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erHUcehli Cljmiikk & Sen find
I J, W. & W.s. JONES. AUGUSTA, Ga. SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 1, 18-10. , r „ r '
■ - Vol. IV.—ISo. 13,
I -
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CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL.
AUGUSTA.
FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 31.
No mail north of Charleston last night. The
failure of the mail is at all times perplexing, hut
it is provokingly so just at this time, when we ore
looking w : th so much anxiety for the news by
the British Queen. While on the subject of the
mails, we will lake occasion to respond to the
numerous complaints which have reached our
cars, of the non-arrival of our papers. We can
assure our subscribers that the fault is in the
Post Cilice Department, for until yeslt rJay, our
papers have been regularly sent to the Office in
this city in due season ; and then only a portion
of our weekly subscribers were not served, owing
to an accident which happened to our power
press, just as we were beginning to work off the
impression. It will, however, be repaired in a
day or two, when we hope our usual punctuality
will be sustained.
Lafayette Course.
The race, over this Course, four miles, which
come off yesterday was the most interesting of
any that has transpired at the present meeting.
The contest was animated throughout. Thu
lime, however, was not good, in consequence of
the heavy state of the Track produced by the
rain in the forenoon. The following is the re
sult :
Col. Hampton's, Santa Anna, 2-1-1
Lovell’s, Gcrow, 3-2-2
Edmonson's, Mary Elirahclh, 1-3-drawn
Complimentary Dinner.
The Bar tendered to the lion. A B. Long
street, a dinner in testimony of their respect for
him, on his retiring from the Bur, to assume the
duties of his station as President of Emory Col
lege. It was served yesterday evening at the U.
S. Hotel,
Rhode Island— The Whig Stale Conven
tion of Rhode Island, assembled at Providence,
nominated on the 17th iu-t. Suinue 1 W.King of
Johnston, for the office of Governor, and By run
Diman of Bristol, for that of Lieutenant Govern
or.
The locofocos nominations for Ihesumo offices,
are John Brown Francis of Warwick, for Gov
ernor, and Nathaniel 13. Bullock of Bristol, for
I-icut. Governor.
General Hatne.—The Charleston Courier
of yesterday says:—The remains of this beloved
and lamented citizen, of this eminent and gifted
patriot and statesman, wore brought to this city
from Asheville, N. C. p on Monday last, and un
ostentatiously interred in the ccmetry of St. Mich
ael’s Church. Peace to his ashes! Honor to
his memory !
Congress.
We arc not in possession of any later dates
from this body than were furnished in our paper
of yesterday. Fom the correspondence of the
Charleston Courier, of the 24th instant, however*
we learn that another of those disgraceful seen s.
of which the House has so frequently been made
the theatre for some years hack, came off on the
afternoon of that day, in which the Hon. Mr. By
num, of N. C. as usual, rendered himself infa
mously conspicuous. But as our indignation is
aroused, we fear we may do the honorable bully
injustice, if such a thing were possible, save only
when he is represented as a gentleman, we giv e
the language of the reporter, who, it will he re
collected, acts with the party to which Mr. B. is
attached:
Mr. Bynum resumed and concluded his long
speech on the sublect of abolition, and he endeav
ored to prove the identity of the Whigs with the
abo’iiioaists. In doing this, he tripped once;
finding his own name recorded as having voted
in 183 G, with the abolitionists. But he declar
ed, amidst »n uproar of laughter, on all sides of
the House, th it there must ho some mistake about
it, as he wouU.never have voted in that way.
Mr.'S., in the course of his remarks, alluded
to Mr. Peck, ofN. Y., as an abolitionist. Mr.
Peck, replied that he had sold what was not
true.
\ Mr. Bynum said ( “you a o n blackguard and
M scoundrel; a negro and an abolitionist.” Af
ter some time spent in endeavoring, without suc
cess, to procure a retraction of the language from
both members, the House adjourned.
Mr. Bynum, however, made an apology so far
.as the House was concerned.
Washington, Jan. 25.
The Senate did not sit to-day. In the House
Mr. Peck of N. Y., made some explanation con
cerning his position in regard to abolitionism ;
and Mr. Cost Johnson explained that when he
moved that Mr. Bynum be permitted to proceed,
he supposed that he had withdrawn his offensive
and disorderly remarks. Mr. .1. well observed
that indecorous and abusive language, on this
floor, was more calculated to injure him who
used it, than him against whom it was directed.
Mr. Bynum went on with his anti-abolition
speech, and, byway of fixing Mr. Peck’s position,
stated that when a call of the House was ordered,
preliminary to a vote on some resolution for the
disposition of abolition petitions, Mr. P. remark
ed that there were some Southern fugitive slaves
who he wished to bring to the vole. It is stated,
in justice to Mr. Peck, that his solemn and posi
tive disclaimer of abolitionism will injure him at
home, as the abolitionists hold the balance of
power in his district.
