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

themselves as elegymen Certainly not because il is
the right and privilege OF every man, il he petition
al all to present bis petition 10 his way. II he
thinks that there is anything in his character position
which entities his opinions to higher consideration
and If he thinks that he understands the subject more
fully han Others is his right to describe himself By the
appellaton which desgnaies bis profession his func
lon or his character. Il is only in This way that the
legislatures OF States make their views known TO Con-
gessby describing themselves the legislatures oil the
States They come here with their resolutions only
der and by virtue OF the provisions OF the constitution,
which guarantees TO the citizen the right OF petition
Is there any wellgrounded objection 10 the language
which is contained in this memorial, or to lone
think not On the other hand while il is such petition
as secular person like myself would not be likely TO
sign-whe there Is solemny OF tone, serious and
religious consideration, 10 which secular do not al
ecye il Serious solemn, and religious in the opinion
OF those who have signed it, lii said that they assume
10 speak the will and the Judgment OF the Creator, do
not understand them assuming 10 speak any such
thing | understand them TO say simply this; 1--WE,
citzens OF the United Saies"describing themselves
clergymen-" in the presence OF Almighty God and IN
His name, address you" What is there unusual or
wrong about this You do not commence your sessions
here any day without doing SO in the presence, in me
name, and invocation OF the blessings, OF Almighty
God.
Mr.. MASON. II the senator will look at The memo.
rial he will find that the sgners are careful TO exclude
their characters citizens that they speak OF them
selves cergymen, who, IN the name OF Almighty God
and in His presence protest against the action OF the
Senate
Mr. SEWARD may agree with the honorable SEN
ato that they do the fact OF their citizenship
of their character citizens But believe that there is
no dispute with regard to the fact that they citizens
Mr.. MASON, Tin his seat) Non consia.
Mr. SEWARD. assume that IT is so. The clergy
of this country not generally persons who are
not invested with the rights OF citizenship is objected
that they that they &C, in the presence OF Almighty
God Ii is that eternal and universal presence IN which
we all are every day and hour and moment OF lives
in The name OF Almighty God Sir. what is that but
mode OF aresng and calling attention to the solemny
which, in their Judgment attaches to this important, oc-
cason. There times when suffer ourselves
to forget what on more ordinary occasions we TOO often
orgettha all our action is, or ought TO be, IN The name
OF the Supreme Being. We may put of and put aside
the thoughts OF Almighty God during secular labors
and during life Of hustle and confusion, turmoil and
care, but when come 10 close our eyes upon this
world, every of us, when he comes to write his will,
or his instructions TO those who are to come after him,
reci,es that il is in the name Of God that i Is done
have already said that should not adopt this mode of
addressing the Senate or Congress II not my habit TO
do but know that II 10 The habit OF those who sign
this remonsance is in the way OF their profession their
calling and, seeing that II their privilege TO adopt
language not dsrespecal TO and see objection
that account is disrespecul 10 the Senate OF the
United States and TO Congress- that men should speak to
them in the name oil God and declare that they speak
in His presence Ii be must be that claim TO
be exempt from the experimenting government OF Provi
dence, OF Him in whom we live, and move, and have
being"
But it is said tina, The close of this there
another remark that ia oBensveand that is, that II
immoral in its nature, and will draw down upon us-not
upon the Senate, but upon the American peope-thc
judgments OF Almighty God. Sir. this question is either
moral or immoral There is no neutrality between NOR
ay and immortality. II may be that may conscien.
tiousy in determining its charac,er-whether is
moral or immoral These persons tell us that they think
il is immoral We have right to act let them think
what they WILL They have the right TO tell whether
they think moral immoral As to the judgments of
Almighty God, understand simply this: that every hu.
man OF any importance magnitude is connected
with preceding causes and with subsequent conse.
quences that there is connected with right act the
sequence of usefulness benehcence, happiness, and all
the blessings OF just and that, the other hand
those acts, whether moral immoral, whether inten.
tonalIy wrong right, which unwise connect
ed with the consequences OF danger, unhappness
ruin This is, in my judgment, all that the expression
means But these citizens belong class who see d.
recily SPECIAL and discriminating direction Of Proyi.
dence of the affairs OF men.
Mr.. BUTLER, (in,erposlng.) wish 10 bring one
thing the notice OF the SENATOR II he will allow
do Is it his opinion from inspection Of that paper
that the cergymen who signed il bad the memorial be-
fore them al the time purports 10 be signed upon the
first OF March Is the appearance that the persons
signed their blndy, without seeing the memorial
Mr.. SEWARD. The senator will excuse me but
have not been that paper than now am, here in
my Rla CUTLER We'll. .i, saw thew D.v., saw ,b,,
paper-they could not have seen IT.
MIR. SEWARD. | saying this These persons
being clergynen, and having mode OF their own, Ian
guage OF their for the expression OF their opinions
upon secular questions, see in 1t nothing which, by just
construction, is cause of offence.
Now, sir come TO the close OF what have 10 say on
this whole matterand that is, that regard this question
oil no small importance The right 10 petition
constitutional right and is useful-an invaluable one
For shall never be found cncsng the language of
petitions and circumstances TO whether find
sufficient cause Tor their rejection Petitioners and me-
moriass may say precisely what they please and pre-
cisely what they think. They may towards me any
language that they please They may invoke upon my
head any judgment that they please still, study
ing 10 learn the right, and pursue II firmly, can with
conscience void OF offence against Goa or man, per-
form my duty, leaving them in the enjoyment of their
notwithstanding TO all they have TO say precisely If il
bad been rendered in the language OF courtesy praise
which Is always so acceptable
Ii Is from desire and purpose that this right OF petition
shall receive injury from the debate Of this morning,
OF this subject, find no for rebuke My motion
is, that this petition be laid upon the table, unless
senators wish to continue the debaie,
Mr.. BADGER | think we have given rather more
importance to thus memorial than it's intrinsic merits
title il to- have doubt at all that what is said by
my honorable friend from Massachusetts IL strictly true
that the gentlemen who signed that paper belong class
Of highly respectable and excellent | could say
probably with regard 10 each OF them what Sir Walter
Scott makes Cromwell say OF Rev Mr. Holdenough one
OF his cavaliers Alack aaek, good man, doubt,
but over-zealoos"
These gentlemen do not come here in the character OF
petitioners They do not come here the character OF
remonsrsnts They do not here the character OF
memoralists But they come here ptoeslers, and
protes sting not IN their name, with the individual
weight and authority which might be attributed to their
protest account OF their own intelligence and worth,
not merely with the weight and authority which might be
supeadded 10 these other considerations ro the fact OF
their being ministers OF The Gospel Ii is impossible 10 look
at this paper without seeing that the from New
York Mr. SEwARD1 has special pleaded upon the sub
iaarf nj ~hx,