SPEECH OF MR. CLEMENS, OF ALA.
' " ' Ik Suutk, February 7.
Mr. Clemens said : There arc periods in the
history of nations as of individuals. ' One false
move most be followed by Tears of suffering t
one neglect or improper nse of the right moment 1
wr wis ngnt occasion uwun puiwu
bodj politio which no remedy can reach. N
re approaching such a period, if it is not al
ready upon us. From the line of conduct now
to be adopted, much, that is good, or much that
is evil, will be sure to ensue. To render all I
have to saj perfectly intelligible it will be ne
cessary to enter upon a brief roview of the past.
Heretofore the adrice of Washington has been
respected, and we hv succeeded in steering
clear of the (angled web of European politics.
' Besides; the growth of the American Union has
been so rapid as to defy Jthe calculation of Eu-
-' ropean statesmanship. . The merchant, when he
found a rival taking away his must profitable
V .. traffic, the manufacturer as year by year the de
mand for his productions diminished, the fisher-
- man when he saw Yankee sails invade the
haunts of the treat masters of the deep, by these
vnderstood that a hew power had sprung into
N existence, and felt that they were engaged in a
; rivalry in which European energy and European
' intelligence were destined to be overshadowed.
But kings and cabinet ministers could not com
prehend that a few scattered ; colonies, but a
i short time since a feeble' dependency of Great
- Britain, had indeed become a powerful nation.
The monarch who looked back upon a line of a
hundred sires could comprehend no stable form
. of government save that which was endeared to
him alike by interest and by education or pre
judice. If. in bis imperial dreams, the vision
of America ever rose before his eyes, it was on-
- ly as a people whose unbridled passions weuld
i- drive them into anarchy, whose turbulence and
" dissensions would furnish only another ' rsason
..'to the world for committing all government to
sceptred hands. - In the mean time, the neg-
lected and despised Republic was moving stead
- ilvand rapidly alotre the road to wealth, to
power, and to bonpr ; but its strength was un
marked, its visor unknown abroad.' The war
' with Mexico followed, and a little handful of
': citizen soldiers over can a nation of seven mil-
lioneof inhabitants', and dictated the terms of
peace from the national capital. Here was a
. lesson which even kinely dullness could not
misunderstand, ner ministerial servility misin
terpret. ,
' ' Certainly the whole tens of the public jour
nals of Europe was changed. Prior to that time
, they had derided onr nrorress and laughed at
the feebleness of our military force. It was as-
samed to be impossible for a Government like
ours to carry on a war of . foreign conquest.
Foolish editors, writing at the dictation of still
more foolish masters, argued themselves into
- the conviction that the first summons of the
drum to an aggressive war would be the signal
ofruintothe Union. That summons came, a
powerful nation was vanquished, and yet so lit-
: tie were the energies of our people taxed, that it
would have he en scarcely known that a war was
going on, eiccpt by the reports of battles and
of victories. 1 hue vanished one delusion, and
with it the old system of political tactics. It
was no longer our weakness but our strength
which became the subiect of comment. . The
asrrrsssive spirit, the grasping ambition of A
merica wore portrayed in the darkest colors,
and Europe was called upon to interpose some
check, to the territorial aggrandisement of the
great Republic. Wrong in apathy, they were
roused only to involve themselves still more
deeply in error by their action, c rom news
paper articles they progressed to dip omatic
notes ; and now England and France have made
a formal proposition to the United States that
the three powers should unite in assuring to
Spain undisturbed ' possession of Cuba for aty
coming time.
I am willing- to go with the Senator from
llichigan, and to say that this proposition meant
something. I am willing to go further, ana say
that it does mean what it imports on its face ;
that it was known it would be rejected ; that
the idle form of making the offer would have
, been dispensed with but for ulterior considera-
tions. Let it be conceded that it was intended
to intimidate the United States, and to give us
notice that France and England were watching
' Cuba, and determined to present any efforts up-
on our part to acquire its possession, ovt
while conceding all this, I do not agree with
that Senator as to how it should be met. I de
not think it the part of wisdom, or oi sound pol!
Cy. to permit ourselves to be hurried into in
temperate action because France and England
nave made a ioolish parade ot their 1 mure poli
cy. To redeem a threat from contempt it is ne
cessary that the party making it should posess
the power of carrying it into effect. As long as
English statesmen keep their senses, a thousand
Cubes cannot induce them to declare war againft
the United States. Withhold the exports of our
cotton one year, and the starving millions will
be in open rebellion. We have heard in a
time of profound peace of banners borne by the'
'peasantry with the fearful inscription "blood or
bread." Who doubts that that cry would be
re-awakened, and who doubts that blood would
furnish the first, seeond, and third course of the
banquet to which she would be invited at home.
Add to this the certainty of a hundred thousand
American bayonets glittering in the sunlight of
Canada, and a thousand American vessels cut
ting off her commerce, and you have an amount
of suffering which no nation will 'willingly ap
proach. It had been declared in the Senate that
England had given bond and surety to keep the
peape towards the United States. That security
is her life's blood, her very existence ; not mere
ly bsr provinces and dependencies, though I
. grant you she would consider it a poor exchange
' to secure Cuba to Spain and lose Canada her
self; bat she has more at stake, and I regard
any threat from that quarter as the veriest gas
conade in which any government ever permitted
' itself to indulge. France has recently erected
.'. an' imperial throne above the crater of a volcano.
He who occupies that seat must watch by day
and night, or an eruption will soon come to bury
him and his fortunes beneath the burning flood.
If the great Emperor himself held the reins, a
war with Mexico would be destructive to France.
