Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-03
your fathers did. or will Won take the side Of

the British Parliament?
The people of Kansas and Nebraska have had
conferred upon them by Congress the right to
regulate their own domestic concerns according
to their own wishes and incinations. Is it right
Who will say it is wrong? Who knows best
what are the wants of our fellow. citizens in the
valley of the Kansas, or the Upper Missouri
the representatives they elect to their own terri
to-al legislature, or the Congress OF the United
States, when not a single member, perhaps, has
made Il foot. print in Kansas or Nebraska and
which would most likely egislate wisely for
: them-the territorial Legislature or Congress I!
The statement of the question carries the answer
with it. If Pennsy ylvanian now has the right
to make his own laws here, what is there in the
atmosphere of Kansas when he removes there
rendering him less competent to do the same
thing there? This right, conferred by Congress
on the Territories, is subject TO but one linita
ton, which all concedc is just f; and that is thai
their legislation shall not cunlravenc the constl-
tuition of the United States-a limitation that
exists as 10 the States, and should in the Terri
tories
As this is n democratic celebration, it will not
be improper that should say that | felt the
highest pride in seeing near y all Of your demo-
cratic representatives in Congress sustaining the
bill and maintaining that great principle first
asserted on this hallowed spot rs years ago by
Benjamin Franklin, the philosopher and patriot
of Pennsylvania, and hi, compeers. 1t was be-
coming in the representatives OF the democracy
of Pennsylvania TO vindicate The principles which
you have so long profcssed, by coming boldly
forward and sustaining the bill with enlightened
wisdom and manly independence. Cheers
But the revolution not only secured civil
liberty by deposng the authority of the King
and making the people polica! sorereigiis, but it
established another great American principle
which has exercised potent influence on The
moral nature Of our race ; it established religious
liberty it separated church and State; it denied
the right of the former any political power aS
an organization. 1t said 10 the Puritans, the>
Cavaliers, and the Hngenots. who had fled re-
ligious intolerance and prescription, here you may
worship according to the dirtates OF your con-
science, and none shall make you afraid. h The
tmid feared that it would lead to n6dcIily, ire
ligion, and anarchy, but time has proven its wis
dom. The support of tho ministry, the cree
ton of church buildings, and all oulays for
spiritual objects, is left 10 the volition of the
citizen. He can give or withhold. The law
recognises no sect or deuominalion-all arc
equal and equally protected. How has it worked:
We have ms moral nation rs any upon the
globe We have as many professors of religion
for our population. Our churches are more
numerous and rs well furnished rs in any other
country and piety and religion nowhere has
more reverence and respect than in the United
States.
Mr. Jefferson, whose name is inseparably uni
ted, and must so continue through lime, with
1ree go.er"'-ao pnpnra nm lhatt bat 4 sgrea rsa
the father of the democratic parly-alld the
great apostle of republicanisnl-h he who spent
| long and evcnlful life in the arduous service OF
his country, when the weight OF years, pressed
sorely upon his totieriig frame, in the quiet
solitude of his own Monticello, calmly review
ing his own history-he selected three great
achievements to carry his name to poslerlly.
and directed this inscription upon the granite
obelisk that should mark the spot where he lies,
" Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Dcc!;T;s-
ton of Independence, the aulhor 0f The statute
of Virginia establishing religious freedom, and
the father of the University of Virginia. -
| [Cheers.1 He considered the establishment OF
religious freedom in achievement worthy to be
classed by the side of the Declaration Of lnde-
pendence. He knew the enorlniiics growing
out of union of Church and State. lie knew
liberty as well us with true religion, and time
has shown that the State prospers best indie
pendent of religion and religion prospers best
| indcpendent of the State. We must keep them
separate, confne each to its sphere, if our future
is TO continue bright and prosperous as our
past.
There has recently been some commo!ion on
the political boards growing out off, is said,
| 80, ,o.,,, noliti,n uSSoriuIiOn |
''kno,c nothing" of its faith or It's hopes. Cheer
, ing and laughter among the democrats,
1t is supposed tha! its purpose is to supplant
the Catholic religion and 10 osracisc every per.
son who.was not born upon American soil, and
1 every one whose father WAS not born here. Now
this is different policy from The one our fathers
pursued they invited here every foreigner to-
our shores, and Patrick Henry was indignant
when it was proposed TO exclude such as turned
tories even and fled the country during the
revolution. 1t is assumed by this association
that the priests of the Catholic church exercise
political influence over their members. This
may or may not be 50. do not profess to
know. ! have no utfinilies with the Catholic
church. was reared under the teachings OF
the shorter cutcchi>m and the Westminster con-
fesson of faith. There are not fifty Catholics
or one hundred naturalized foreigners in my
congressional district, and hence my perfect
exemption from any personal or political con-
sideralions in forming a judgment with reference
to this new association suppose 1t true that
the priests NEEDLE in politics. we all unite in
condcmnng it, for we think Church and State
should be Kept separate but this new o!ganlza
ton proceeds 10 polilico-religious association
secret, holding its meetings clandeslinely, to
oon Stnro,t thu nripsis The end then is to
Justify the means; but two wrongs will mol make
one right. The "know-nothings" do the very
thing which they complain of the priests for
doing do not perceive any difference between
Catholic Jesuitism and Protestant JesuitismS
both are intolerant. But in this country pro-
test in the name of our ancestors, who were
all foreigners, in the name of the constitution,
in the name of liberty ITSELF against a secret
political organization which fears to avow its
principles, which shrinks from their discussion,
and which makes its members, by secret pledge,
spies in every household There is no excuse
in this country for secret political societies.
Every measure in the federal and State legisa-
lures undergoes public scrutiny and debate
No citizen is or ought to be afraid to avow his
political sentiments, and the secrecy which marks
the proceedings of this order shows that they
do or say something which they are afraid or
ashamed for the world 10 know. It's time that
the eyes of the country should be turned to-
wards them, and their schemes diScountenanced
until they cast off The veil 1t is. violative OF
the genius and spirit of our government, and
will bear bitter fruits. for our country If 1t Is
not suppanted. -.
1t is said that their forces in elecions-pollti-
cal elections-where all 60 together, regardless