
me 10 enter into the discussion OF IT, But will
discuss the proprety OF this memorial. Gentlemen mis-
apprehend It's character entirely think They say it
nvokes-ss understand the senator from Virginia Mr.
MAsosl to assertthe vengeance OF Almighty God upon
Mr MASON In substance it does, as [ under
stand it,
MIR. HOUSTON. There is no invocation contained in
probation OF the measure then pendsg before the Senate
OF the United States, without word contained in II de-
rogatory 10 the Senate OF the United States IL was
drawn up before the had passed this body and
there is no invocation oil wrath vengeance upon the
members OF this Senate IL is respectful protest. in the
name OF Almighty God Now, sir, when was up be-
FORE IN designating their vocation used the expression
1 oi vcegerens OF the Almighty. | merely intended by
that TO say that they the barbngers OF peace TO
their ielow-men; and il II iapsus hngua to call
them vicegeents, or If II inappropriate term, IT
does not change The intention that then had in making
use of the expression believe that IT nothing less
than extraordinary emergency which diverted these
men from their ordinary pursuits in the ministry OF the
Gospel and rendered II necessary for them engage at
all in political matters, or TO step upon the verge OF
1 the political arena.
We are told that it intended for agia,ion--,hat il
ls manifestation OF agitation. Sir, cannot view it,
The thing already done, inevitable far as
the action OF this body concerned and this is of
the deveopmenshis is one OF the consequences Of that
act.
I For my part, can nothing wrong in the
moria II ministers OF the Gospel not recognised by
,ulion OF society They recognised in the constu
4 ton OF mans salvation. The Great Redeemer OF the
world enioned it upon mankind OF their duties.
There is the moral constitution from which have de-
rived all the excellent principles OF political constu
tion-the great principles that moral social and
religious action Then, sir, do no, think that il is any
thing derogatory to institutions that ministers should
express their opinions They have the right do
so as other men. No one become minister without
first becoming He has political rights before he
has the rights OF missionary OF the Savour He is not
dislrancbsed by his vocation. II political restrictions
may be laid upon him, and he may be disqualified from
lg fho nj