To land an army here would be to give them to the
word. France has acquired no glory upon the
seas. I am aware that upon paper the naval
Siwer of France is immensely superior to ours,
uns and vessels do not make a navy. If
very vessel named in our JNavy Register was
to-morrow burnt to the water's edge, France
would be no mora capable of contending with
the United States upon the ocean than the-oak
of the forest is capable of resisting the thunder
bolt of Heaven. It is seamen who make a navy,
and wherever they are found vessels will not
be long wantingrIn thtsmain element of suc
cess we are in advance of any power in Europe,
Our fisheries turn out annually a body of hardy
mariners unequalled for skill, for energy, and
for, daring. . Our tonnage exceeds that of any
ether nation. As long as these; advantages re
main to us, the crumbling dynasties of the old
world may build war steamers without number,
but when a contest comes the best of them will
be found sailing under Yankee colors. Vessels
of war manned by peasantry are feeble foes,
and can soon' be captured. I refer to these
things with no view to aggression, bat the ro
, verse. The proportion of England and France
has been held out to inflame the popular mind,
and I had some apprehensions that the indigna
tion and resentment excited by it might hurry
us into intemperate acts. I wish to show thai
we can afford to laugh to scorn the implied
threat hanging over us, and that tfiis is better
policy than yielding to the dictates of hasty re
sentment. Cuba will .be ours whenever it is
rieht and needful for us to take it. Whenever
the might of this Republic is put forth in a just
. t i i i
aute mere is an uuuu punr wuion can pre
vent it. Under such circumstances we pan well
afford to wait ontu the pear is ripe. '
I have no sympathy with those who are so
impatient to. grasp the territory of our neigh
bors ; nor do my opinions at all accord with
: those who tell ns, with such a confident and
, selfrsatipfied air, that it is time this Government
bad a foreign policy. I believe we have always
ad a foreign policy, nay men, the very.beet
that it was possible to adopt the policy of t
tending to our own business without attempting
, . . I I in
a f nMi vuniiiDiniD over wai uwu- .
The period of trial and danger does not tnrea-i ,
ten us from abroad. In that quarter the aies ;
are clear and bright It is at home that the
symptoms of an approaching hurricane are man-
. ' I 1
itesiea. These symptoms are cverywnere
us mm aruunu urn. - t --
restless and disturbed state of the public rama,
in the speeches of dinner orators, dignifying
war witn me name oi pr"sron.
i.i.t " .
anu ciutuui
wholesale robbery with the mantle of patriot
ism. They might have been seen in the fren-
ied enthusiasm which followed the footsteps ot
that sturdy ibeggar, Louis Kossuth, and in the
wild and reckless attempts of Americans to take
possession of uba. I deplore their fate as
much as anv one. and condemn as strongly. the
cruel and barbaroui eonduct of the Spanish go
vernment. I but refer to them as evidence oi
a state of things to which all eyes ought to be
directed. And last, but not least, the signs ot
this dancer ma be found in the ill-regulatod
but fierce and strenuous efforts of Young Ame
rica to bring about a war with anybody, or up
on any pretext, lhese things niaicaie a spin
of change. I may be told that that word is
written upon every earthly things but justice,
honor, mercy, are the children of God, and know
no change. In the sublime morality of the
Christian's Creed we may find a guide which
cannot lead to error": " Do nnto others as you
would they should do unto you." It is not in
the wOrd of revelation that we are taught to
covet our neighbor a goods, to inauige spiru
of lawless conquest. Kor do we learn there the
duty of progressing backwards from a peaceful
age to a period of barbarism, where the strong
hand was law and the steel biaae tne soie arDi
ter of disputed questions.
This thing called progess, in the eye of many,
covers all defects and makes atonement for ev
ery error. If it mean that elorious spirit which
sweeps abroad upon the wings of peace, shed
ding life, and light, and happiness over tne iana
and on the sea ; which sends the missionary
among the heathen, and gathers the infidel and
unbeliever beneath the gospel's ample shield ;
which doubles -the productions of earth, and
lays bare the, treasures ot ocean ; wnicn plants
the Church of God in the wilderness of the West,
and substitutes, the Sabbath bell for the howl of
the panther ; wthich carries literature and sci
ence to the log cabin of the pioneer, and con
nects every part of this wide Republic by links
so strong and so close that the traveller feels
every spot he treads his home, and every hand
be grasps a brother s hand if this be the pro
grass which is meant, most gladly do I enlist
under its banner. But I am not permitted so
to understand it. Progress as interpreted by
modern politicians is quite a different thing,
1 he first lesson they inculcate is a spirit ot
general defiance to all mankind, and the imita
tion of the worst practice ot old chivalry the
practice of hanging up a clove as a. challenge;
t- every passer by to engage in mortal com uat
a practice baxed in no degree upon wrongs to
be redressed or injuries to be aronged, but upon
a pure unmitigated love of blood and strife.
They propose to grasp the territory of an old
and faithful allv, not only without a shadow of
claim, but even without the robbor's plea of ne
cessity. 1 wib to indulge in no exaggerated
statements ; but let us in the cant phraseology
of the dsr establish a foreign policy. Let us
set about Convincing the world that we are in
deed a power on .curth. Let us rob Spain of
Cuba, England of Canada, and Mexico of her
remaining possessions, and this continent will
be too small a theatre upon which to enact the
bloody drama of American progress. Like the
prophet of the East, who carried the sword in
one hand and the Koran in the other, American
armies will be sent forth to proclaim freedom
to the serf. But if he should happen to lore
the land in which he was born, and exhibit
some manly attachment to the institutions'.with
which he is familiar, bis life's blood would sat
urate the soil, and his wife and children be
driven forth as houseless wanderers, in proof of
our tender consideration for the rights of liu
manity 1 This is a species of progress with
which Satan himself might fall in love. He then
drew a glowing picture of America as she now
is splendid, magnificent in all things com
merce, agriculture, arts, and science, in free
dom, and in proud prerogative of religious wor
ship. He then asked them to 'look upon a land of
fered as a substitute for this, where war is a
passion and blood a welcome visitor, every ave
nue for genius leading through helds ot strite.
Literature a mockery, religion a reproach, the
people, strong but terrible, having the tiger's
outward beauty and the tiger's inward fierce
ness. He contended that such was the natural
tendency of modern progress. The prosent ac
quisition of Cuba he considered of questionable
propriety : but if it came to us as tho result of
war and violence, instead of being a blessing, it
will prove a deadly hate.
He cited the reply of Caractacus to the Ro
man emperor, and thought that Spain 'might
address to us a similar appeal. Possessed of a
territory extending almost. from the Northern
ocean to tho region of the tropics ; embracing
every variety of soil, climate, and production,
why should we envy Spain the last little inland
of her once mighty dominion. It was not need
ed for agricultural purooees nor for national de
fence. )It was a fallacy to say Cuba commanded the
Gulf trade. Tortugaa and Key AVest command
the Gulf trade, and Cuba itself. With those
points fortified, a hostilo fleet in Cuba would be
powerless. This fact was known and commen
ted on in England when Florida was ceded to
the United States. He cited various American
commanders who gave the same decided opin
ion. Two millions would fortify those points.