U. R. Bank. —The Harrisburg Reporter. (aJ
mininistratration.) appears to he quite confident
that the hill now before the Slate Legislature, for
the repeal of the charter of U. S. Bank of Penn
sylvania will become a law. The Reporter, in fact,
appears to he quite certain of this result. It says
the bill will pass both hcusci, and will receive the
Executive signature.
The Ph lade'phia North American also leans
to the same opinion. That is, it expresses the
opinion that the attempt now making in the Le;-
islaturc to “ declare the charter of the U. S. Bank
forfeited,” will prove successful.
Mr. Ta lima non. as the representative of re
publican principles, and of the interests and wish
es of the people of Ncw-York, is victorious over
all opposition. State and federal. He will enter
the Capitol of the Union armed with the confi
dence of the people of a groat empire, embodying
the sovereign majesty of their will, crowned with
the chaplet ol virtue, and bearing aloft the ensign
of liheriy, independence and the constitution.—
Madisonian.
From the dole of the 25 th.
Projected Invasion ol Texas by Mexico.
Wc copy from the ‘•Cosmopolita." of the 4th
of December, a piper published in Mexico, the
following communication from Senor Almonte,
the Secretary at War, to he National Congress.
He asks that extraordinary powers be gunned to
the President for a military expedition against
Texas; and that he he authoriz 'd to use politico
mi Harp measures for the reduction of that Re
public, as well as in reference to the bordering
States. The Editor of the “Cosmopolita” re
marks, tha*. there extraordinary powers might
ultimately comprorail the relut, ms of Mexico with
fri -ndly nations,
“The Supreme Government lias rc-nlved to
prepare another expedition, and to offer to the
usurpers Texas, peace or war, pardon or pun
ishment, and at every buzzard, to compel them
to return to the bosom of the Mexican IbmiK .
The President earnestly desires the co-operation
of the Congress for this patriotic object, by giving
him the extraordinary powers wlnch are requisite
for its accomplishment.
“ i'he Government and every citizen of Mexi
co wishes to prove to their enemies, their deter
mination and their power to sustain the r’ghts of
the country. The criminal adventurers of Texas
have committed acts which merit the severest
punishment. Their views have extended be
yond what was expected ; and now the whole
Mexican nation, desirous of promoting the inter
nal tranquility of the Stale, demands a guarantee
for this repose in external security.
“To Texas vve must chiefly direct our atten
tion. Its perfidious inhabitants seek to promote
their fortunes by the ruin of Mexico. The fer
tile and beautiful lands of that province have ex
cited their cupidity. These must he recovered
at every risk. With this view, the President,
with the advice of his council, has directed me to
submit, to Congress the following measures ;
“1. That tha Government he authorised to in
cur any expense for the reduction of the depart
ment of Texas, to the National Union.
“2. That all politico-mil lory measures lie au
thorised, with respect to this province audits
limitrophe States, that may he deemed necessary
to effect its pacification.”
The Mexican journals assert that the scheme
of the Texans is to support the Federalist parly
in Vlexic and to encourage the separation of
the States A new Rep ddic is proposed to he
established by the Federalists, to he called the
Republic of A urih M'x c:>. It will comprise the
departments Tamaulipis. 7, irateeas, Durango.
Sinaloa, Sonora, Nuevo Leon, Cuahuila, Nuevo
Mexico, and the Californios.
RnseoNsiniUTr or Caiiimeiis.—An interest
ing case, involving the responsibilities of common
carriers, was decided in Baltimore County Court,
on appeal, during the present term.
Certain eases of hoots were shipped on hoard a
vess' 1 belonging to the defendant, then lying in
the port of Boston, to ho conveyod to the, ulain
tiffi in Baltimore. The vessel lost her anchors in
Hampton Roads, and in endeavoring to make the
port of Nor oik. was driven a-hore. It became
necessary to unlade tin? cargo, to get the vessel
nfiiat; and the cases in question were deposited
in a warehouse in Norfolk for about ten days,
when they were taken on hoard and conveyed to
Baltimore. On examination by the plaintifls,a defi
ciency was found in the contents of one of the
cases, and suit was brought before a magitrate to
rcco cr the amount.
On appeal to the County Conrt.it was decided
that a common carrier is an insurer of all goods
entrusted to his custody from all perils except
those stipulated against in his hill of lading, or
arising from the act of Cod or public enemies.—
But that if. during lire voyage, the carrier is
compelled, by the happening of any of the ex
pected perils, to unlade his vessel and store the
cargo, he will not continue liable, ns an insurer ,
for any accidents, injuries or trespasses, which
may he sustained by the cargo while out of his
custody. He will then lie acting, not us a car
rirr. hut as agent for the benefit of all concerned.
