The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-11-16

the VIII Of The body y Tins. dsnisd. whs,
10 this but the very esssnee Of papal iufali-
bility, charged BY them upon Catholics -
How can the principle Of this thing be de-
Tended! The member whose Judgement
canuo, concide with determinations of the
body, stands IN a dilemma where his oath
aud his conscience are in conflict
Thsre is another serious consequence. Of
this secret movement. Il gives uuprinci-
pied men The means of abosing the conf :
dence Of the unsuspecing, producing susp;-
ciousness, and ma king the honest and eau
did .listrustful aud fearful Of all those who
approach them in the Q, Use Of former friend
saia. ss:~a aMn-r" huvwu Us Inis- may
spprrach true men Of iha, party, and be-
guile Them 10 bslieve and TO act to suit the
purposes OF their own secret order. Thus,
in the euise Of Whigs, they may approach
their former friends, gain their ear, and
ihopgh with treason in their hearts, aud ibs
Know Nothing ticket in their pockets, with
the names Of Mott, Robinson. Thompson,
&C., upon il, they blast the renutaiions Of
those whose only crimes is ,ha, they would
continue Wings, and ould prevent the ru-
in Of their own party. $500
We deny no man freedom Of opinion or,
hrs right to belong to thi, OF any other par
,y, SO far as ils objects and purposes ore law
fol, and are rightful in his eyes. We do
not defend The intolerance of Catholics, OF
their allegiances 10 foreign temporal prince
or jesnitical mach after political power
Nay, when they undertake 10 make their re-.
!igion an engine Of power, or 10 assert the
superior oblisa alton. of Pspal authority in
| civil or State affairs, we con1emn and dc.
nounce the wrong, But we holi that Sc
cret oaihbouud society as means TO op.
pose evcn these svl!s, is contrary to the ge.
MUS and spirit of our free government, dan
gerous TO its citizens, and demoralizing and
degrading 10 those who participate.
By the Consultation OF the U. s., No rell.
sious test shall ever be required as quail.
ficaiion to any office or public trust unde,
The United Safes. Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment Of relg ION.
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
BY the Constitution of Ponnsylvania -
'All men have natural and indefeasible
| right to worship Almighty God according TO
he dictates of their own conscience mo
person who acknowledges the being of a
God and future Stale Of rewards and III n.
! ishments, shalt on account of HE religious
sentiments be disqualified to hold any Of.
fee or place of trust or profit under ,his
Commonwealth 80 @s
Can this be just, or regardful of the rights
OF the citizen, which violates the very spir-
1t and shield of protection Of those consti.
lutional iniunctions, by making the religious
opinions of large class of our fellow men
a test of Office, place or profit and compels
them 10 yield their conscience, or else their
claims to equal rights What principle Of
Justice, right or fairness can justify secret
association by combination, TO deprive them
of those equal rights secured by common
Constitution ? The inquisiiion, that homid
instrument of ancient papsi power, is con.
dsmned by The united voice of enlightened
men. In pnnciple, how much does Sc
cret oath -bound association, arranging to q
class Of men for religious opinion and con.
demning them without trial and unheard
and striking down every individual resa rd-
less Of his merits, differ flom tha, spiri,
which erected tho inquisiiion, welded the
rack and torture, and applied the faggot and
the FIRE. '-
4 history proclain.s the dire results OF Sc.
cret oath-bouGd political societies, unmili-
gated by single good. lie, the soil OF
France, of Ireland, aud other countries de.
luged in blood. speak from the graves OF
their murGered people, The thor1d story of
religious bigolry and inlt lerant fanaticism,
when guided by the unseen hand Of se-
cret console nee. .fettered order:
7a, DANIEL AGNEW,
n' X. p. ROBERTS,
JOHN COLLINS.