It was the part of economy as well ns of hones
ty tr fortify our own possessions, and leave our
neighbors in undisturbed enjoyment of what
belongs to them. Better expend two millions
thus than a hundred- millions to purchase, or
uncounted millions in its conquest. At present
we derive from uban imports an annual reve
nue of six millions. This would be lost.
While he deprecated arguments addressed to
the North or South because no argument
could be good that did not address itself to the
whole Union be proposed to meet the section
al appeals already made. In no possible aspect
could the annexation of Cuba take place with
out the greatest injury to the South.
As a slave State, she could give the South no
additional power; the dream of a balance of
power in the Senate has long since exploded.
It would bring a powerful rival in direct com
petition with the most profitable productions of
the Southern States. Remove the duties now
collected on the articles raised in Cuba, and
their culture in the Southern States would soon
sicken and die. The present tariff on sugar
was no slight matter. He commented upon
the tenfold addition to the agricultural energies
of Cuba, to result from the annexation of it to
the United States, as detrimental to the Sooth.
As long as Cuba remains a possession of
Spain, it will be of inestimable advantage in
time of war, as a neutral port, where commerce
from the gulf could find a port, and where pur
chasers would come to reship it. This was
done in Florida during Mr. Jefferson's embar
go and in the war of 1812. It was difficult to es
timate the advantage ofsoch an outlet. There
were two hundred thousand free negroes and
six hundred thousand whites in Cuba. He ar
gued at length, showing that these whites, un
accustomed to self-government and attached to
an established religion, which would no longer
be supported by the State,, would prove a tur
bulent, ungovernable people. The free negroes,
he also contended, would be an element of the
most dangerous character. i .
The Senator from Louisiana had not ventur
ed to tell us when or in what manner ne
. thought Cuba ought to be acquired. lie told us
that he was not in favor of its purchase, but
there lie stopped. I am aura he does not desire
iu.i : . .L....IJ a ii . . i,
mat i uuiuu vwui mi us a mic result or an un
provoked and aggressive war. There is but
one other mode in whieh it can soma, and that
is by successfult revolt of the Cubans them
seh, If that be his nutted, he and I yry
nearly agree. I am willing to com promise on
L . X .:ii wl."
that, for it is tolerably certain
is tolerably certain inw w
be cold in the grave long before that revolution .
VA rri l r mn.li laa ktn rl I ftllAfi-
. i . 1 t i i fiv
ine senator irom tonaa went
nrgea mere was some sort oi over-rui...
sity, which was about to compel us to snatcn
this gem from Spain. I recognise an over-ru-
I!.. D :.l I lM ta.iinnitl thill lTL
viueuuc, mo " -
M Ua nnriirht. iust. and honest: ana
I recognize the existence ofio necessity which
comes in conflict with that law. Heretofore,
- -wr - -0, -s
progress and manifest destiny have wva con
sidered sufficient to cover our designs upon tho
property of our neighbors j but these being two
years old, are therefore approaching the pre
cincts of fogyism. There was no wrong which
this new phrase would not excuse, no outrage
which it would not extenuate. . , ' '
He would not vote for the resolutions. He
agreed with one which announced that wo. had
no design on Cuba, but he saw no necessity of
making the declaration. It appeared to him to
be undignified and unmanly to be constantly
making protestations of (four honesty, lie saw
no good to result from a re-amrmaiion oi toe
Monroe doctrine. There was more purpose ex
pressed and determination announced by si
lence than by repeated vows and resolves. It
looked as if new legislative resolves were neces
sary to keep up our courago
lie then drew a picture ot a pilgrim standing
half way ascending the mount frouv which the
valley beyond, to which he is journeying, may
be seen. He pauses with hesitation and fear
lest the view may be one of a wild over-grown
with brambles and thorns instead oi m nower
clad fields he desired. So with the statesman
of America. lie pauses and lingers upon the
pleasant pictures his fancy and his hopes have
drawn of the future resplendent glory of his
country, and yet fears to rush onward to the
mountain-top, lest the view which ho may there
behold should present his country the desolate
land of a people whose policy is war.
Mr. Cass read some extracts trom a letter re
cently received by him from an American in
Paris, in which the position assumed by him
and Mr. Mason in the debate on the 23d of De
cember last, upon this subject, had been high
ly commended.
Messrs. liALi and Maixort made a tew re
marks ; after which
Mr. Douola8 obtained the floor, and the sub
ject was postponed till Monday next.
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. Badger made the following Report :
The Committee on ike Judiciary, to whom were
referred sundry petitions nrauittg Congress to
abolish the office of chaplain, haee had the same
under consideration, and submit the following
report.
- The ground on which the petitioners found
thoir prayer is, that the provisions of law under
which chaplains are appointed lor the army and
navy, and for the two houses of Congress, are
in violation ot the farst amendment ot the con
stitution of the United States, which declares
that " Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free' exercise thereof."
If this position were correct if these provis
ions of law'do violate either the letter or the
spirit of the constitutional prohibition then,
undoubtedly", they should be at once repealed ;
and the office of Chaplain abolished. It thus
becomes necessary to inquire whether the posi
tion of the petitioners be correct.
The clause speaks of "an establishment of
religion." Vh$t is meant by that expression ?
It referred, without doubt, to that establishment
which existed in t!o mother country, and its
meaning is to be ascertained by ascertaining
what that establishment was. It was the con
nexion with the state of a particular religious
society, by its endowment, at the pubjic ex
pense, in exclusion of, or in preference to, any
other, by giving to its members exclusive polit
ical rights, and by compelling the attendance
of those who rejected its communion upon its
worship, or religious observances. Theso three
particulars constituted that union of church and
state of which our ancestors were so justly jeal
ous, and against which they so wisely and care
fully provided. It is true that, at the time our
constitution was formed, the strictness of this
establishment had been, in some respects, and
to a certain extent, relaxed in favor of Protest
ant dissenters ; but the main character of the
establishment remained. It was still, in its
spirit, inconsistent with religious freedom, as
a matter of natural right to be enjoyed in its
lull latitude, and not measured out by tolerance
and concession from the civil rulers. If Con
gress has passed, or should pass, any law which,
lairly construed, has in any degree introduced,
or should attempt to introduce, in favor of anv
church, or ecclesiastical association, or system
of religious faith, all or any one of theso obnox
ious particulars endowment at the public ex
pense, peculiar privileges to its members, or
disadvantages or penalties upon those who
should reject its doctrines or belong toother
communions such law would be a ' law. re
specting ah establishment of religion," and.
therefore, in violation of the constitution. But
no law yet passed by Congress is justly liablo
to such an objection. Take, as an example, the
chaplains to Congress. At every session two
chaplains are elected oae by each house
whose duty it is to offer prayers daily in the two
housas and to conduct religious services weekly
in the hall of the House of Representatives.