Yet so firmly established and so wise is the poli
cy of the law, which regards earrieis as insurers
against all risks hut tho-o spcetelly excepted,
that it w II not be competent for the captain to
excuse himself from responsibility for goods lost
or abstracted during the course of the voyage, on
the grouod that they were taken from the wa e
hoqsc where they had been stored, unless lie can
adduce satisfactory evidence that the loss was
sustained while the goods were so stored.
G. W. Ridgely, Esq. for appellant—Wm. 11.
Collins and J. H. Blackburn, Csqs. for appellees.
—Patriot.
The Algerine mid French War.
The organization of a powerful Arab army,
under the Shiek Abdel Kadier, and the repeated
and successful attacks on the French outposts,
h ive created great sensation in France and gen
erally throughout the army. The question is,
what is to be done 1 How is this outbreak to he
punished and put down 1 'i’he wandering Arabs
are powerful, and no doubt supported on the one
side by Morocco and the other by Tunis, If an
annv is routed to-day, another is formed to-mor
row; they are like our Scminoles, indomitable in
their hostility, crafty in their plans, and hold in
their attacks; only, unlike our Scminoles, they
have no everglades or impem trable forests; they
have to keep the plain—to hold on to tha desert.
What, then, is to he done 1 Will France aban
don its conquests in Africa 1 Will the Citizen
King rurrender Algiers, captured, as it was, under
the Bourbons ? By no means. Hishonor. his
safety, his very crown, forbid it. No matter how
unprofitable the conquest may turn out, once
conquered, to lie kept as a French province, it
cannot he given up.—The Barha y corsairs have
received many seve,c lessons from the Christian
powers in their time, hut it was a mere bombard
ment, a flogging, a payment of the expenses, and
a now treaty, and here the matter ended; but
when France, with a powerful army and navy,
attacked and captured Algiers, Bona, and the
principal towns in the kingdom, it was to be re
tained as a French Colony, and no objection was
made by the European powers to Franco con
quering, if possible, the neghboring provinces.
Algiers was to receive the surplus population of
France; it was a line gram country; commercial
and manufacturing establishments were formed,
and Algiers at this day looks likea town in France.
Flic country cannot be given up. What follows?
1’ u* ncc "'ill send an army to Africa which will
drive the Arabs beyond Mount Atlas, and which
hereafter will be the boundary line. Morocco
will he punished for its interference, and Tunis,
in all probability, will he annexed to Algiers This
will require a great army, great outlays hut the
great nation can do it Instead of 15.000 men,
now dispersed over the kingdom, making treaties
with Emirs to-day to ho broken to-morrow and
having whole sacks of Frenchmen's heads sent
inio camp, old Soult will he on the spot with
100,000 men, something after the fashion which
France former'y exhibited in carryingon her wars;
no heavy haltering trains, mortars and howitzers,
hut light infantry, cavalry and sharp shooters,
such us were with Napolean in Egypt. The
same people arc to he met, the same sands of the
desert traversed. Algiers is very near to France;
no difficulty in transporting troops—no difficulty
in rising and paying or them. France is tired of
tea 'e. and this war will create no hicaeh on the
Continent, and at the same time keep up the
esprit niihfairc. Volunteers and conscripts will
flock to the tri-colored standard; soldiers will con
tinue to shout "Allans enfjns de la Pair e /”
and over they will go with alight heart, and a
thin pair of breeches, ns usual, secure that if in
Algiers they have plenty of fighting with Mes
sieurs/ Tore, they will have, at llic same time
good brown bread and cheese, vin rouge, grap»s,
and a dance at night on the green sward that
skirts th ‘desert; and what is of some importance
in these limes of infernal machines, Louis I’hil
lipn,' , contributing, us he really docs to the glory
o( France, will bo safe from the assassin’s gun,
or treachery Ironi within. Abdel Kadir was rash
to break the treaty. France required only the
seaborn d and part of Ihe interior; the Arabs could
have found a profitable market for their wheat,
barley, wool, goat skins, camel’s hair, ostrich
feathers, mules, tallow, dromedaries, ivory, olive
oil, wax, and gold dust, and now they will get
plenty ol hard blows, and no trade at all across
the mountains to the southern coast of Africa.
From Capo Spartel to Tripoli, the whole line
of seaeoast will eventually he under the dominion
of Franco; probably erect into a single powerful
kingdom governed by one of tho sons of Louis
Philippe, Morocco from its position is the most
difficult to subjugate, and even that kingdom
might finally he conquered by taking Ceuta and
Tangiers, with in the Gulph, and Magadorc on
the southern coast.
Algiers, the Cisarietvts of the Romans, was
always an important kingdom, ns well as a
most productive one. It is the ft nest grain coun
try in tho world : i nnc the granniy of Europe.
