Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-04


zed citizens, and between different religious
denominations which are not only not recog
nized, but forbidden by the Constitution,
should be reprobated by every honest man,
who has the welfare of his country at heart.
5. That the attempt to prevent an open and
independent expression of opinion by any sec
ton of our citizens in the selection of men for
Office, by secretly compelling the members of
the self-styled American party to vote for
whoever majority of their association shall
select-no matter how deficient in qualifica-
tions and integrity, and without regard to the
preferences of the voter. is conspiracy against
the liberties of our country and the free and
independent exercise of the right of suffrage.
g. That all secret oaths and engagements
to deprive any of our citizens of the rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitution, is
! conspiracy against the rights of man-and a
wicked attempt to introduce an irresponsible
| tyranny and despotism among US. And every
lover of his country should stand boldly forth
TO pat stop to such an iniquitous system.
7. That this new tangled order of Know
Nothings, or by whatever other appellation
| they may depominate themselves, originated
in fraud, falschood and corruption -and is but
another phase, which the enemies of Democra-
cy have assumed to OBJECT, if they could, Its
rights it secures to all That glorious Demo-
cratic party which has ever stood up for the
rights of the people, and which all experience
| has shown, is the only true American party
and the only party which, in this country,
can be safely trusted with power.
8. That the Democracy of Northampton
| county pledges themselves TO tkeir fellow cit
izens of the State and Union to join heart and
hand in restoring our Commonwealth to the
hands of the Democracy at the next election,
ard 80 redeem our State from the disgrace
and degradation to which she kxs beesa sub
jected under Know-Nothing misrule during
the past year; and once more to place her ia
her former proud position in the front rank of
the Democracy of the Union to stand side by
side with the glorious old and steadfast Conn
monwea,th Of Virginia.
! Speech of Hon. James M. Porter.
! Hon j NJ. PORTER, arose and seconded the
resolutions, in doing which he said:
1t gives me pleasure TO second the resolu-
& lions which have just been proposed Vir-
ginia las covered herself with glory-shc has
been faithful among the faithless--or rather I
/ should say, she has not suffered error or
prejudice ,rsielead her, and IL small
virtue to remain steadfast to principle when
error and delusion have led 50 many astray
In these times when there is SO much political
prostitution-when so many are ready to sac
riiice the right to the expedient-when the
terrible doctrine is proclaimed that political
success viii sanctify political fraud, it is cheer
ing to find one green spot amidst the wild
waste of political decentralization, which a
thirst for etficc, and love of power have pro-
dsced.
These resolutions breathe the proper spirit.
The election of Henry A. Vie. the manly
and indcmitable candidate of the Democratic
party in Virginia, is a result which has stem
med the torrent of error, fraud and fanatic;sm.
1t will. under Providence, be the means of
putting an end to an immoral political move
mcnt which threatened to overwhelm our land,
tended TO sap the foundations of our institu-
tlons-was altogether at war with principles
of our government and would leopard the
Union OF these States.
The prepa CATION of error is always most
deleterious when it bears upon it propositions
which address themselves to our feelings and
prejudices-in other words sophsms are apt
to mislead when they bear the semblance of
truth ard accuracy Acting upon this prin-
ciple this new organization has sought to seize
upon power and place on the plausible pretext,
that its object is to cause America to be ruled
by Americans. Thus endeavoring to enlist
the passions and prejNdices of large majority
of our citizens against meagre minority.
In fact, America is rpled by Americans,
for nine tcnths of our citizens were born upon
our own soil, and the attempt to create an
impression that we are ruled by foreigners, is
gross fraud
Again, the members Of this organization are
aware that a large proportion of our citizens,
though of difereut religious denominations,
protestants, and breaght up from their
earliest infancy, to abhor many of the doc
trines, and especially the church governments
ofthe Roman Catholic Church. and they would
seize upon this prejudice to aid them in their
unholy designs. Religious disputes, have
ever been the most violent and when men get
INTO them, they seem to have lost all regard
for each others rights and feelings; and by
their viruience have brought reproach upon
the religion of our blessed Savior What
wars and massacres has it not led to? And
1T IS not peculiar to any one sect, when they
possess the civil power. to attempt to enforce
their own particular religious tenets upon the
minds and consciences of others The desire
to persecute for opinions sake, would seem to
be inherent in our nature. 1t is one evidence
of the Inconsistency of man, that when the
Puritans, who had fed from religious perse-
cution in Europe, landed upon our shores,
among their first acts they refused to permit
Roman Catholic, Quaker or a Baptist to
reside among them, under pain of death.
All restraints by law, or the Supreme pow
er OF the State, in the exercise of religiera
opinions are at war with the rights sf man
All trammeis upon conscience arc equally ty-
ranny and oppression and yet, they were first
removed ID this country by the orcanic laws