Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-11-27
e-WAll advertisements for the "OrgGn"
should he handed into the Office before twelve
o'clock NJ, of the day Of publication.
UnconstitutiOnal.

should he handed into the ONCE before tWelve
o'clock, NJ, of the day Of publication.
Unconstitutional.
We resume the consideration of the question,
whether the organization Of the Know-Noth-
,ings is or is not unconstitutional, as charged
by the various administration presses. We
copied in our last number that clause of the
constitution bearing on this subject, the con-
Guiding sentence Of which reads
..No religious test shall ever be required as a
qualification to any Office or public trust under the
United States"
We illustrated its meaning to be that no law
should be enacted by Congress to create any
such test. Tho Constitution Of the United
States is charter of powers from the States TO
the federal government
Certain enumerated powers are conferred
upon Congress in that instrument and all other
powers not thus delegated to the federal gov
eminent are expressly reserved to the States
or to the people"
The power to create religious test for Of
Ace is denied to Congress, but reserved to the
States or to the people" New Hampshire ex-
cludes Catholics from Office under this reserved
power, and Maryland for long period and
down to very recent date, excluded Je1s from
Office or suffrage under this reserved power
These facts distinctly prove the meaning Of the
citod clause to be, that Congress should create
no such test, but that the power to make such
tests was reserved to the States or to the peo-
pie" in the language Of the tenth article Of the
amendments to the constitution.
If then the States, or the people Of the States
choose to create religious test" for office
there is nothing in the United States Constitu-
ton to prevent it; but on the contrary, this
power being denied to Congress by the consti-
tuition, and all powers not granted to Congress
being reserved to the States or to the peo-
ple,n it follows that the exercise of this power
by the States or the people remains unim-
paired.
viii any sensible man who understands the
plain meaning of constitutional provisions,
hereafter assert that the organizations of the
Known othings are unconstitutional
The object of the provision In the Constitu-
ton against creating a religious test for Office
under the federal government was to prevent
the establishment Of any form of q national
religion, in other words, to prevent the union
of Church and State under tho federal gov
ernment The object was just one, and should
never be thwarted. Our party is as mnch OPP
posed "A any other TO the union Of Church and
statA We advocate the largest liberty Of con-
science and tho free exercise Of suffrage by
qualified voters. Suffrage is only valuable
when free
We claim the right to vote against any class
of politicians, or religonists, whose tenets we
do not approve. This right has always been
exercised by our people since the revolution,
and IL will continue to be exercised by our
selves. and our descendants, till another revo-
luton shall ovsrturn our free institutions
Wings prescribe Democrats, and Democrats
prescribe Wings, II free suffrage implies pro-
scription; and, in like manner, the different
rects Of Professionals prescribe each other in
casting their votes at the polls
We advocate no change in the constitution
on the question Of the religious test advcrted to-
Our party is content with the exercise Of
their clear and undoubted right TO cast their own
SURFACES according to their own notions Of pro-
pricty. They seek to create no tests by law,
because public opinion viii, in their Judgment
correct, at the polls, the evils which they APP
prshend from tho present tendency Of Papal
power. Wo close this article by copying tho
the decision Of Judge Bishop, given at Lowell
few days ago, In case pending between the
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, ps. Reardon,
to which we invite attention.
Judge Bishop says:
"Thc counsel has seen fit TO introduce into this
case an issue aside from the merits of the case It,
self and Il might DO proper to deal with that mat
ter at this time IL was said, and 10 II appeared,
from tho testimony Of several Of the witnesses for
the government, that an organization called Know
Nothings did exist. II the object Of such society
was 70 prescribe any man socially, and to stand be-
tween the prisoner and his rights in this court II
Il should seek TO interrupt the administration of
Justice and infringe upon the laws and constitution
II II says to any man that he is to be deprived Of
rights to which he is entitled-it should be dis
carded
at might be perfectly proper for tho counsel to
show that witnesses were connected with such 30
ciety; but he knew Of no law which forbid men or
gsnizng themselves into political associations to
guard against foreign influence, or any other infu-
ence which they might consider dangerous. All
political parties prescribe mon Of opposite parties
from holding office, and he knew Of no law 70 pre-.
vent H. Men might, perhaps, be unwise in con
meeting themselves with such an organization, but
II was for every man 70 Judge for himself what wa
right and proper. He had no fears that any mar
on the panel would be injured by such prejudice'
in the decision OF this cause and II was for the jury
70 Judge whether the credibility Of Witnesses wa,
70 be impaired by their counexion with such soci
ETY.
This able jurist could find no law to prevent
such organizations ~ ours, and we are inclined