Vji-nsis called it specindus la/imis I rrt.e Jlnr
entir,” It produces all kinds es vegetables and
powers, figs, pomegranates, plums nectaries, ap
ll es, pear-, peaches, mulberries, lemons, limes,
oranges, citrons, dates, cherries, apricots, melons,
quinces, grapes, in every variety, almonds, pis
tache nut. sugar cane, tobacco, cotton coffee,
small bullocks, broad tail sheep, equal to onr
canvass backs in delicacy ; pigeons, red legged
patridgo, woodcock, snipe quails, gees ducks,
plover, teal, thrush, lark, linnet. linen. Jig, hares
and rabbits, for the more shooting of them; aro
matic herbs in abundance, roses, ranuncalus, nar
cissus. pinks, and all kind of curious plants and
flowers. To ask Franco to abandon such a
country, once conquered, anil within two days
sail of the Gulph of Lyons is rather asking
too great a favor in these peaceful times from
a nation of so r,e celehriety at Austerlitz, Ma
rengo. and sundry other places.
There really has been hut little hard fighting
in Algiers by land, since the limn of Hannibal,
Jngurtha and Msssanissa. Charles the sth, af
ter defeating Hvraddin Barhams,-a. was after
wards overtaken hv a violent storm, and his whole
army beaten by llassan with a very small force
at Algiers. In 1775, Charles l! e3d sent a pow
erful mi l al farce and 20,0(10 men under the Cotide
O’Reilly to attack Algiers, but it was miserably
conducted and ingloriously beaten. The city of
Algiers, Oran. Bona, and other ports on the Me
diterranean can he easily fortified and retained by
the French. Constantine, the C 'r/n Clfliimorum
of Pliny, once the most splendid of cities in Ain
oiidla. and even now a most important frontier
town, is 160 miles from the Mediterranean, con
taining C 0 OCK inhabitants. If a good road can
he made from Algiers to Constantine, and the
country between tnc two cities denied of the wan
dering hordes, there would he no difficulty in hold
ing the entire kingdom.
Temperate and determined as the Mna ulmrn
arc. they yield readily to wnat they consider their
destiny. If France is determined In send a pow
erful force to Algiers, and to apprise Morocco and
Tunis, that there must he no interference, Algiers
can he easily conquered and tranquility retained.—
New York Slur.
From the Houston f Texas) Telegraph, nj Dec. 2hth
Among the thousands of emigrants that are I
now constantly arriving in our country, wc
lice with regret too large a portion of young
yers, physicians, cleiks and graduates recenjty
from the various universities of the United Slates.
These young m li come to onr shores hired, by
I ihe brighost prospects fnd burning with bigii
j hope. They heard Tex is described as art El
Dorado, where naught but golden visions cheer
the hold adventurer who has hut to seek her fer
tile prairies, bask in the bright sunshine, of un
interrupted pro parity. But alas what hitter dis
appointment often awaits them ! They have
found indeed a country unsurpassed for beauty
and fertility, and abounding in agricultural wealth;
hut all this affords them no encouragement
They wander abroad from place to place,
Arabs wander amid the fertile fields of GoshenV
What is to tho farmer a pa adise, is to (hem a
' desert. The occupations which afford them the
i means of support, are here either neglected, or
are ovcrhnrthened and rendered sterile by cornpc
; tition. Often have we seen young men of this
class, who have been nurtured in the lap of luxu
; ry.and who, previous to the period of their einigra
; lion,had never known the sting of want, hut had
been constantly fostered and sustained by wealthy
I and indulgent parents, here bowed by disapp-int
i ment, suffering under the most abject povetry,
1 embittered tenfold by the recollection of former
and brighter days of happiness and of case
Onr country is yet quite too new and its popu
lation too spare and widely diffused to afford ma
ny asylums to individuals of this dcscripiiun
The population most required in Texas at pres
! put. is that derived from the farming districts of
! the United Stales, and not from the cities and
| larger towns. Those publications and pnblic lec
; tures therefore, that tend to urge emigrants from
i the large cities of that country, do injury, by cn-
ticiiifr to our shores, a class of individuals that
are wholly unfitted either hy habit or disposition,
to encounter and endure the privations and hard
ships of a new country. We have frequently
on former occasions alluded to this subject, and
endeavored to chock this species of emigration ;
but, nnthst.mding these clforts, we believe the
number of emigrants of this elass now con
stantly arriving is greater than it has been at
any previous period. To those young men who
have already arrived in our country and arcstdl
unemployed, we would say, waste no lime in idle
expectation, nor loiter any longer in our towns :
but hasten at once to the “ Upper Country,” and
engage immediate yin the business of farming
ing. the planters in that section will recicve you
with open doors, and however iiksome may bo
the change to this now occupation.it will ensure
a competence and perhaps he the means of se
curing the avenues to affluence.
