Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-27

Pope, and maintained by his adhsrents, when
Ma. Jefferson, In his preamble, went far beyond
the point Of curtaihng his claim TO temporal
supremacy, by denying his infallibiiity alto
gether, and his impious presumption " In as
snming dominion over the faith Of others"
Really the Washington Union should have
leather medal for its manifestations Of skill,
in torturing the obvious meaning of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons language in anathematizing Popery, into
an approval of corrupt system Of Jesuitism,
by which religious freedom" Is sought to be
annihilated. 1t is too obvious TO require illus
tration, that Mr.. Jefferson had especially in
view the destruction in advance, Of any scheme
Of Popcry to subvert the liberties Of the people
Of this country, when he penned the act to es-
tablish religious freedom.
He was aware that an act Of Parliament had
been passed just prior to the Revolution estab-
fishing the Roman Catholic religion in Canada,
and he knew the apprehensions which that act
had created in the minds Of the American
colonies
He was aware that the Continental Congress
lad, in 1774, considered that measure and its
probable effects, and had approved a resolution
on the 18th day Of September, l774, in the
following words, to wit:
That the late act Of Parliament, for establish
ing the Roman Catholic religion, and the French
laws, In that extensive country now called Quebec,
Is dangerous IN az, extreme degres to the Protestant
religion, and To the civil rights and liberties Of all
America; and, therefore, as men, and as Protes-
tant Christians we arcindispensaby obliged TO take
all proper measures for our security"
This resolution was adopted unanimously,
and it was doubtless in the mind Of Mr.. JEFF
ferson when he penned his preamble above
mentioned. 1t may be found in the LIST volume
(small edition, page 10, Of tho proceedings Of
tho Continental Congress. We have no com
ments to make upon the resolve itself--it
speaks for itself--it was unanimously adopted
by that wise, pure, and far-seeing body Of he
roes and statesmen, composing the Congress Of
l774, and it will doubtless receive from our
readers that consideration to which it is entitled
We copy it now for the single purpose Of ex-
plaining the influences under which Mr. Jeffer-
son acted on the occasion Of introducing his
memorable act to establish religious freedom.
The act Of Virginia Establishing religious
frcedon,," hercinbcforc referred to, and this day
published in our paper, embodies the views,
opinions and principles entertained by the
I" American party" on the question Of civil and
religious liberty, and we again repeat, that our
party has stood, and viii always stand, upon
that platform, under any and all circumstances.
FIVE are opposed to tho elevation to Office
of the adhercnts Of the Pope, it is simply be-
cause we mean to guard against the violation
Of the principles on which we stand 1t is and
has been the arooed purpose of tho advocates
of the Romish hierarchy in this country, to de-
stroy religious liberty, whenever they obtain
the numerical preponderance
We have abundant proofs to sustain this
statement, and, on this ground, we win not
ourselres place such men in political power,
though we seek not to abridgc their constitu-
tional rights.
1t is not that our party wishes to destroy re-
ligious liberty, that we decline to aid in pro-
noting the dcvotees Of the Pope to political
station, but 1t is because acc desire to prevent
that destruction Of ciril and religious liberty
1hich is threatened by the leading journals
devoted to Popcry, in the event Of their gain
ing the ascendency. We have been often
enough torioarned of their aims and intentions,
and it is time we should be .torearmed to pre-
vent their accomplishment Jesuitism, eccle-
siastica and political, have conspired to over
throw our institutions, and the friends of free
dom must unite, in selfdefence, to defeat their
Vaccinations.
Col. Kinney's Central American Scheme
The Press-And the Government.
We are not among those who advocate any
thing because Il Is objected to by our onponents