Now, in this, no religion, no form of faith, no
denomination of religious professors, is estab
iishod, in preleronce to any other, or has any
peculiar privileges conferred upon it. The range
of selection is absolutely free in each house
amongst all existing professions of religious
faith. There is no compulsion exercised or at
tempted, upon any member or officer of either
house, to attend their prayers or religious so
lemnities. No member gains any advantage
over another by attending, or incurs any penalty
or loses any advantage by declining to attend.
The chaplain is an officer of the house which
chooses him, and nothing more. He owes his
place not to his belonging to a particular reli
gious society, or holding a particular faith, but
to the voluntary choice of the members of the
house, and stands, in this respect, upon the
same footing with any other officer so elected.
It is not seen, therefore, how the institution of
chaplains is justly obnoxious to the reproach of
invading religious liberty in the widest sense of
that term.
It is said, indeed, by the petitioners, that if
members of Congress wish any one to pray for
them, they should, out of their own means, fur
nish the funds wherewith to pay him, and that
it is unjust to tax the petitioners with the ex
pense ot his compensation. It has been shown
that there is no establishment of religion in ere-
ating the office of chaplain, and the present ob- j BP'' on tne pavement, and that he should be ut
jection is to the injustice of putting upon the j ter'j denied the pleasure of scratching himself,
public this charge for the personal accommoda- j or standing in the sunshine on the sunny side
tion of members of Congress. Let it be seen, j f the house in March these being, luxuries
then, to what this objection leads. If carried ' that should be entirely confined to the rich!
out to its fair results, it will equally apply to j When, in the Harrison campaign for the presi
many other accommodations furnished to mem- I dency, it was alleged that General Harrison had
bers of Congress at the public expense. We ' Poor white men, Newtou declared that, al
have messengers who attend to our private bus-' though he was a Democrat, the old General
iness, take checks to the bank for us, receive the ' should have his vote ; but immediately backed
money, or procure bank drafts, and discharge ' out rom this pledge when it was proven that
various otuer omces lor our personal ease and
benefit, unconected with the despatch of any pub-
lie function. Why might it not be said that
members, if they wish these services performed
in their behalf, should employ and pay their
own agents? Members of Congress come here
to attend upon the business of the public. Many
of them are professed members of religious go,
cieties ; more are men of religious sentiment
ni hu taiTA nnt nnl tn h..-. ui .:
God invoked upon them in their legislative ca-
pacities, but to attend the public worship of
Kioa. uut now are an to be accommodated in
the churches of the city ? And of those who be
long to either house of Congress, some have not
the means to procure fcuch accommodations for
themselves. Where, then, is the impropriety of
And how is it more ft subject of just complaint
thaa to have officers who attend to tbe private
ecularbusines of the members ? The peti -
tjonen say, "X nutitHoi chaplaincy, no less than
mnalkd church, U considered by us emphati-
MH n tahl-Ah,nenl of reliction." In no fair
y "u Z hnnUin-
.anas mn por "--h
in mi hiih in nuiua ......
understood, when connecteo. i vy pe
titioners, with a "national church." A nation
al church implies particular ebureh selected
as the church of the nation, endowed with pe
culiar privileges, or sustained or favored by the
public in preference to other churches or relig-
iou societies, oi "'v"" , :
samblance, nor have we any such chaplaincy.
We have chaplains in the army and navy, and
in Congress ; but these are officers chosen with
the freest and widest range of selection the law
making no distinction whatever between any of
the religions, churches, or professions of faith
kno n tn tbe world. Of these none, -by law, is
excluded,? none has any priority ot legal right. J
True, selections, in point ot tact, are always
made from sonw one of the denominations into
which Christians are distributed ; but that is
not in consequence of any legal right or privi
lege, but by the voluntary choice of those whe
have the power of appointment. '.
This results from the fact that we are a Chris
tian people from the fact that almost our en
tire population belong to or sympathise with
aome one of the Christian denominations which
compose the Christian world. And Christians
will; of course, select, for the performance of re
ligious services, one who professes the faith of
Curist. This, however, it should be careful
ly noted, is not by virtue of legal provision, but
voluntary choice. We are Christians, not be
cause the law demands it, not to gain exclusive
benefits, or to avoid legal disabilities, but from
choice and education ; and in a land thus uni
versally Christian, what is to be expected, what
desired, but that we shall pay a due regard
to Christianity, and have a reasonable respect
for its ministers and religious solemnities?
The principle on which the petitioners ask
fo the abolition of the office of Chaplain, if car
ried out to. its just consequences, will lead us
much further than they seem to suppose. How
comes it tha$ Sunday the Christian Sabbath
is recognised and respected by all the depart
ments of the government ? In the law, Sunday
is a "dies non ; it cannot be used for the service
of legal process, the return of writs, or other
judicial purposes. The executive departments,
the public establishments are all closed on Sun
days ; on that day neither house of Congress
sits.
Here is a nearer approach, according to the
reasoning of the petitioners, to an establishment
of religion than is furnished by the otficial corps
to which they object. Here is a recognition by
law, and by universal usage, not only ot a
Sabbath, but of the Christian Sabbath, in ex
elusion of the Jewish or Mohammedan Sabbath
Why, then, do not the petitioners exclaim a
gaiust this invasion of their religious rights?
Why do they not assert that a national Sabbath
no less than a national church, is an csiapnsn
nicht of religion ? It is liable to all the objec
tions urged against the chaplaincy in at lca6t
an equal, if not in a greater degree. The rec
ognition ot the Christian Oabbalu is complete
and perfect. The othcers who receive salaries,
or per diemscompensation, are discharged from
duw on this day becaune it is the Christian
Sabbath, aod.yet-suffer no loss or diminution of
pay on that account. Why, then, do not these
petitioners denounce this invasion of their reli
gious rights and violation of tho constitution,
by which their money is applied to pay public
officers while engaged in attending on their re
ligious dunes, and not in tbe discharge ot any
secular function ?
