The true Democrat., 1854-08-09
their obligations and enrolled his name upon their books.

No principles of political action could have been devised more hostile to the genius of our institutions, more repugnant to the constitution than those which are said to form the test of membershpin in the society of "Know-N othings." To prescribe man in this country on account of his birth place or religious faith is subver- sive of all our ideas and principles of civil and religious freedom. It is revolting to our sense of justice and right. It is derogatory to the character of our forefathers who were all emi- grants from the old world, some at an earlier and some at later period. They once bore allegiance to the crowned heads of Europe. They, too, suffered the torments of civil and religious persecution, the fury of which tore them from their native homes and forced them to seek new ones on the shores of America Indeed, the settlement of this continent the development of the thirteen united colonies, the declaration of independence, and the esta- blishment of this glorious republic, may all be traced back to the accursed spirit of persecu- tion. The pilgrim fathers fled before their per- secutors from England to Holland, and thence to Plymouth rock, that they might be permit ted to worship God agreeably to their own faith. The same spirit compelled the Quakers to seek refuge in the wilderness under William Penn, whoso name they imparted to the coun- try they inhabited, and from which the good old commonwealth of Pennsylvania has arisen in her glory and majesty.
 Your own beautiful city of Philadel phia stands living monument, and trust 1t may stand an eternal monument, of their gratitude to God for having removed them from the scenes of their troubles to quiet and peaceful home on the banks of the Delaware, wh oh, in the fulness of their hearts and in faith that the of ro1i- l
 reach them nor spring up among them, they [Cheers and applause.]
 The Catholics, who in turn, were oppressed and pursued by those who had felt the rod of their power, found an asylum upon the banks of the Chesapeake, and called their little colo ny after their favorite Queen Mary, to which circumstance the State of Maryland owes her name and her origin.
 | The gallant cavaliers who, after having per- secuted the pilgrims and driven them from the kingdom under Charles l., were in turn routed and pursued by Cromwell with his invincible army of Round Heads, until they fled to Vir- ginia, where they established the Church of | England.
 The Hugueonots, who settled in South Ca- roina were also refugees from religious perse- cution. Thus it will be seen that the different colonies were the representatives of the various religious sects in Europe, who had each been persecuted and had near y all persecuted each other In turn, until, by the strange vicissitudes of fortune, they were driven from their native land and forced to seek an asylum upon this continent, where each could be protected in the worship of God in accordance with the faith he had embraced. In proportion as they be- came tolerant and just in matters of religion, they became liberal and enlightened in respect to the true principles of civil government When the revolution broke out, in defence of their civil and political rights, each and all of these colonies rallied under the banner of their common country. The revolution established their independence, by controverting the de- pendent colonies into distinct sovereign States. Yet it was not until the adoption of the consti- tuition of the United States that their liberties were consolidated and placed on firm and sure basis In the constitution it was provided that No RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL EVER BE RE- CURED AS QUALIFICATION TO ANY OFFICE OF PUBLIC TRUST UNDER THE UNITED STATEs."- Immense applause.]
 1 This provision was adopted unanimously. It was the common ground of justice and equali- i ty, upon which all religious denominations could stand in harmony and security It ex- pressed in plain language the true principles of religious toleration, the correctness and necess- ty of which had been thoroughly vindicated in the history and experience of each of the CO., lones. It was heartily concurred in by Pro- testant and Catholic-by Puritan and Cavalier --by Quaker and Huguenot-eacha and all of the religious sects and denominations agreed upon this great principle as platform; common ground upon which they and their descendants in all future time could and would stand in the bonds of brotherly affection. Applause
 By another clause of the constitution no man can hold any office under the government of the United States, or under any of the State governments, until he has subscribed an oath to support the constitution of the United States. This oath must be taken, and ought to be kept, not only by presidents and governors, and jud- ges, but by the mayors of your cities and all their subordinates in office. Tremendous cheers and applause.]
 Now, fellow citizens, permit me to inqure in all kindness, how can the members of this political society, called "know-nothings," take upon themselves solemn oath by which they shall stand pledged to raise up religious test as qualification for office, in the very teeth of the constitution, by prescribing men on account of their religious faith? While they excuse themselves upon the ground that they dtd not kaaow of this clause in the constitution? Cheers and laughter.
 Will they tell us that they aid not kaaoso the history of their own country-t that they dad a'ot k,aoao of the suferings and prosecutions to which their fathers had been subjected on ac- count of their religious faith-that 0ey did not h'oao that the obligations and principles of their society were at war with the genius of our whole republican system and in direct conflict with the principles of the constitution? Loud cheering]
 Ii they did not haow these things, surely there was wisdom in calling themselves KNOW NoTH1Nes." Tremendous cheers and roars of laughter.]
 Those who do not know should be made to learn, and feel that the constitution is the su- preme law of the land; that all men who live under it, and enjoy its protection, must yield implicit obedience to its requirements, in all its parts and provisions, whether they like them or not. Cheers and continued applause.1
 Their likes or dislikes have nothing to do with the question. We live under government of