Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-09-30


hmU ut dlsnnHi0h N Wli government
The Democracy "a ihH county UOttI
http uot no,ot wil rcaanl. onp m.h
demand bul taking lho Constitution %.
d guido nod % ru'o tI bcton. thuy wl0
moInluin lhc iusl rights or bll cilIgtns
ltafunr rnch 10 derond upon ms own
merits and qualifications Tot office, cmou.
mcnls md honor This | hold n be- tht
true doctrine on this question.
" the conditions upon which the people
OF other countries can become citizens ol
The Uuilcd States, and enjoy the benefits
OF our free institutions, be wrong, that is
our fault. 1t was not The German, tho
Wolchmon, The Engshmnn, the lgshmnn,
or the l'olonder, who mudo these condi.
lions. They are the work Of American
statesmen. They stand sanctioned by
George Washington, Thos. Jefferson and
other lIIustrious fathers Of our Republic.
We held out the Olluring invitation to the
people OF other countries to come here,
accept our conditions and become Amer.
can citizens. Nor we're we slow to i'm.
press upon the world tho peculiar benefits
OF our institutions. Indeed, we boastod Of
our land of civil and religious liberly-oi
our asylum for the oppressed, where every
man could enjoy the high dignity Of self.
government, and the inesiimuble privilege
OF worshipping God agreeabIy 10 the die.
taIes of conscience. Thus invited, many
came Of all countries, and OF oil sects Of
protesting christians. Some have been
with US since the days Of the Revolution /;
some for half century; some for half
that time, and others for a shorter period.
They have contributed by their industry
and skill to the development of tho resour.
ces OF our common country, and have as.
sisted in its defence others have ielled
the forest and cultivated the soil, and have
added TO the general prosperity of The
country; others have advanced the com.
mercial, manufacturing, mining, and me.
chanlcal interests Of the nation, land others
have adorned the pulpit and the bar
They have assisted 10 pay the taxes, and
TO fight our battles; and shall the sacred
covenant which was thus made with these
people be violated by the power Of a secret
andinsidous combination that toverrides the
Constitution
Shall the faith ofour fathers as plighled
IN tins great instrument, be thus disregard.
ed. Right.minded men Of all parties must
respond no. No such immortality and 20.
Iilical wrong should be permitted to tarn.
ish the fame Of America. From the long
past days of The revolution there is a re.
miDiscence that speaks in eloquent tones
against this proposed error. From the
shades Of Mount Vernon-from the grave
of La Fayete-from the heights where
Montgomery ie!I-lrom the once bloody
fields where Pulaski and De Kab gave up
their lives, there comes up q solemn re-.
monstronco against this proposed wrong,
would not say this, nor the weakest sen.
tlmcnt of it, for the mere matter Of Office
TO this class Of citizens. The value of Of.
flee 10 them is Of small Importance but it
is the deep dshonor that such a violent
measure would inhict opon our country,
that induces me thus TO speak. It would
not be the loss of civil place that would
most alilIct our adopted citzons, but it
would be the humiliation OF being designa.
ted as class, of whom it should be said,
they are not 10 be trusted with civil place.
This is the idea that would most wound
their pride and excite their Indignation
There are amongst them those who in
the want of full appreciation of our insti.
tutlons and customs, so deport themselves
as 10 give reason for complaint. But these
facts afford no sufficient ground for VIC.
lating the institutions Of the country. |,
IS simply cowardly to acknowledge dan.
ger from such a source, and the ayowel Of
1t IS poor compliment 10 The strength o
our government.
| repeat, that am opposed 10 all oath.
bound societies or associations 10 accom-.
.plish political ends, and 10 oil obligations
which embarrass the free exercise of the
elective franchise; or that may be calcu.
Iated 10 prejudice the sanctity of the Jury
box. deprccate as most mischieyous
those political tenets which, in their illib
eral and intolerant spirit, would 20 be-
hind the swa ding clothes orlho infant, and
.pry inio the consciences Of men to fix the
tes, for civil office.
Has ii ever occurred 10 those who have
ughlIessly espoused this new doctrine
that the practical application of it must be
met at the very Threshold by nsurmoun,
table difficulties. Is this attempt to excite
one class of protesting Christians agains
another, a mere eXpedient of willy polili
clans 10 accomplish their own selfish ends
or is it intended as a great radical change
in the institutions of our countryl IfthC
latter be the real idea, it will be perceived
that the first slopmust be a unity of Churcl
and State. How else can these new dor
mas be reduced 10 practice Their adyo
Gates must get possession Of the civil gov
ernment-must change the Fundamental
laws of the land, and then bring the pow
er oI the government TO bear on matter.
OF religious belief and church organiza.
tion; and when one denomination of pro