The whole view of the petitioners seems
founded upon mistaken conceptions of the
meaning of the constitution. This is evident
if not from what we have said, from this consid
eration that, from the beginning, our govern
ment has had chaplains in its employment. -If
this had been a violation of the constitution
an establishment of religion why was not its
character seqn ty the great and good men who
were coeval with the government were in
Congress and in the Presidency when this con
stitutional amendment was adopted ? They
were wise to discover the true character of the
measure ; they, if , any one did, understood the
true purportof the amendment, and were bound,
by their duty and their oaths, to resist the in
troduction or continuance of chaplains, if the
views of the petitioners were correct. But they
did no such thing ; and therefore we have the
strongest reason to suppose the notion of the
petitioners to be unfounded. Unfounded it no
doubt is. Our fathers were true lovers of lib
erty, and utterly opposed to any constraint up
on the rights of conscience. They intended by
tliis amendment, to prohibit "an establishment
of religion," such as the English church presen
ted, or anything like it. But they had no fear
or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish
to see us an irreligious people: they did not in
tend to prohibit a just expression of religious
devotion by the legislators of the nation, even
in their public character as legislators ; they
did not intend to send our armies and navies
forth to do battle for their country without any
national recognition of that God on whom suc
cess or failure depends ; they did not intend to
spread over all the public authorities and the
whole public action of the nation the dad and
revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy. Not
; so had the battles of the revolution been fought,
I i.i 1 I - : . e . i . .
1 and tiieaeiiberations oi tne revolutionary Cn-
gress conducted. On the contrary, all had been
! done with a continual appeal to tho Supreme
Ruler of the world, and an habitual reliance
upon His protection of the righteous cause
which they commended to His care.
What has thus been done, with modifications,
indeed, to suit external circumstances and par
ticular exigencies, but in substance always the
i Bam' froa tbe beginning of our existence as a
nation ; what met the approval of our Washing
ton, and of all the great men who have succeed
ed him ; what commands the general commen
dation of the people ; what is at once so venera
ble and so lovely, so respectable and respected
ought not. in the opinion of the committee,
now to be discontinued.
The committee, therefore, pray to be dis
charged from the further consideration of the
petitions.
A Jotter in the Transcipt. in describing the
death of a man employed on a railroads says
"Although poor, he had friends and relations
who will deeply mourn his loss."
This is remarkable "although poor," ho had
friends and relations to mourn his loss I
This we find in the Boston Post. The intel
ligence that any body could have mourned for
a poor man would have surprised the late New
ton Hill,; who, in his peculiar way, used to say
that a poor man ehouTd be neither respected in
life or lamented after death. He would con-
' tend that a poor man should not be allowed to
the General had not done
so wise a thing."
of irony with nonr
What was a favorite kind
Newton, is no doubt the real sentiment of some
people. Richmond Dispatch.
We find the following "wet blanket" about
in our exchanges :
Young Mother (who is exactly sentimental.
.if .v. -i. . t ..
on noticing that her first born, in the cmdU. i
: exce,sivelJ restive) The i angels are whispering
to thee, my own darling babe
(?radioAf r-extremely matter of fact) it's
no such thing, LaV ; the-child has only got
wind in its stomach.
England owns more than double the number
of war steamships possessed by any other na
tion ; there being in the British navv one hun-
dred and frtJ-ne ; in the French, sixty-eight ;
' m the KUMian7 thirty-two ; and in the United
1 fifteen. ;
j ROME. : -Grace
Greenwood's Roman letters are exceed
ingly spirited. Thus she discourses upon the
Apollo Belvidere : " In all his triumphant
beauty, excellent vitality and rejoicing strengin,
the Apollo stands forth as a pure type of immor
talityevery inch a god. There is an Olym
pian spring in the foot which seems to spurn
the earth a seciire disdain of death in the very
curve of his nostrils a sunborn light on his
brow ; while the absolute perfection of grace,
the supernal majesty of the figure, now, ,as in
the old time, soein to lift it above the human
and the perishing, into the region of the divine
and the eternal. Scarcely can it be said that
the worship of thiis god has ceased. The indes
tructible glory off the lost diviuity lingers about
him still ; and tine deep, almost solemn emotion,
the sigh of unutterable admiration, with which
the pilgrims of art first behold him now, differ
little, perhaps, from the hushed adoration of
his early worshippers. I have naver seen any
work of art which I had such difficulty to real
ize as a mere huian creation, born in an ar
tist's struggling brain, moulded in dull clay,
and from thence transferred, by the usual low
and laborious process, to marble. Nor can I
even think of it as having, according to the old
poetic fancy, pre-existed in the stone, till the
divinely-direeted chisel of tho sculptor cut down
to it. An ! so, inetlnnks, the very marb:0 mut
have groaned, in prescience of the g-d it held.
To me it rather seems a glowing, divine concep
tion, struck instantly into stone. It surely era
bodies the verv soul and glory ot the ancient
mythology, and with kindred works, forms, if
not a tair justification ot, at least anobie apoio-1
gy for, a religion which revelled in ideas of beau
ty and grace, which had ever something lotty
and pure, even in its refined sensuality and
for the spledid arrogance of that genius which
boldly chiselled out its own grand conceptions,
and named them gods. The Apolio I should
like to see every day of my life. I would have
it near me ; and every morning, as the darkness
is luted before the sun, and the miracle ot crea
tian is renewed, I would wish to lift a curtain,
and gaze on that transcendent image of life and
light to receive into my own being somewhat
of the energy and joy of existence with which
it so abounds to catch some gleams of the glo
ry of tho fresh and golden morning of poetry
and art yet rayinig from his brow. One could
drink in strength, as from a fountain, from ga
zing on that attitude of pride and grace, so light,
yet firm, and renew one's wasted vigour by the
mere sight of that exulting and effortless action."
In the same letter occurs this passage: "One
lovely afternoon, lately, I drove, with my frends,
Mr. and Mrs. S ! , to the villa Borghese,
where, among many other fine works of art, I
saw Canova's Vetm Victorieuse. This is an ex
quisitely graceful and elegant statue, altogeth
er my favorite among Canova's female figures
For this, you will remember, Pauline Bonaparte
sat; it was referring to this, that she afterwards
made the lamous reply to a' somewhat more
scrupulous lady, 'who wondered how she could
bear tho exposure Uh ! 1 assure you it was
not uncomfortable ; tbe room was well-warmed"
simply treating it as a question of Fahrenheit.