We cull from the Washington Correspond
ence of the New \ ork Star, the following com
phmentary notice of one of our Members to Con
gress , a compliment by the way which seems to
he quite as juu, as it is flittering:
‘•Hon. Wm. (;. Dawson done an act on Sat
urday last, which has won for him the most ex
alted praises. It will ho recollected that he was
placed by the Speaker at the head of the Com
mittee of Claims, This was an unexpected ap
pointment 1 1 him ; it was a disappointment to
the tiiends of Mr. Russell, of your Stale. Mr K.
had long been one of the most useful members of
that Committee, scarcely inferior in any respect
to Mr. E. Whittles}*, who was long its able chair
man. Ei cry body cxpci ted I hat he would he
designated in thouppolntment of the Committee
ns its Chairman. It was felt to he due to him as
a matter of courtesy, vastly more so as a mailer
of merit. No one felt this more than Mr. Daw
son, though ho kept his thoughts to himself.—
For the first time the Commiiteo met on Saturday
last, and without consulting a single person, Mr.
Dawson immmcdiately offered a resolution,
which he enforced with a few appropriate remarks,
eminently creditable to him, that Mr. Russell he
appointed Chairman of the Committee, and it
passed unanimously. I have never known an
act of similar disinterestedness; and yet, when
we consider whence it emanated, our wonder
ment censes, for Mr. Dawson is all magnanimity ;
he never allows a selfish feeling to approximate
him. In this instance his course was no less
cieditable to himself than it was to Mr. Rus
s dl.”
During a debate in Congress, which origina
ted upon a million to print some thousand maps
of Florida, at the public expense, and which
was resisted by the opposition members, many
striking points and of much interest were struck
out in the course, of the discussion. Among oth
ers is the extract below, making a distinct issue
of veracity in relation to the late message of the
President. As the truth of the position of the
President in relation to the public losses, is de
nied, and that denial founded on official docu
ments, from the Departments themselves, audits
those documents have been published and are in
the hands of the people, they are a well qualified
jury to try the issue. That issue is a seibmsone,
and ought to be fairly decided by the people, as
between tlieir public agents. — Suul/icrn linear
dcr.
“Mr. Wise said that lie was very sorry (being
at tins time unwell) that his colleague (Mr.
D inks) had upon this motion made an attack
upon a motion of his (Mr. W’s) submitted at the
last session of Congress. He (Mr U.) made
the motion to print an extra number ofdoc.nment
207—which d iciinien' would show, and had
shown to many thousand voters in the United
Slates, that the Message of the President of the
United Stales sent in this session of Congress
was not tine. In that Message the President
hud staled the fact that, independent of the defal
cations of Swailwout, only -ixly odd thousand
dollars had been lost by public defaulters. Thai
very document 297 (continued Mr. W.) togeth
er with document 111. (extra copies ol which 1
moved to have printed, and would again mov i to
hoc printed, to contra lid the statement of the
Prc. ident of the United States.) will show that,
by l lie Land Officers and Collectors of the past
and present Ad Ministrations, nearly one mil ion
of dollars have been lost l.y means of your pub
lic defaulters This docs not rest upon nly state
ment. Toe docuin-nls of the .Secretary of the
Treasury himself, transmitted offleially tous, an 1
which disprove, the President's Message, show
eillicr that he is disp soil to cover up these mat
ters, or, as I rather believe of the President of the
United Slates, that he has been deceived by Ins
own Secretary. And I say—believing Martin
Van Buren to be a gentleman—that if he had
read document 297, he never would have made
the statement he has mailt—in the fareof the (act
—in I lie face of truth —in the face of official doc
uments. If ho had read it, he would not have
been ns ignorant r.s 1 fear the constituents of my
colleague have bei n kept ignorant of these start
ling facts.
Permit me to say to my co’lca-e that that doc
ument was better calculated to subserve tile pur
poses of public economy than .any other that I
know of amongst all the files of tlv Government.
Mis a dorumeet which shows how the public mo
y has been lost and squandered—and I will at
y time, on principles ol economy, vole to pay
y ten dollars out of the public Tf.astiry, to show,
bow one dollar lias been lest or stolen—cither by
fraud, by ignorance, by vice, or incompetency.
It is economy to d i it. An I will my colleague
hero permit me I i say, not to him personally,
that there may have been other motives besides
that of economy, prevailing at the last se ion of
Congress against the printing of this document 1
If I could gel a vot- 1 of the Home to do it, in the
face of the Message sent tons, I would to-day
move to print the official Report of the Secretary
of the Treasury against the Message of the Pres
ident of the United States. 1 would print five
thousand more copies of that document—and if
my honorable colli ague could ciren ate that doc
s uiiient in ids district, his constituents would hold
accountable for voting against printing the
—for failing to holdup torch-lights to the
reople. We are in darkness : and I will take
the I lt)e remnant of two or three millions—the
wreek of a Treasury that was foil when this par
ly came into power—full, ay, full sii.ee this Pres
ident eamo into power—full, overflowing with
forty odd millions of dollars—l say I will lake
these two or three remaining millions to enlighten
the People upon the fact h nv theolbes thirty odd
millions have been squandered.
