Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-11

over any other In the State, by means Of any
special privileges or exemption, by any politicx
combination OF its members, or by division o
their civil allegiance with any foreign power, po.
tentate, or ecclcsiastic,
M.-The reformation Of the character Of our
National Legislature, by cleyaiing 20 that dignihed
and responsible position men Of higher qualihca-
tons, purer morals, and more unselish patriotism
X.--The restriction OF executive patronage, es-
pecially 10 the matter Of appointments TO Office 90
far as Il may be permitted by the Constitution and
consistent with the public good
M-The education Of the youth Of our country
In schools provided by the State which schools
shall be common TO ALL without distinction Of creed
or party, and free from any influence or direction
OF dcnominational or partisan character
And, inasmuch as Christianity, by the Constitu-
tions Of nearly all the States by the decisions OF
the most eminent Judicial authorities; and by the
consent OF the people Of America, Is considered am
element OF our political system; and, as the Holy
Bible Is at once the source Of Christianity and the
depository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom, we oppose every attempt 70 exclude II
from the schools thus established In the States.
XlL--The American party having arisen spen
the ruins and IN spite OF the opposition Of the Whkg
and Democratic parties, cannot be In any mannsi
responsible for the obnoxious acts Of violated
pledges OF either. And the systematic agitation
of the slavery question by those parties having e
evated sectional hostility into positive element
Of political power and brought our institutions
into peril il has therefore become the imperative
duty OF the American party to interpose for the
purpose Of giving peace TO the country and per-
petuity to the Union. And as experience has
shown 1t impossible to reconcile opinions so ex-
IRENE as those which separate the disputants, and
as there can be no dishonor in submitting to the
laws, the National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee of common justice and Of future peace
TO abide by and maintain the existing laws upon
the subject Of slavery, as final and conclusive
settlement of that subject, in spirit and In sub
stance.
And regarding 1t the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon subject 10 important, In distinct
and unequivocal terms, it is hereby declared the
sense Of this National Council, that Congress poe
sesses no power, under the Constitution 10 legis-
late upon the subject Of Slavery in the States
where 1t does may exist or to exclude any State
from admission into the Union because its Consti-
tuition does or does not recognise the institution
of Slavery as part Of its social system and ex-
pressy pretermitting any expression OF opinion
upon the power of Congress to establish or pro-
hibit Slavery in any Territory, II Ia tho sense Of
the National Council that Congress ought not TO
legislate upon the subject of Slavery within the
Territories Of the United States, aud that any In
reference by Congress with Slavery as II exists In
the District of Columbia, would be violation Of
the spirit and intention of the compact by which
the State of Maryland ceded the District to the
United States and breach Of the National faith
XIII-The policy Of the Government OF the
United States IN It's relations with foreign govern
ments, is to exact justice from the strongest and
do justice to the weakest restraining, BY all the
power Of the government, all It's citizens from In.
terference with the internal concerns Of nations
with whom we are at peace.
XIV.-This National Council declares that all
the principles of the Order shall bo henccforward
everywhere openly avowed; and that each mem
Der shall be at liberty to make known the existence
of the Order and the fact that he himself Is mem
Der, and IL recommends that there beno conceal
ment Of the places Of meeting Of subordinate coun.
ellis
E. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
President of National Council.
O. D. DEsHLER, of New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES NJ. STEPHENS, Of Maryland,
'- Rccording Secrefdrv