This villa is one of the loveliest places in the
neighbourhood of Rome. -I shall never forget
our coming out into the grounds at sunset, and
the long draughts of pure delight which I drank
in as 1 gazed around and above me. atately
trees cast their lotty shadows across my path
tauen leaves golden, ana bronze nnd crimson,
stirred into little eddies by the rising wind, rip
pled about my feet i-tountains murmured
dreamily in ttiej distance, and intermingled
lights and shades played over the pleasant lawn.
Tho sky was gorgeous with purple and gold,
shading off into Um softest lilac and the sereuest
blue. Wherever ! looked, on earth or heaven.
there was beauty beauty indescribable, uni
maginable. and I exclaimed "Ch ! uod must
have brooded longer over this land than over
any othor on the broad face of the world !"
Some of the less pleasing features of Italian life
are well described. In one letter, she writes
"The beggars constitute a prominent and a most
iepulsive feature of Italy. T hey appear in every
imaginable variety and degree ot wretchedness,
uisease and ueioi-mity. luey beset you every
where, and stall times in walks, drives, church
es, on ine steps ot palaces, in shops, eajes, a
mong the ruins at early morning, at noon, at
midnight. It is not safe for you to pause to ad
mire a handsome p-asant woman, or child, how
ever well dressed for begging seems the earliest
instinct, the universal, ruling passion of the peo
ple. Driving in the country lately, we passed
a 8 1 ream on whoso banks some woman were
washing linen, and on seeing us, an old dame.
of at least seventy, dropped the ragg-d sheet she
was cleansing on in rock, dashed tnrough the
water up to her venerable knees, cleared the
bank with a bound, and presented her withered
and dripping palm at the coach - door, keeping
up with the full speed of our horses a hideous,
horrible creature, chattering and howling like
a very she-devil, till we exorcised her with a few
bujocchi. As for those even legitimate objects
of charity the blind, diseased, deformed, mai
med nnd crippled-- they seem as innumerable
as the waves of tie ' sea. You see men with
sturdy, broad chets, and big, bushy heads, on
legs whi'jh have shrunken into a second child
hood, aud lie coiled under them like cables.
Among the regular lyers in wait about one of
the churches', is am old woman with an immense
wen, projecting from her forehead like the
horn of a unicorn,! and a boy whose withered
right arm hangs biaro at his side, stiff, straight
and slender, like a pump-handle. Men, legless
and armless, mere torsi, roll down upon you
from declivities ; men, with paralyzed soines.
wriggle across yoiar path, like reptiles ; and, in
short, there is no ind to these deformed forms
of humanity, these dismemoered numbers of
society. 1 am always most touched with the
appeals of the blind and the maimed.
To b sightless and crippled is Italy 1
Oh, -od of life, of poesy, and light!'
With soldiers and priests Rome actually
swarms ! You go nowhere that you do not see
the French and Papal troops, though far more
of the former than: of the latter. Indeed, from
the number of barracks, sentinelled points, pa
rades, marchings hjither and thither, bugle-calls,
and noisy drum-beatings, one might suppose
Rome entirely under foreign rule and military
law. As for the holy priesthood, as was said
of another institution, its 'name is legion.'
You meet, everywhere, dark, sinister-looking
Jesuits, in their sombre robes, moving about by
twos, at a peculiar, stealth y, prowling gait
walking presentiments of the very blackness of
spiritual darkness." Whatever may be thought
of some of her opinions, Grace Greenwood is a
noble-hearted woman, of whom her countrywo
men ought to be proud, as all of them are who
know her.
A WlNPrAM. FOt A JOURNEMAX PaiXTM. A
letter received yesterday by Augustus B. Mc
Donald, a journeyman printer in this office, in
formed him that his great uncle Marshal Mc
Donald, who recently died in Paris, at the Ho
tel de Vil e, aged 82, had left him by his will a
snug little fortune. McDonald was wealthy, and
was a Marshal of France, appointed by Bona
parte. The printer will start for the east forth
with, with the intention of going to Franco im
mediately. He has realised many of those
strange vicissitudes which printers more fre
quently meet with than any other class. He
was a sailor in the British navy, and receiv
ed a pension in consequence of a wound in the
leg receivedat the bombardment of Canton. He
fought in the Mexican war from Vera Crux to
the city of Mexico, and was wounded in the an
kle at Vera Crux. jHe bears the mark of a se
vere wound in the peck which he received at
the gates of Mexico and secured a pension from
the United States. His brother, Arthur McDon
ald,: was a surgeon in the British navy, aud was
on board the Tcrrdr in the expedition of Sir
John Franklin, since when, of course, he has
not tieen heard of. i-Milwaukie News. '
Madame," said ai cross-tempered physician to
a patient, "if woman were admitted to naradisn
their tongues would make it a purgatory,"
-a.na some pujsicuans, h auowea to practice
there," replied the lady, "would soon make it a
ANECDOTE OF A LOUISIANA JVlXi. ,
ma JiiriiM L s. who was for year the
Circuit Judge in that portion of Louisiana known
as Attakapas County, wa justly celebrated for
hie legal learning, and was greatly beloved by
l. : fri. fnmila.- Tf w. tern.' OD-
11 IB noiEiiwrB 1.1
rizhfemtid honest nd the death of the good pia
man,' which occurred some years ago, woe am
versally regretted thoughout the state. .
. But with all his book lore and legal attain-
menu, he was nreh n the greenest man at cards
in his entire Circuit. It has been said that he
did trot know the "Jack of IVumps from ;
diamond. In the village of Qpiilousas, as three
individuals were sitting round a table, in one of.
those doggeries, with a billiard table attached,
which are so common in the Creole parishes, j
playing a small game of three handed pokor,
a quarrel ; chsned, which resulted in an ag
gravated caso of assault and battery. This
did not end the affair, for at the next term of
the court, at the head of the docket stood "The
State of Louisiana tw. John Allen, for an assault
and battery with intent to kill, on the body of
Enos Griggs." ' - - .
