Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-20

enlist his sympathies with the party that did so
much TO impair its dignity and responsibility.
We commend il TO our readers, not only for its
elevated and striking sentiments, but because it
shows a significance which will be cordially en-
braced by the constitutional men of every polti-
cal hue
BALTIMORE, Sept. llth, 1855
Gentlemen: | have yours of Yesterday. Most
willingly would postpone my visit to the West
and participate III the "sscial re-unIon" on the
| 18th if ! could, but ! cannot. | am compelled
| to be absent by imperative professional en-
gagement.
| That the anniversary of the Adoption of the
! Constitution of the United States has not been
observed as a National Holiday have often won
dered at. No event in the history of the country
is more eminently deserving Of 1t. But for that
| Constitution it is not too much To say that the
| rights proclaimed in the Declaration of Indepen-
/ dence, and the sulferings and blood which main
| tanned them, in all human probability would
have been in great measure truitess. The
| good and great men who framed it saw that,
without that or some equivalent government, the
useful Union of the United States could not be
preserved or the prosperity and power insepara-
| BILE from such Union attained.
| The results OF their deliberations, conducted
| as these were with pure patriotism and an en-
| ghtened spirit, has made what we area
| happy, free, and great nation. In all the ele-
ments of social and political blessings the worlds
history furnishes nothing to equal, much less to
excel it. Leaving the States respectively su-
preme in every matter not calculated to effect
| them collectively, and comforting upon the Gen
eral Government all powers necessary TO ''provide
| tor the common defence, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty ut
has been followed by prosperity, private and
political, that makes US even in this the infancy
| Of our existence fully the equal in power with
| the greatest nations of the world, and in happi-
/ ness and freedom more than their equal. What
we will be hereafter, if true to ourselves, dehes
calculation. The day, therefore, the 18th Of
| September, on which the priceless gift was
adopted for and presented TO the North American
people, should forever, in gratitude to God and
| man, be regarded as consecrated to American
freedom, and observed as political Sabbath.
If this is done, the spirit which animated those
who framed il, and breathes in its every line,
/ cannot be lost to US.
With that impulse as our guide, however, we
may differ as TO the existence or actual extent of
| particular powers, or the proper foreign or do
| nestle policy, for which its admitted powers
should be executed, it cannot fail properly 10 re-
| cognize and hold sacred the great principle of
freedom which it includes and secures.
| Of these, there are two of incalcuable value
equality in every political right, and absolute,
unrestricted, unquestioned enjoyment in every
religious opinion
Except as to eligibility to the office Of Presi-
dent, nothing but actual citizenship, without re-
gard to origin, is required.
In vesting in Congress the power "to establish
uniform rule of naturalization, " il was intend
| ed that aliens by birth might become citizens BY
| adoption, and by combining the exclusion Of such
citizens from the right to fill the office Of Presi-
| dent Of the United States, and from no other
right, i was designed 10 place them in all other
respects on equality with the natives
IL NAV he that IN this eli of orr hiS,rry a
would be well to change the existing rule. The
period Of antecedent residence may be too brief
and the guards against abuse insufficient; but TO
combine together in any form to exclude from
Office those who have been or may become natu-
rallied under the present rule is as clear viola
ton Of the Constitution would be forcble
denial Of any other right either Of person or
property. That the wrong is TO be done through
| the ballot-box gives IL no excuse. The thing is
IN itself at war with the Constitution wholly
irrespective of the means by which il is commit
ted Indeed il is rather an aggravation Of IT, as
Il abuses the sacred purpose of the franchise, by
converting il into instrument Of injustice,
from being as il should be the means Of support
ing all the rights that the Constitution confers on
the citizen.
But the aspect in which such a combination
successfully carried ont, would present US 10 the
world, should be matter Of deep regret 1t
would prove native Americans false to most
| solemn national promise-that holds forth the
| expectation, in words too clear for debate Of
equality Of rights. This after the expectation has
been acted upon IN good faith BY the emgrant-
denies IL. II therefore carries with il national
dishonor. IL makes also the constitution what il
is not. IL changes the law, which all are equally
bound TO obey, in spirit well as letter, and
makes for itself law.
Upon the subject Of religious freedom our an
cestors were 30 jealous that they deemed il right
70 secure i more efiectually than II was thought
Il A.. ~.Al 49, 81. q
ed. This they did in the first Of the amendments
by denying to Congress the right TO pass any
| claw respecting the establishment Of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof" And this
they deem equally important, as the whole article
shows, with "freedom Of speech or Of the press,
| or the right Of the people peaceably 20 assemble
| and TO petition for a redress Of grievances
Ifa combination 10 the injury Of the naturalis-
ed citizen, merely because Of his being natural
Used, is improper, how much more improper, IL
that be possible, in such combination TO affect
the rights Of a citizen whether native or natural
sed because merely Of his religious opinions?
Of the calamites which have afflicted the
world since the birth Of Christ il is not less true
than strange that the most appalling have had
their origin in differences Of religious doctrine
That faith which inculcates peace on earth and
good will to man has in mans obliquity and sin
| frequently been the actual cause Of the most
| shocking cruelties. Abandoning altogether the
example Of its great founder, man has often at
| tempted 10 teach its mild and heavenly doctrines
| by means Of the fagot and the sword III the
blood shed in these efforts could be collected il
would deuge much Of the earth. IL the aronies
50 caused could be now heard in one united voice,
it would startle the woodland yet all has been
done in the name Of mild, patient, selfsacrifc-
ing and merciful God.
With such results, how any Christian man can
doubt the duty Of leaving matters of religion to be
settled between his brother and his Maker passes
my comprehension. And then, too, what practi-
cal inhdelity i there in any one more sects as
Stunning that they, Of all others are the elect Of
heaven. seli-suliciency so gross would be
amusing y Y was not 50 pernicious, and pernici-
Gus, because impious
With US, too, at this time the Roman Catbo-
lies are the objects Of assault Forgetting for tho.
occasion their own substantial differences Pro-
testants Of most scots, # not Of all are said TO he
concerned in this political religious crusade.
What would they think, if, constituting as thew
once did, majority, the Catholics were to unite
| in such warfarei Thank God, at that period.
L al r.. Al.