The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-23
1)ulitifol.
For The Cecil Wing.
AMERICANISM.---No. 2.


origin of Amcricanism in conformity to a
promise made your readers some weeks since.
BY Amcricanism l W sh to be understood, not
this or that Party, but the tone Of sentiment,
which has always existed in the mind of the
nation, and which events have lately devel-
opcd in such force, as promises to sweep
away, first or last, all opposing influences.
With the American Party, as such, l shall
deal, as the exponent or type of those scnti-
mcnts, only so far as they have acted up to,
or fallen short Of the requirements of public
necessity, based upon public safety. With the
edifying and patriotic struggle now going for
ward for office, power, or patronage, have
no connection; and for its issue, no concern.
But for the preservation, intact, from corrup-
ton, whether by force or fraud, foreign or
domestic, of the Constitution and Laws of the
General and State Governments, and of the
religious, social and intellectual institutions,
VIII ich have grown up under their protecting
power and fostering guardianship, do avow
| the deepest anxiety.
| The history Of the Constitution and Laws
of our country have been written and gcner-
ally read. The history Of the Institutions Of
the country, is yet to be unloldcd. They are
not now, and never have been, dependant
upon acts of legislation for their existence.
They are the gradual development, and rcduc-
ton to the purposes of practical life, and the
application to human happiness, Of those
great principles Of liberty, which animated
the sagcs of the Revolution. Among these
cnumcratc the following, which alone, will be
found to have any connection with the subject
| of Americanism.
l. The Absolute Freedom Of Speech, so
far as it concerns public men, and state trans
actions.
.. The Freedom of the Press, (suhjcct Of
course to the law Of libel,) Freedom of Re-
ligious Opinion and Worship a
total separation of Church and State, 50 that
no test Of belief or creed shall be required as
Il qualification for citizenship or Office; nor
shall tithes, stipcnds or pecuniary gratiflca-
tons be required by law, for the support Of
any Priesthood.
The first Of these principles, includes the
right Of citizens to meet, when and where
they please, provided the place ofmecting be
not prev iously occupied by persons possess
ing equal rights, and there to originate, dis
cuss, and dispose eff, all subjects whether
civil or religious, which affects them as indi-
viduals, or as members of the body polite.
Under this right, anterior and superior to all
constitutions, though fortified and guaranteed
by most of those Of the United States, citi-
zcns may, at all times pcaceably assemble.
and not only arraig n the conduct and scruti-
nizc the acts Of officers, whether Leg
islativc, Judicial or Executive, but they may
take incipient measures to alter, amend or
| abolish the Constitution and Laws, them
selves. This right is the parent Of all polit-
! ical rights is in its nature inalenabie, or can
not be parted with, sold, or compromised by
the individual possessing it, nor by the COM
munity at large. Ills the direct Gift Of God
which one man Gamma take from another, un-
less by force, which violates all right, and as
far as it goes, establishes absolute Tyranny
in its stead. What is true of the individual
man, is equally true ofme in societies, or in
numbers. They have the right to meet, and
to deliberate, and as q necessary corollary,
to decide upon all questions eilecting their
olives, libcrtics,' or their '.pursuit Of happi-
ncss.''
The right, thus described, is Of character
SO sacred, that there exists no power on the
earth, which can abolish, abrogate or dimin-
ish it; and so dearly is it cherished, that
there has never yet been found the natirc
born citisen who was willing to suspend its
exercise, or forego its advantages for any
great length Of time. The only modification
to which it is subject, is that springing from
the piH of its posscsscr. Although right,
its exercise is not always obligatory;-but
may be dispensed with whenever its owner
sees proper.
What is here said of freedom Of speech is
equally true, Subject as mentioncd,) to the
freedom of the Press. Indeed, the Press
the freedom of speech. BY oral discourse a
man, (cven with the lungs of Whitfield } can
at best, address only few thousands; whilst
by the aid ofthe Press, he may hold discourse
with many thousands or even millions of those
who can read; not only Of the present gcner-
alton but Of generations yet unborn.
These rights, elevated as they are in point
Of character, are yet transcribed by the third
right-the right Of Religious Opinion and
worship. The two former rights belong tC
the connection which exists between man
and man; the latter is the basis of the rela-
tons existing between man and his Maker
the former reaches but to the affairs Of Time
the latter extends to the business Of Eter.
nifty.
1t will be observed that have in cnumer-
alton placed the greatest Of these natural un.
chartered rights, last. 1t is in point Of fac
the first, and may be APPLY styled the parent
of the other two. My object is to preserve
the connection between it and its sequences
Religion has for its primary object, the sal
walton of mems souls, and all Christians, o.
whatever sect or creed, agree that the truths
doctrines, and teachings of the scriptures
are the only means by which mems souls cal
, be saved. The Protestant sects of christian
e ity, insist upon the spread of the lights o
education so that all men may read, and the
diffusion Of scriptural truth, so that all mel