The trial came on. and the only witness to
the affray was a Captain Johnson, who was the
third hand in the game. Johnson was the skip
per of one of thoso crafts which transport sugar
from that section of the country to New Orleans,
and was a self-confident go ahead fellow, and
was as undaunted before the Judge and Jury, as
ho would have been before the crew of his own
little craft. After being sworn, he was directed
to tell the Court and Jury everything he knew
about the affair. After clearing his throat, he
commenced oy stating, -inai mm um vngg uu
John Allen were over at Boullet'e grocery, the
second day of the election, when Allen proposed
that they should have a small game of poker ;
all agreed to it. and we went up stairs and sat
down to the game ; did not know that there was
any hash feelings between unggs ana Alien, or
I wouldn't a played, but heard afterwards"
Here tne wunessTvaa lmerrupteu uviuevuuri,
who directed him to keep all hearsays to himself
and confine himself strictly to the facts ot tbe
case.
The witness continued "Well, we sat down
to the table Griggs sot there, John Allen here,
and I there (making a diagram of the clerk's
table in order to elucidate the position of the
parties.) John Allen dealt the cards, I went
blind. GrieiT8 he went blind and John Allen
wouldn't see him."
The Judge, who was a little deaf, was in tbe
habit of making an ear-trumpet of his hand for
the purpose of sharpening his hearing and
throwing his head a little forward and sideways,
interrupted the witness by asking him, "what
was the reason that John Allen didn't see
Grises?" ;
The witness replied, "I don't know, but he
wouldn't look at him."
"Proceed," says the Judge.
"Well, I saw him and he saw, and just at
that minute .
"Stop, sir," says the Judge, throwing himself
into a hearing attitude "did I understand you"
to say, that you went bund r
"Yes, sir.' I went blind, and Griggs he was
blind, and Align wouldn't see, but I saw Griggs,
and then he saw
"Witness," exclaimed the Judge, striking the
banch with his clenched fist, "do 1 hear you
aright, sir ? Do you say that you went blind,
and then you saw V
"Yes, sir," replied the witness, "I saw Griggs,
and liriggs saw, and just at that
"Stop, sir," said the Judge. "Mr. Clerk,4ine
the witness fifty dollars for contempt of Court,
and direct the sheriff to take him to jail, and
there to keep him until he receives further or
ders from the Court. Call up the next case, Sir.
Clerk."
Capt. Johnson was dumbfounded, and did not
awake to the reality of his condition, until the
Sheriff laid his hands on him when he exclaim
ed : "God a mighty, Mr. Judge, what have
done, that I. must go to jail ?"
The Judee. who was purple with raee. did
not deign to reply to poor Johnson, but .reiter
ated the order with increased vehemence, and
tbe junior members of the bar, who had been
anticipating the fix that the Capt. would even
ruallv be placed in. were convulsed with liiuorh-
. . 1 - - - , o
ter, which increased the rage of the old Judge
to the highest pitch lhe prosecuting attorney
endeavored to enlighten the Judge, and even
tally succeeded, but not until he had produced
a pack of cards, and after dealing out three
hands, made the blind as clear as day to die
Jndge.
The fine and imprisonment were remitted
order was restored in the Court, and Capt. John
son was allowed to proceed with his testimony
Proposals for Mast & Spar Timber
Navy Department,
Bureau or Construction, Equipment & Ucpaix,
, January 24, 1853.
SEALED PROPOSALS, endorsed "Prt posals for
Mast nnd Spar Timber'" will be received at this
oureau until 3 o'clock p. m. of the 2Sth day of Feb
ruary next, for furnishing and delivering the quan
tities of yellow pine mast, and spar timber amixed
to each of the following navy yards, to wit:
At the navy yard Portsmouth, N. H. :
For one razee, estimated to contain 3,180 cubic
feet.
At the navy yard Charlestown Mass.
For three sloops-of-war, estimated to contain
4,110 cubic feet.
At the navy yard Brooklyn, N. Y
for one ship-of-the-line,
For three frigates,
For three sloops of war,
1
Estimated to con
tain 15,790 cub. ft
At the navy yard, "Philade phia
For two sloops of-war, estimated to contain 2, 740
cubic feet.
. At the navy yard, Washington, D. C. .
For one sloop of-war, estimated to contain 1,370
cubic feSl.
At the navy yard, Gosport, Va. :
For one ship of-the-line, 1 Estimated to con
For two sioops-of-war, tain (i,440 cubic ft.
At the navy yard, Pensacola, Florida :
For 1 frigate estimated to contain 2,660 cub. ft.
for 1 sloop-or-war
3 jibbooms, 8 pieces
main yard,
4 pieces cross jack yd
4 pieces maintop sail
yard
4 pieces foretop sail
yard,
Estimated
to contain 2031 eub. ft.
4,691 cub. ft.
DIMENSIONS OF THE FOREGOING SPAR
TIMBER
Ship-of the-Line.
5-
Size in inches.
ft a
23
Butt. Middle.iTop.
Main yard..... 72 27
Fore yard....; 66 25
Cross jack yard .' 48 16
Mizentop sail yard .54 21
Foretop sail yard... 50 19
Mizentop sail yard . 54 7
Maintop mast 74 24
Foretop mast 08 24
Mizentop mast 56 18
Jibboom 64 17
26
24
15
20
18
14
15
14
9
10
7
23
23
16
17
22
Total 23 pieces, estimated to measure 3,700 cubic
foet
Razee.
Size in inches.
it "
la
5.3
a fin
S--2
Butt. Midd'e. Top
Main yardi.... 70 26
25
23
15
30
18
14
14
13
9
11
$
22
22
18
ie
Fore yard..... w 64 24
Cross jack yard ..48 16
Maintop sail yard.... 63 21
Foretop sail yard,.... 49 19
Mizentop sail yard 53 7
Maintop mast 70 23
Foretop mast 64 23
Mizentop mast 52 17
Jibboom 60 16
21
Total 23 pieces, estimated to measured, 180 cubie
Frigate.
' .
Size in inches.
Batt MiddneTTjl
22 .21 i2
15 14. 8
19t 18 10i
17 16 J
22 - si
22 2l
16 - -15
15 ,19 i5
j Main JBrd 64
j j-0re ymTd ;.. 68
Cross jack yard 4
j Maintop sail yard... 50
t Foretop sail yard... 46
j Mizentop sail yard 48
Maintop mast.
Foretop mast.
C6
61
50
5G
M nen top -mast.
Jibboom
feet.
SUnpof war.
