Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-12-20
CONGRESSIONAL caAPLl .I1s.

We are glad to learn, from ?. number Of
articles written by correspor 4dents OF the
National Intelliesacer, and also from other
indications, that proper office is beginning
to be taken OF those pr ear hers who annual
ly attend at Washington City. and canvass
for the Office Of chaplain to either House OF
Congress. sIany of these men disgrace their
caiin. BY the practice of electionesring
tricks that would be considered shameful
b. any of the candidates for the ONCE o.
door.keepers. Such conduct is the cause
If shame and regret to all good men who
witness it, and of ridicule and contempt 70
those who care nothing even for the forms
Of religion. To none is the whole process
81 eIsc,ino the congressional chaplains, as
>, Drese Mt managed, more revolving tnan 20
rho elerqymen of Washington City, and
,he;r feelings are indicated in the sub,oined
n,r,graph of an article published at the re-
T. a,sst Of one of them in the Washington pa
!, pers =
al is needless to picture the scene, year,
s i, recurring. of what has become an actus
i ss,snabIe for office as chaplain. Every SEES
- ~ Corqress some score Of candidates
.xcov from their posts, are eager in atten
V 1anc.. some dozen or more Of names OF DIT
!e rsrcnt denominations are proposed as can
lie haates. all but two of whom are. OF course
re 10 be disappointed of an election oy Wol,ui!
MON IN the Office of christian minister. Ah'
successful candidate 10 not usually the ma
al whom his own denomination even, not
OF To saw our christian community generany
or would wish to see at such post Oiteh IL
m is the man who has written many letters o.
forehand soliciting votes, who meets III
friends as they alight at the railroad sta
es tons. who follows them to their hotels, an
who in the bar-room even is heard talkih
~ loudIy Of his devotion to "the party" IL
time that these scenes, which make worth
We men blush, should be banished from anon
ha us: and that our christian community shou'
as be spared the painful notification to whlc
be every year they are subjected at the NEE
IN ing Of Congress"
,er One plan for remedyiDg the evils whic
ats flow SO profusely from the present fashio
m which collects from oil parts ofthe countr
nd men ambitious Of fame or covetous
cir money, is suggested by layman' who pr
-, poses that the clergymen Of Washingtc
Of City should be employed alternately to
for iciate as chaplains. This would be recu
rtv renee to first principles, and at all even
ate the experiment, is worth trying. The write
- concludes his article as follows;-
if Following this plan, no more minister
would feel at liberty to make interest wit
en the members of Congress to secure forthei
ed the election Of chaplain. No one woui
" come from a distance to seek in vain an o.
i, fee which Congress no longer goes out o
the limits of this District to fill. Besides
III adopting this measure would be returning
ne to the usage, ss established by the fathers
Sc In closing that memorable speech, iron
cd which we have already quoted, Franklin
said II therefore beg leave to move tina
:" henceforth prayers imploring the assistance
ne Of Heaven and its blessings on our dellber
I'm atoms be held in this assembly every morn
~. ing before we proceed to business, and tina
- one or more of the clergy Of his city be re
" quested to officiate in that service" BY fol
IN lowing this plan the usage Of employing
ed men of different religious denomination
on would no longer be violated, as it was \
"A the scramble Of the last Congress, by cleo
" no two chaplains of the same sect"