Remarks of Mr. Nisbet,
or oeohoi*.
Fridat. Df.CKoiar.il 27, 1909.
The question being on a motion to reconsider
the vole of the House concurring in the resolu
tion of the toc-nato for the appointment of a Chap
lain —
Mr. Nirskt. of Georgia, rose and addressed (
ibe f'hair ns follows: Mr. 9>j*£a nr a—
I
Saaaa=s= = s == g ■■
that the motion before the Mouse involves matter
of serious moment to Chr.stinnity and the coun
try, I beg leave to offer a few reflections. I con
fess, although informed of the opinions of my col
league, (Mr. Cooper.) I have been taken hy sur
prise hy the debate now in progress. I certainly
did not expect it this morning. I must soy that
I differ with my honorable colleague in the views
ho has exhibited. And although his searching
and accurate mind, in its investigations after and
elucidations of truth, rarely errs, yet I believe
that he is now wrong. I know full well and
justly appreciate his motives. No one is to Chris
tianity a more sincere friend than himself, and no
one illustrates its precepts in practice more fully
than he docs. lie, hy sustaining the n otion. in
tends to maintain both Christianity and the Con
stitution, Such arc my own wishes. We differ
in the mode of accomplishing the same ends.
It certainly would be to my mind u melancholy
result should the House of Representatives of this
groat nation resolve certainly that it would not
elect a Chaplain—a minister of the gospi I, railed
to throw around the legislation ol the country the
hallowed influences of piety—a result which would
strike with alarm and apprehension the whole
People of the Union ; apprehension, not so much
fur religion or the Constitution ns (or that conser
vative influence which it exerts upon the princi
ples of free government.
What, sir, d ies not liberty owe to Christianity 1
The history of the Colonies proves that w« are
indebted, in a great degree, for those noble princi
ples of free government engrafted upon our Con
stitution and in our laws, to that freedom of
thought and action which brought our Pilgrim
and Huguenot ancestry to our shores. They fled
Irom the religious bigotry and political intoler
ance ol the old w. rid for conscience sake. They
came hither to worship God in freedom. And
upon the shores of a new world they planted the
standard of religious, and, with it. of civil liberty.
That independence of mind which they asserted
in matters ol conscience made them alike inde
pendent ns to ah rights. Freedom of service to
Heaven, hy a \ery necessity of our nature, con
strains men to think and act fn ely in matters of
less consequence. The free spirit of the pilgrim
impressed itself upon colonial governments, and
some of the heat failures of our most admirable
system are tinced to eoloni.t) parentage. I make
these remarks to show, sir, that civil liberty is too
largely indebted to Christianity to permit us to
endanger the former by abandoning e'en the
forms of the l itter. Its influences ought to per
vade, and do now pervade, all the leparlmenls of
Government, more or less. Into our courts of
justice, our executive offices, and our hulls of leg
islation, it ought to send, and docs send, its sana
tive power. It gives a healthful tone to public
sentiment, and purifies the fountains of legisla
tion, the external ceremonials of religion. Wind
though it is sometimes desecrated, and its minis
ters lalse 7 What though it seem to some to he
hut part of Congressional pageantry.empty, vain,
and n lie I Yet still the very form of service
maintains (ho ascendancy of morality. Those
forms are the emblems of its essential purity
Blended, as they are. with the procedure of Con
gress, they themselves become vit d. Destroy,
sir, the external manifestations of Christiauiiy,
and you weaken its influence and endanger it
vitality. \on should observe oven here, sir, the
form of prayer. The voice of praise should hush
lor a brief moment, at regular inter-ids, the noise
of parly war, and say to the troubled waters,
“ Fence be still.”
The appointment ofa Chaplain to lids II mse
is a declaration, by the nation itself, that the Bi
ble is true. It is the practical recognition of its
obligations. Is this no advantage I Is this not
hearing evidence to Christianity 7 Is it not the
voi-eof the Coufcdciaey I Dues not this net
proclaim, through the length and breadth of the
land, that, according to the belief of the American
Congress, God reigns in Heaven and upon earth 7
The statesman, therefore, should not withhold
this evidence. In all we do it seems to me, we
s i mid recognize the sanctions of Christianity,
and should maintain the purity both ot the Church
and the State by a decent regard, in our public
acts, even to the forms of piety.
