Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-10-05

complaint has been mace IN certain quarters
that have not sanctioned a new license law,
which passed the Legislature on the night of the
final adjournment. have not sanctioned it, nor
do intend TO do so. 1t has been filed away in
the office Of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
TO be returned to the next General Assembly with
my objections.
This measure is fair specimen of hastv and in
cCnsiderate legislation, and it is SO confused and
obscure in its purpose, that its administration,
when taken IN connection with the other license
laws of the State, would battle the most astute
/ legal mind After deliberate examinations of i,s
provisions, came to the conclusion tnat it might
do much harm and could Go no good. Ny reasons
against it and which too long to be inserted
| here, am confident, viii prove satisfactory to
you. Certain am that to real friends OF tempe
/ rance reform, with full comprehension of the
manifest tendencies ofthis measure, will be wiling
to make himself the advocate Of such license
system.
Certain strange political do2mas have recently
/ been presented for public consideration and which
would seem to demand more than passing no
tice. l mean the doctrine Of the recently elected
( Mayor OF the city of Phadelph that citizen
born out of the country. should not be trusted
with civil Office and the still more extraordinary
tenets of political i.iith held by certain secret
organization which. it is said, materially aided
in eievatiRg tlis functOnary to power.
am opposed 20 all secret societies to accom-
lsi political ends. believe. in the language of
/ bEoRGE NAsHINGToS, that all such associations
{
come potent engines by schich cu'aing ambitious
and unl7HciItei tcjH be enabled 10 subrerf tie
p03ccr of lie pe0p}e, and TO Si&srp fl. HepSe,res
tie geas Qf gOr5R3,e5t, destroying uftey1rdrds he
re,y engines sehich lifted them 10 unjust do
nfinion.'
believe in the wisdom and Justice Of the Ian
guage of the Constitution of the United States,
that declares mo ye}gi0us test SL0U eUer be re
CURED as a qfo! feG!ion 10 G,'g aJicc 5s.5lic
traSt "1dr dse U5ttted SAFES ;" and in the decla-
Ds. l.. e -.
wealth, that .',,ll men have natural and inde-
feasible right to worship Almighty God accord
ing to the dictates Of their own Conscience" That
mo human authority can, in any case whatever,
control or interfere with the rights Of conscience,
and no preference shall ever be given by law to
any religious establishment or modes Of worship;'
and in the further declaration that, ''no person
who acknowledged the being of God, and fu-
tGre state of reward and punishment, shall, On
account Of his religious sentiments. be disqualified
to hold any Office or place of trust profit under
the Commonwealth"
! believe these instruments Of Fundamental
law, aS they are, should be maintained aad Justly
administered ty all mon in civil authority. In
deed. It Is difficult TO ina zine how any sworn
to administer these paramount laws could feel
warranted IN stepping over the bounds of their
distinct terms, and establishing rules ofaction in
direct yoltti3n Of the guarantees and imnUaties
which they secure to every citizen. Citizens &C
Cordiug to the terms Of the Constitution. are al
al!ke-tGey are entitled to equal proteotou-to
equal rghts--to equal immunties, and man
who Fretenis to Just administration of the laws
should attempt the EIgh-hanied usUrpation Of
constituting citizens TO suit lis caprice. and
to lay down, rule of action. that the accident
of birth should deprive American citizen of
the enjoy ment Of the full immuntieS and prvi-
leges guaranteed him by tie C. institution A
more uajIs:jfaEle idea never entered the mind Of
any Ame~i an statesman. would not say this |
bacau-e [ believe any class of people, wherever !
BON, whatever their religion. have any right (
as a class, or religious denomination, tn demand
office, or honor, distinction in the civil govern
nent. The Democracy Of this. county never |
have. nor never viii recognize any such demand |
But taking the Constitution guide and rule |
Of action. they vii maintain the Just rglt Of al! /
citizens, learning each to depend upon his own |
merits and qualifications for Office aud honor !
This ] hold to be the true doctrine on this |
question.
If the conditions upou which the ;,5,p;o Of /
other countries can become citizens Of the United |
states, and a:oy me benefits of our free institu-
t9nH o. wrong, that is our flult. Il not the /
German, tie Welchman, the Engshm u, the |
lrishman, OF the Polander, who made these con- /
6itions. They the work of American states
men. They stand sanctioned by George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other illustri- 4
Gus fathers of our republic. We held out the /
al urng invitation to he people OF other countries
t. come here, accept our c' nditlons and become !
upon the world the peculiar benefits of our insti-
TUT rs. Indeed, we boasted of cur land Of civil /
and religious liberty, of our asylum for the op
pressed, here every could enjoy the high /
dignity Of self government, and the unestimable
privilege OF worshpping God agreeahly 10 the /
dictates Of conscience. Thus invited. many came !
of all countries, and of ali sects of prof ssng
christians. Some have been with us since the |
days of the revolution, some for half century
some for half that time, and Others for shorter
period. They have contributed by their industry /
and Skill to the development of the resources of
our common country, and have assisted in its
defence others have felled the forest and cultivat
ea the soil and have added 70 tie general pros
perity Of the country; Others have advanced the |
,ommeIcial. manufacturing, mining, and mocha |
nicai interests of the nation and Others have /
adorned tie pulpit and tie bar They have as
sisted to pay the taxes, and t. fight battles
and shall the sacred covenant which was thus
made with these people be violated by the power
Of a secret and in>idious combination that over
ride the Constitution
Shall the faith ofour fathers. as plighted III this
great instrument. be thus disregarfed Right-I
minded men Of all parties must respond no? No
such immortality and political wrong snould be
permitted to tarnish the fame of our glorious
country.
From the long past days Of the revolution there
is "reminiscences that speaks in eloquent tones
against this proposed error. From the shades of
Mount Vcrnon-from the grave of Ia Fayette-
from the heights where Montgomery fell-from
the once bloody fields where Pulaski and De kalb
cave ND their lives. there comes up solemn re
m0nstrance against this proposed wrong L would
not say this nor the weakest sentiment of it, for
the mere matter of Office to this class of citizens
The value of office to them IS of small Importance,
but it is the deep dishonor that such violent