Main yard 55
Fore yard bl
Cross jack yard 54
Maintop sail yard... bU
Foretop sail yard... 58
Mizentop sail yard . 43
Maintop mast 54
Foretop mast......... 50
Mizentop mast 40
Jibboom 44
Total 17 pieces, estimated to measure 1,370 i
bic feet. .
ir . -.1 . - i i.i
ji iub varus iu mu uicvco, chcu nail yard i1 1
hold the size of the butt for one-quarter the length I
trom tne Dutt, ana mence nnea with a rerulul
curve equiuisiani, irom a siraigm centre iins.
third of their length from the butt. I
Luyiuasto viuuviu tuc iim ui vu uutl ior A,. I
Yards in single sticks and jibbooms will hold M I
size givcu iu lue uiiuuic ur suugs i or one-trurct g(
their length ; that is, for one sixtii of their lt&gti
on each side of the middle, and thence taper u
i i .i : in i , .... "I
way with a regular curve equidistant from a strsirli
centre line.
The pieces mast be got out square and smooth. I
ly hewed ; the heart of each piece must be in tU
centre, ana tney must maze one-third heart
each surface.
m A 11 a
to oe oi iong-ieaiea yeuow pine, nne grsinri
straight, and sound, free from cracks in the knit
anu especially iree irom winu snakes or nngi ; tb( I
Knots must oe icw in numoer, round, small tin,
and well collared. No allowance will be mad tw
youd the sizes given. The whole to be meaiuraj
except wane.
The otters mast state the price per cubio foai
i i i. i -
Ail ine aioresaia mast na spar timber will bt
subject to the inspection and measurement etuto.
mary at the navy yard where the same shall t
delivered, and most be in all respects Batitfactort
to and approved by the commaadant thereof.
Separate proposals must be made - for the trAj,
quantity required at eacn of said navy yards, of whicl
not less than one half, embracing a fair properties
of the large piec.es, must be deliverd on or befon
the 1st or September next, and the remainder
or bet ore tne Jst or March, ltk4. Ho exteniioi
of time for making deliveries will be granted, J
penalties for non-fulfilment will be rigidly enforced.
Persons whose offers may be accepted will be r&
quired to enter into contracts which, besides othir
conditions, will expressly provide that, in case thej
shall in any respect fail to .perform the contract!
the same may be, at the option of the United Statei
declared null and void, without affecting the right
of said United States to recover for defaults whicl
may have occurred ; with the stipulation also thit,
if default shall be made by the contractor in de'i?.
ering all or any part of the articles contracted for,
of the quality and at the times and places named
that then and in that case the contractor and
his sureties will forfeit and pay to he United Statu
as liquidated damages, a sum of money equal to
twice the contract price ; which liquidated dama
ges may be recovered from time to time as they ac
crue, t;
Approved sureties in twice tbe estimated amount
of each contract will be required in the manner itt
forth in that instrument and ten per centum willU
witheld from the amount of each payment, as col
lateral security for its faithful performance ; and a
ninety per centum of each bill, approved in tripli
cate by the respective commandants of the afoi
said navy yards, will be paid by the navy agent at
the point of delivery within thirty days after its 1
presentation to him.
Every offer must be accompanied by a writtei
guarantee, (the responsibility of the guarantor or
guarantors to be certified to by a navy agent or otk
er official person, or by some one known t tbe Bu
reau,) that if tbe offer be accepted, the bidder or
bidders will, within ten days after the receipt of
the contract at the post-office designated, eieeuti
the same with good and sufficient sureties to fur
nish the articles proposed agreeably to the termi
specified in the contract. The law of the 10th (
August 1846. forbids the consideration of all pro-
proposals not accompanied -by such guarantee.
Bidders are particularly cautioned to endorte that
offers as above required, that they may be distin
guished from other busines letters in order to pi
v.nt their being opened before the day appointed.
Offers not made in strict conformity with ihil
advertisement will be considered or rejected at thi
option of the bureau. Those only whose ffen I
may be accepted will be notified and contracts for
warded without delay.
Persons offering are directed to designate thi
post office through whicli they desire to be addres
ed, and the navy agent to - whom the contract!
shall be sent for execution.
All editors authorized to publish this advertise-1
ment will be specially notified 'by this bureau,
none others will be paid for its insertion.
FORM OF AN OFFER.
I (or we) agree to furnish and debver at the na.
vy yara , m coniormity with the require
ments of the advertisement by the Bureau of Cos-
struction, Equipment and Repair, of the 24th of
January, looo, the mast and spar timber required
at that yara by said advertisement, viz., cu
bic feet at the rate of - cents per cubic foot,
If my bid be accepted, I desire to be addressed
through the post office at ,and the contract
to be sent to the navy agent at for executioa
A. B.
We, the undersigned, residents of .. in tat
State of , Jicreby euarantee. in case the fore
going bid of -
be accepted, that he (or the;)
wi 1, within ten days after the receipt of the con
tract at the post office designated in said bid exe
cute the same with good and sufficient sureties te
furnish the mast and spar- timber proposed, in con
formity with the terms of the advertisement undt
which it was made. C. D.
I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowl
edge and belief, the above named guarantor art
good and sufficient. E. F.,
.Navy Agent
The offer to be endorsed "PropmaU far Ma
and Spar Timber," , Navy Yard at .
Feb. 1st 1853. w4w-ll
Music, Pianos, Guitars, Yiolins.&o.
AT THE K. C. MUSIC STORE.
"1 .- Size in inchs. S i
- ,
a C ; a ' j
S Butt Middle Top.j
20 10 U -
19 18 io
7 14 8
0J 15 91
8 16 8
8 11 c
18 n
J8 1T
14 13
12 16 12 I
TUST received and ready for inspection and sslir
a beautiful assortment of Pat. k'd Rosewood
Guitars, beautifully ornamented,
Violins, a larger and cheaper lot than evsr be
fore offered in the State,
Violin Baxes, Boxwood, Logwood and Whits,
Violin Cases, varnished wood and paper, .
Octave Flutes, E. D. and C, Ivory and Sihs?
keys,
Violla Bridges,
Clarionets and Clarionettas,
Violincelloa and Bows,
Triangles, Banjos, Castinetts, is., e.. t.
Raleigh, Feb. 4, 1853 1
For Sale.
A handsome Rockaway, together with a coos
Trotter, Harness, &c
Apply to the Editer'of this Paper, far iaforms
tioB. Dcc.lt, IMC M 1
2
2
2
2
desert.