The manifestation of regard to religion in the
election ofa Chaplain to (Ids House, is due to
the convictions and moral setisihiii iet oftho con
stituency of tliis body. It is a just response to
the requirements of that moral leeling which per
vades the Stales. No less than this. I will ven
ture to a sert, is required by the People, whether
professors or not. It is a iribn to of respect to
that religion which makes sweet the homes of the
thousands who dwell beneath the fostering care
of American leg! dolors, and in the peace ot an
unobtrusive yet sustaining faith. Let it not he
sdd that the 2Gtli Congress l as declared of re
cord that it will dispense with the services of (he
ministiy. Conceding, for the argument’s sake,
that the power to appoint a Chaplain, und-r the
Conslilu'ion, is doubtful yet I know it w II not
he denied that a failure to appoint would shark
the country. It will do violence M that fervid
piety which lives and I rcV-Uj and burns in tie.
great heait of the nation.
The service with which it is now proposed to
dispenre has been maintained hero for [fears.—»
The wise and virtuous and patriotic of other d iys
exercised the power, and believed in its expedi'-n
--ry. It is hoary v itli accumulated years. The
first Con tress that assembled under the Consti
tution elected a Chaplain. We are scarcely n;•
ser or better than that august body of men. Tltev '
mingled worship with politics Most of theSta'.e
Legislatures, I believe sir, do the same.
It has been objected that the worship conduct
ed hero is insincere— a form and a mockery. Al
milling this to be true—and I lament that, in
part, it must be conceded to be true —yet, still,
(lie general good is accomplished, and liie gene
ral evils averted, to which 1 have bofoio referred.
An-1 these general ends are paramount; they out
weigh particular objections. In all assemblies
there aro insincere worshippers: me i will bring
the cares and thoughts and fueling')) of the world
into the sanctuary. Ido not know that thi- body,
being professedly political, is. on that account, the
less devout. That distraction of mind awaits him
who mingles in the stormy strife oi this House,
is true; and on that account it is well to 1 ring
hither the soothing, softening influences of chari
ty ai d lore. Dut 1 think, Mr. Speaker, that there
is in ibis House not only a sacred regard for
Christianity, but also a strong feeling of piety.—
Beneath the surface of ordinary emotion lie im
bedded the fountains of moral sensibility. There
flows through this assemblage of men an under
current of [iii ly, invisible it is true, under ordina
ry circumstances, but which occasionally flashes
and sparkles in the light ol'day. This is obvious,
in the eloquent words and thoughts of (lie gen
tleman from Virginia, (Mr. Wise.) Ho gave ut
terance to the irrepressible feeling of respect for
moral things, which, doubtless, he imbibed in Ins
earnest formation of character. Nor ran I per
mit myself to doubt that there are many herrwbo
meet these services with all that solemnity of man
ner and feeling which becomes tho occasion.— 1
i My Colleague, and also the 'vinlcman fiortt Loti- j
Diana. (Vfr. Garland.) find a reason against circle
* .ft ? • i1 U* MKJ »
inj a Chaplain, in this, that they are paid that
they pray and preach by contract, and that they
make this temple a piace of merchandize, Celling
alike their consciences and their services. I find
myself nothing wrong in religious or political
principle in rewarding the minister. It is a vol
untary contribution by the House to the necessl
tics of those whom they invite to officiate for
them. It is not a pension for the clergy, by law
or fiom constitutional necessity, but a donation
to the man. Reward, to my mind, docs not ne
cessarily demoralize end secularize the preacher,
else there were no ministry—no temple—no wor
ship. Shall not (he priest live by the altar?-
And is not tho laborer worthy of his hire ? That
some who wear the priestly robe have come hith
er. trading upon tho stock of their ministefial
character, and vending for a consideration the sa
cicd ministrations of our holy religion, is perhaps
true—hut not all have so come. It may he con
ceded at once, without weakening the obligation
to elect a Chaplain, that there are false professors
of that religion. In its purest and carlie I state,
among the twelve who listened to the words, and
saw the wutks of God himself, there was one trai
tor.
I con not concur, Mr. Speaker, in the appro
be nson expressed by my honorable friend and
colleague, that the act to which he objects may ul
timately lead to a union of Church and State.
