Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-27

| 1.-The acknowledgment of that Almighty
Being, who rules over the Universe-who pre-
sides over the councils of nations-who conduct
the affairs OF men, and who, in every step b.
which we have advanced 10 The character OF al
independent nation, has distinguished us by SOM
token Of providential agency.
1.-THE cultivation and development of sen
tment of profoundly intense American feeling
OF passionate attachment to our country, It's hsto
ry and It's institutions of admiration for the pure
days OF our national existence; OF Veneratlon 10
the herosm that preciptated our revolution; ant
of emulation of the virtue, wisdom and patri
otsm that framed our constitution aud f1rst sue
cessfully applied its provisions.
lll.-Ihe maintenance of the union OF thes
United States as the paramount political good
or, to use the language of Washington, 1.-The pr
mary object of patriotic DESIRES" And hence:
lst. Opposition to all attempts to weaken
subvert it.
I'd. Uncompromsing antagonism to every prln
ciple of policy that endangers it,
Sd. The adequacy of an equitable adjustmen
of all political differences which threaten its in
tegrity of perpetuity.
4th. The suppression of all tendencies to pollt
cal divisions founded on geographical dlScrlml
nations, or on the belief that there is real dit
ference of interests and views" between the va
rious sections of the Union.
5th. The full recognition of the rights OF TIT
several States, as expressed and reserved in TIT
! Constitution and careful avoidance, by thu
general government, Of all interference with thel
rights by legislative or executive action.
IV.-Obedience to the constitution of thes'
United States, as the supreme law of the land
sacredy obligatory upon all its parts and members
and seadfas resistance to the spirit of innovation
upon its principles, however, specious the pre-
texts. Allowing that in all doubtful or disputed
points it may only be legally ascertained and ex
pounded by the judicial power of the United
States.
And, as corolary to the above:
/. A habit of reyerential obedience to TIT
laws, whether national, State or municipal, unit
they are either repealed or declared unconsttu
tiona by the proper authority.
2. A tender and sacred regard for those act
of craftsmanship, which are to be contra-distih
guished from acts of ordinary legislation, by thu
agreements; and so to be considered fixed ant
settled national policy.
V. A radical revision and modification of thu
laws regulating immigration, and the settlement
of immigrants. Offering TO the honest immi
grant, who from love of liberty or hatred Of op
preston, seeks an asylum in the United States. q
friendly reception and protection. But unquali
fedy condemning the transmission to our shores
of felons and paupers.
VI.-The essential modification of the natural
ization laws The repeal by the legislatures o
the respective States of all State laws allowing
foreigners not naturalized to vote. The repeal
without retroactive operation, of all acts of Con
gress, making grants OF lands to unnaturalized
foreigners, and allowing them to vote in the ter
ritories.
VII.-Hostity to the corrupt means by which
the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon US
our rulers and our political creeds. lmplacable
enmity against the present demoralizng system
of rewards for political subserviency, and of pun
ishments for political independence. Disgust fol
the wild hunt after office which characterzes the
age.
These on the one hand On the other
Imitation of the practice Of the purer days Of
the republic; and admiration of the maxim thai
Coffee should seek the man, and not man the Of
flee :" and of the rule, that the just mode OF as
certaining fitness for office is the capabity, the
faithfuness, and the honesty of the incumbent OF
candidate.
| VIII. Resistance to the aggressive policy and
corrupting tendencies of the Roman Catholic
Church in our country, by the advancement to
all political statons-executive, legislative, judi
cia or diplomatic those only who do not hold
civil allegiance, directly or indirectly, to any for
eipn power, whether civil or ecclesiastical, and
who are Americans by birth, education and train
inc thus fulfilling the maxim, "Americans only
shall govern America" The protection of all
citizens in the legal and proper exercise of their
civil and religious rights and privileges; the
maintenance of the right of every man to the full
unrestrained and peaceful enjoyment of his own
religious opinions and worship, and jealous re-
sstance of all attempts by any sect, denomination
or church. to obtain an ascendency over any 9th
er in the State. by means of any special privl-
leges or exemption, by any political combination
of its members, or by division of their civil al
legiances with any foreign power, potentate oil
ecclesiasc.
| IX.-The reformation of the character of oul
National Legislature. by elevatng to that digni-
fled and responsible position men of niger qualii
cations, purer morals, and more unselish patriot
ism.
X.-The restriction of executive patronage
especially in the matter of appointments to office
so far as it may be permitted by the Constltu'
ton, and consis tent with the public good.
XI.-The education of the youth of our coun-
try in schools provided by the State; which
schools shall be common to all without distnc-
ton of creed or party, and free from any influence
or direction of UNCONVENTIONAL or partizan char
acter. And, inasmuch as Christianity by the
constitution of nearly all the States, by the de-
-, Il
and by the consent of the people of America, is
considered an element of our political system, and
as the Holy Bible is at once the source of Chris
tianlty and the depository and fountain of all civ
il and religious freedom, we oppose every attempt
te exclude it from the schools thus established in
the States.
XII.-The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite of the opposition of the
Wing and Democratic party, cannot be held In
any manner, responsible for the obnoxious acts oil
violated pledges of either. And the systematic
agitation of the slavery question by those parties
having elevated sectional hostility into positive
element of political power, and brought our nstl,
tutions into peril, it has therefore become the i'm
perative duty of the American party to interpose,
for the purpose of giving peace to the country and
perpetuity to the Union. And as experience has
shown it impossible to reconcile opinions so ex-
treme as those which separate the disputants
and as there can be no dshonor in submitting tc
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 a final and con
elusive settlement of that subject, in spirit and in
substance
And regarding it the highest duty to avow
their opinions upon subject SO important. in dis.
tinct and unequivocal terms, it is hereby declared
as the sense of this National Council, that Con-
gress possesses no power under the constitution to
legislate upon the subject of slavery in the
C,.to, a. a. -, Ctota frnn, admission