The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-21

Pofi armies. and 10 pr,giae ter and
support a navy. aHi io make naval
iorcs-. H. the ah.rHe. of 30 Limitations.
eencrs. or special !. il no! fair o. as.
sumo iha they were 20 lD thee .ph.
sianiially in the same mtpu-r a. h.d
been dotc before II 30. ,hrn thry
wcrc as iruiy empowered 10 appoint
generals or 10 enlist .pldrr.. Aicord.
'ngly. We find provision tor chaplain,
iu %, aci. Of 1891, of 1912 anil lSsS
~ lhe la.i there Is to br one 20 ,a.h
brigade iu the army; the nume,r .
limhc, 70 ihlfty. and these ia il,- .ua-i
desiiidte places. The chaplain :. also
10 discharge the duties Of schoolmlstrr.
The number in the navy is limited iu
twtnty.iour. l. there ANY violation Of
the constitution in these laws for the
appointment Of chaplains in The army
and navy lfnoi, let Us look at the
history OF claplains in Congress. Here,
as before, We shall find that the same
practice was in existence before aud
after the adoption Of the constitution .--
The American Congres. began it, scs.
sion September }, IVA On the Sec
ond day of the session, Mr. Samuel
Adams proposed to open the session
with prayer. give Mr. Webster ac-
count OF IL AT the meeting of the
first Congress there was "A doubt in the
minds Of many abont the propritay of
opening the session with PRAYER; aud
the reason assigned was. rs here. the
great diversity of opinion and religious
belief: uniil, at last, Mr.. Samuel Adams.
with his gray hairs hanging about hi-
shoulders, and with an impressive ven
erableness now seldom to be met with.
q suppose owing to different hnbt-.
rose in that assembly, and, with an air
OF a perfect Puritan. said it did not be-
come men protesting 10 be Christian
men, who had come together for solemn
dcliberation in the hour of their exirem-
ily, to say there was so wide differ
ence in their religious belief that they
could not, rs one man. bow the knee IN
prayer to the Almighty, whose advice
and assistance they hoped 10 obtain and.
as he was. and an enemy
TO all prelacy as he was known 10 be. he
moved that Rev. Mr.. Dushe. of the
Episcopal church, should address the
Throne of Grace in prayer John
Adams, in his letter to his wife. saws lac
never saw more moving spectacle -
MIR. Dushc read the Episcopal service
Of the church of England /; aud then, n,
if moved by the occasion. he broke out
into extemporaneous prayer, and those
men who were about to resort Ia force
TO obtain their rights were moved TO
tears and floods of tears. he snya, ran
down the checks Of pacific Quakers. who
formed part of that interesting as,em-
bly, and depend upon il. that where
there is spirit of Christianity, there is
u spirit which rises above form, abovc
ceremonies independent of sect or creed,
and the controversies of claahing doe
trines" That same clergyman was a(.
ierwards appointed chaplain Of the A.
merican Congress. He had such an
five days after the declara-
ton Of independence.
On December %, l77G; on Dcccm.
ber l3, 1854; and on February 29,
l7Ss. it was resolved that two chnplains
should be appointed. So far for the old
American Congress. do not deem it
out Of place TO notice one act, of many,
to show that Congress was not indiilrr-
ent to the religious interests OF the peo-
pie and they were not peculiarly afraid
Of the charge of uniting church and
State. On the ! lth Of September, l777
a committee having consulted with DR..
Allison about printing an edition OF
thirty thousand Bibles. and finding that
ihey would be compelled 10 send abroad
Tor type and paper, with an advance of
fl0272 los. Congress voted To in
'truct the Committee on Commerce 10
import twenty thousand Bibles from
Scotland and Holland into the different
ports of the Union. The reason assign
ID was. that the use Of the book waS 80
and important. Now, what
vas passing on that day The arm,
't Washington was fighting the hatl.r
'l Brandywine the gallani soldier,
# the Revolution were displaying their
irroic though unayaling ,alor twelve
.undred soldir. Rrre stretched b. death
N that battlefield Laiayclt, wa, blerd-
NO the booming Of the caunon was
leard in the hall where Coucrcs. wa.
iiting--in the hall from which Con-
-ress was soon TO be fugitive: ai thai
important hour Congress was passing nn
rider for importing twenty thousand
iibles aud yet NJ have never heard
hat they were charged by their genera
lon Of any aifemp, 10 unite church and
state. or surprising their powers TO leg
slate on religious matters
There was convention assembled
'eiween the old and new iorm- Of gov
rnment Considering lhr character Of
be men, the work IN which they acre
ngaged. and the result, Of their labor.
think ihtm the most remarkable body I.
I men ever assembled Benjamin .
rankin addressed ihai body on the I
uhjrei of employing chaplalu. aud, .
rriainly, Fnnklin will NOT be- accused .
4 ftuaffrisFu IN r.liuion ar Al . ssf.b fft .