I think that our whole political system, as also
the stale of the church in our country, makes
such a union an utter impracticability, Ejich a
thing could not he without an entire change in
the essential elements and actual organization of
Die frame of government. The very freedom of
religions opinion and action guaranteed to (ho
People must operate un insurmountable bar to
eticii a union, I should os, nay sooner, look for
a despotism in place of our constitutional bberty,
as the result which gentlemen apprehend. 'l*llß
recollections of the past, the interest of the pre
sent, and the expectations of the future—reli
gion, which seeks its own perpetuity in tho
maintenance of its purity—all forbid it. Our
denominational divisions constitute a system of
sleepless and enterprising vigilance over the en
croachments of the church. Protestant Christiana
long ago ascertained, from history written in the
the in itrydom, that their rights of consciencede
pend upon free government. They are committed
to maintain the separation of the Church and (he
Biatc by the instinct of self-defence, and by tho
precepts of their own faith. I think I mn not
mistaken when I say that tho Church h erst If
would he tho last to seek an unholy and
Fell’ destroying alliance with the Slate.—
I icty, would die in the embraces of govern
ment. No, sir, Protestant Christianity must
stand aloof from political associations, by the law
of her own existence. A loss of liberty might,
perhaps woul 1. necessarily corrupt the church ;
whilst liberty remains the church will maintain
its purity. Keep pure the, church in our land,
and the Constitution is defended with impregna
ble bulwarks.
In England wo know, Sir, that thechurch'it
part of:he Government—that the articles of the
established religion are held to he parcel of tha
comm m law—that the sacrament is a condition
precedent to the tenure of o t.ee—that rich go
vernmental rov enttes sustain the sacred aristocra
cy that lands and franchises and political pow
er, by the wiry principles of the British Consti
tution,) if (/onstitu'iou Britain has, which J veiy
much doubt ) appertain to the church; not to
Clnir.liatiil y, Sir, but to our form of cht.rch organ
ization. Not so here. That aid which the Go
vernment can here give tho church is alone in a
freewill offering In the principles it professes, pro
tectiiig all creeps an I names equally by its toler
ant and equal legislation. For mygull I can con
ceive of no abomination more offensively abhor*
rent than a union of the Church with the State;
nud I would resist the very first approaches to
wards it with the sternest and most relentless
hostility. But, air, there is a union which is at
ready, in some degree, const]mated, which 1 hope
I shall not live to see dissolved: 1 mean, sir, the
uni on of religious principle with political eon
duct.
Ihe leaven of mural principle should lighten
the whole lump oi the body politic. We should
be camions lest wc divide things so hapjnly and
usefully united. Mo should he careful lest wo
invite into our legist itinn, and adopt as rules’of
conduct, the philosophy of a inertly human
faith- No gentleman, I know, would give his
vole directly or indire tly to unhinge Chiisliani
ty, or in any wiy lessen its influences. II eg
no. to he understood hb so charging. I only
mean to say that the rssult at which they now
aim may. in my opinion, produce that eftc t.—
J he politicians ol France desecrated the tcrcplo
of God—burned the Bibb—endowed the god
dess of Renton with the attributes of the Deny—
and Boon, very soon, the foundations of society
were broken up. and amcchy reigned triumphant,
i lie vine-cla I hills and fertile plums and crowd
ed street': ol I 1 ; nice flowed down wills I loud. To
a | u die relax ition of moral obligation, I have i.o
i • <i bt. may be trace 1 those startling honors
v.k' so preceded and Wowed tho French Revo
lution,
An I ipititant AsrnoNOMic.lL Invention.
Mr. Russel, of Georgetown, has invented and run
s' ■ u 'led the most ( cnect apparatus for the easy and
p ami ;al ailiiiiiiiicijl of Astronomy that we have
ever seen or heard of. It is in he form of and
wo king on the same principle as the terrestr.al
globe; hut instead of die heavenly bodies being
transcribed on ti e surface only, they are reflected
likewise on tha coiling of the room, in aii the fi
gures oi the heathen mythology. Urge as life; it ml
mi s'mple and plain that “Ire that runs may read,”
and in a few lessons understand thorougidy tho
whole principles of (his neglected hut vastly im
portant scince.
'Tiro apparatus is about sixteen or eighteen (act
in cir, mmeifnee, and bn mad of brass rods, and,
when divested of the transparent covering which
represents the stars and figures of heathen my
thology, shows, by reflection on the ceiling a min
iiituic resemlcam a ol the rising and setting of tho
sun, moou and principal constellations, as well as
the variations which cause the change of ihe sea
son. In fact, the whole action of the heavenly to
ri,es is here represented as plain and simple nt if
it were possible lor man to bring the heavens vviih
in so narrow a compass.
The plain of the ecliptic, as well as the cause of
eclipses, are beautifully illustrated, and even the
motion of a comet in its course around the sun is
plainly eel forth.
We understand that tcveral scientific gentle
men have examined and greatly admired the ap
paratus in all iispletails. There are yet many oth
,,ra in the Distrct who, though they have been in
vited. have neglected tu call and examine it. Vie
would, therefore, remind them to call at un early
day if they wi-h to soe this important invention,
feeling confident that they will oc pleased, while
at ti.e same time tboir opinions will ho of service
to the inventor.
Mr. R. resides on Washington street, near the
raii.il C:aygrto!'.o: Adrcca t.