Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-01
WASHINGTON. D. G. THURSDAY AFTERNOON MARCH l. 1856

ments of Others only they shall square with, or
differ from, his own that il is time enough for the
rghtfu purposes of civil government, for its Off
GERS TO interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
finally that truth is great and win prevail If left TO
herself that she is the proper and sufficient antag
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict, unless by human interposton disarmed Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasng to be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them.
BE u, therefore, enacted BY the General As
senaoty, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever, shall he be enforced, re.
strained, moested or burdened in his body or goods,
norshallhe otherwise sufferon account hisregious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free to
profess and by argument to maintain, their opin-
ions in matters of religion, and that the same shall
IN no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities.
And though we well know this Assembly elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
lation only, have power to restrain the acts Of
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
equal to our own and that, therefore, to declare
this act irrevocabe would be Of no effect in law !;
yet, we free to DECLARE and do DECLARE that the
rights hereby asserted of the natural rights of
mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter
passed to repeal the present. or to narrow its ope
rations, such an act will be an infringement of
natural right
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at a mass meeting of the citizens of
Washington, on the 9th day of September
last, present the general sentiments of the
American party" in this city, and will doubt
less be read with interest by the friends Of
American principles throughout the country,
to wit:
Whereas, public meeting Of citizens of Washing
ton was held at Carusis Saloon, the 10th instant
organ the proceedings of which, in the resolutions
said to have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches of certain selected orators subsequent
adjourned meeting, are now spread before the public
eye in the columns of said organ, and its kindred
presses, with appreciation and whereas said resolu
ens, however dressed up in abstract professions of
patriotism, asual principles dear to the American
heart and necessary tie safety of the constitution
and to the peace and prosperity of our country and
whereas, the Executive is invoked therein TO remove
from public employment such officehoders as enter
tam those principles thereby to perpetrate ruthless
honest difference of opinion therefore
Resotoed, That professions Of love to the con-
sttution and to civil and religious freedom when
contradlcted by actions, cannot deceive the sensible
and vigilant guardians of American liberty, whose
apprehensions have been excited at beho1ding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
troll OF our government by the subjects Of foreign
Potchato NOu-huoWu dS tue uYONeu enemy OF our
whole American system, to whose overthrow they
are solemnly devoted.
Resolved That as vigiant custodians Of that bene-
hcent system of civil and religious freedom bequeath
ed to us by the fathers of the republic 1t is duty
to meet and repe all insidious attacks upon our lib
critics as well as all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion of princi-
Piles and purposes the part of the recognised ex
ponents of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
states, subversive of eur republican institutions,
which constitute aggressions of such character
that, II not now resisted, will lead, at distant day.
10 the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the complete establishment of despotism
Resotoed That while, in the past political divisions
OF the country, as Wings and Democrats, we have
struggled in honest conflict contested principles
and measures, all of which settled yet in
the present crisis Of danger to all that both parties
hold dear we will bury every remembrance of past
opposition, and "pedge to each other lives, our
fortunes, and sacred honor net to cease our ex
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it.
Resoteed, That we proclaim, the cardinal princi-
Piles of our political and moral creed sacred regard
Tor the constitution in all its provisions, upon which
are based our glorious American princples-freedom
OF speech freedom Of opinion, freedom Of conscience
freedom Of the press, together with school system
for the diffusion Of intelligence, sanced BY an open
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential TO the success Of free government.
Resotoed, That while we welcome TO country
the victims of tyranny from foreign lands and offer
them place by side under the shield of our con-
sttuton, we claim for Americans the right TO govern
their own country; and those who do not like our
government have our hearty consent to 60 elsewhere
1, the pursuit OF happiness.
Rssotved That the fourth resolution of the meeting
Mt Carusis Saloon, recommending TO the President OF
the United States prescription OF all officers of the
federal government who may have thought fit to be-
come members Of the association of Know Knoth-
ings-a recommendation which, before its adoption,
had been recognised and acted upon by the Execu-
tive of the United States-proposes alarming and
dQn trfra nGk a.
ment, and calls for the prompt and decisive rebuke
OF all the free citizens OF these United States without
distinction Of party, sect or creed.
Resotued, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prin
cple of separation of Church AND State-in which
principle many American Catholics sincerely concur
while on the other hand, the Papal Church abroad
openly and always, and everywhere maintains the
doctrine of obedience of the civil 70 the ecclesastcal
authority, both In Europe and America; the sad and
ruineus effects of which, in the one, are seen in
countless emigrants flying from its tyranny and
misery TO our own happy land, and in the ether, in
the ignorance and poverty Of the masses, in the
wealth and vices Of the clergy, and in the ceaseess
insurrectons, massacres, and proverbi instability
OF our Southern sister Republics
Resotued, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
this meeting, to the people Of the United States
and, although we might infer they are an exponent
those who controlled the proceedings yet we win still
hope that the President, who alone has the power,
will arrest the prescription already begun of faithful
ofhce-hoders both Democrats and Wings, for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments
and will reject the mercenary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of the meeting fast week.
as covert scheme 10 crafty the appetite Of office
seekers at the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation 10 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances win FIX an in
delible stain upon him a and the President
Of the United States.
ResoIUed, That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from. certain presses against the
"fusonists" Of the NORTH who are denounced as abb
sorbed in "the traitorous factions" which district
those States, by which they are after another be-
ing placed in opposition TO the administration, we
were astonshed TO hear the pressing invtion in the
second resolution of our opponents 70 men of all po-
litical opinions, without regard 10 their political
antecedents" 70 form 'fusion" with them IN their
future actionan invitation broad enough TO include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Fred Douglas, besides
their coadiutors in the two houses Of Congress.
hesotued, That we, too, appeal to all Americans
who love the Union, which "must be preserved and
the which established and