Washington sentinel., 1854-03-15
C0ngrfssI0nal.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate-Tuesday, March II, 1854.

Mr.. PEARCE presented several memorials
praying an appropriation by Congress for the i'm
provement of the entrance Of the harbor at Balti-
more. He urged The Importance Of the work.
Mr. PRATT presented similar memorials, and,
after some remarks commencing the subject to the
attention ofthe Senate, moved their reference to
select committee Of five senators which motion
was agreed 10, and Messrs. PRATT, CLAYTON,
BRoDHEAp, CHASE, and RUsK were appointed the
committee.
NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMEN-NEBRASKA BILL.
Mr. EVERETT presented the mammoth me-
mortal signed by 3,050 clergymen of New Eag-
land, of different religious denominations, protest
ing against the passage of the Nebraska and Kan
sas bill, Mr. Everett spoke in high terms Of the
character of the signers, and moved that the me-
mortal be laid on the table.
Mr.. DOUGLAS asked that The memorial be
read. ",
The memorial was read as follows:
TO tie honorable the Senate and the House Of Rep
resentatiUeS of the United States i,s Congress as
Senabed.
The undersigned, clergymen ofdilierent religious
denominations in New ngland, hereby, ia the
name Of Ainlighfy God and in his presence do
solemny protest against the passage Of what is
known as the Nebraska bill" or any repeal or
modification Of existing legal prohibitions of slave
ry in that part of our national domain which it is
proposed 10 organize into the Territories OF Me-
We protest against it as great moral wrong !;
as breach Of faith eminently injurious to the
moral principles OF the community, and subvei sve
of all confidence in national engagements as
measure full OF danger TO the peace and even ex-
istence of our beloved Union, and exposing us 10
the righteous judgments Of the Almighty
And your protestants as in duty bound will ever
pray.
Dated at Boston, Massachusetts, this lst day of
March, A. ID, 1854. #4"
M A. NJ
tention Of the Senate TO the memorial. II is pre-
sented, after the action ofthe Senate, as pro-
test against our action, against the action in
which certainly two-thrds of this body concurred.
II protests against our action as being breach Of
faith as involving moral wrong, as destructive
OF all confidence, and as subjecting us 10 The
righteous judgment of the Almighty. II is pre-
sented too by denomination Of men calling them
selves preachers of the Gospel.
1t has been demonstrated in debate that there is
not particle of truth in the allegation of breach
of faith or breach of confidence II has been de-
monstrated SO clearly that there is no excuse for
man in the community who believes il any longer.
Yet here we find that large body al preachers
perhaps three thousand, following the lead Of
circular which was calculated 10 deceive and mis-
lead the public, have here come forward with an
atrocious falsehood and an atrocous calumny
against this body, and prostuted the pulpit, pros
tituted the sacred desk TO the miserable and cor
rnpting indnence of party politics. 1t matters not
whether they have mised the whole ofthe clergy
men of New England, and drawn them into this
pool ofdirty water. 1t matters not whetherthe mis-
representation has taken abroad scope or been con-
fined TO few. hold il is our duty to expose the
conduct of men who, either from ignorance or will
ful false knowledge, will avail themselves of their
sacred calling to arraign the conduct Of senators
here in the discharge of our duties. / hold that
this Senate is as capable of judging whether our
action involves moral turpitude, whether il in
wolves the subversion Of morals, whether it sub.
Jects us to the judgment of the Almighty, as are
these political preachers who do not understand
the question. II is evident that these men know
not what they are talking about 1t is evident
that they ought TO be rebuked and required TO
confne themselves 10 their vocation, instead Of
neglecting their holy religion and violating its
sacred principles, and truth, and honor, and get
ting up document here which is offensive, and
which no gentleman can endorse without violat.
ing all the rules OF courtesy, Of proprety, and of
honor.
There seems 10 be an attempt TO pile upon our
table offensive documents, SANDER after slander,
libel after libel in order that the abolition press
may copy il as coming from the records Of the
Senate, and go back and give it credit in the coun-
try. They are smuggled in here the offensive |
matter concealed from our knowledge until we
happen 10 look into them and see what they are /:
and then these gentlemen expect to carry on
political campaign by quoting from our own re-
cords that we are traitors to God TO our country |
and TO humanity. think it is time that this mis-
cradle system oil eectioneering by violating the |
rules and courtesies of the Senate 10 get an en-
dorsement of libes of which men ought TO be |
ashamed, should be exposed and rebuked. am
they shall come in and pile up slanders
OF this kind, insults Of that kind, upon our table, |
and lei II then be used for this base party purpose.
The Senate knows that this memorial is not in
tended 10 affect the action of the Senate. We
have no such bill before us. Our action on il is
passed. Why is il brought hcrea There can be no
other object in presenting il here now, than simply
10 afford capital for organizing great sectional
party and trying TO draw off the preachers of the
gospel into il. think that men ought TO be able
% rely upon argument, and upon truth, and upon
reason, instead of resorng TO these things for the
purpose Of stimulating excitement for political
ends.
MIR. HOUSTON said this matter had been
sprung suddenly upon the Senate. He saw no.
hing informal or monstrous in the memorial The
I'LL WIS passed on the morning Of March A. and
he memorial was dated on the lst. II therefore
vas signed when the bill was before the Senate.
lie saw nothing in the memorial that offered any
ndignty 10 the Senate, II simply expressed the
ceilings OF those who signed it. Il was the right