Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-12


ments Of Others only as they shall square WITH or
differ FROM his own; that il Is time enough, for the
rightful purposes Of civil government for its Off
GERS to interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and
nally that truth is great and will 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 interpostlon disarmed of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasing to be dangerous when IL is permitted
freely to combat them.
Be IL, therefore, enacted 6y the General As
sesndty, That no man shall be compelled to FREE
quent or support any religious worship, place, or
ministry whatsoever nor shall he be enforced. re-
strained molested or burdened in his body or goods
norshal otherwise suffer account ofhisreiigious
opinions belief but that all men shah 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 wen know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of lcgis-
lat0n only, have no 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 free to declare, and do declare, that the
rights hereby asserted Of the natural rights of
mankind, and that il any act shall be hereafter
rations, such an act will be an Infringement of
natural right.
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at mass meeting Of the citizens Of
Washington, on the 27th 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 Caruss Saloon, the 10th instant
upon call made in and approved by the Executive
organ the proceedings Of which, in the resolutions
SAID to have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches OF certain selected orators at 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 resou-
hons however dressed up in abstract professions OF
patriotism, asual principles dear to the American
heart and necessary to the safety Of the constitution
and to the peace and prosperity of country and
whereas, the Executive is invoked therein to
from public employment such offceholders as enter
tain those principles thereby to perpetrate ruthless
prescription Of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference Of opinion: therefore
Resolved That mere professions of love to the con-
stitution and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradicted by actions, cannot deceive the sensible
and vigilant guardians Of American liberty, whose
apprehensions have been excited at beholding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
troll of government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate wellknown as the avowed enemy of our
whole. American system, TO whose overthrow they
Resoped, That as ygilant 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 repel all nsidous attacks upon lib
critics as well as all open assaults; and that view
with indignation and alarm the assertion Of prnci-
pies and purposes the part of the recognised
ponents Of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subversive of our republican institutions,
which constitute aggressions Of such character
that If not resisted will lead, at distant day.
TO 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 are now settled vet in
the present crisis Of danger to all that both parties
bold dear we will bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and "pledge to each other our lives,
fortunes and sacred honor net TO cease our ex-
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace il
ResoSped That we proclaim, as the cardinal prnci-
Piles Of our political and moral creed sacred regard
Tor the constitution in all its provisions upon which
based our glorious American principles-freedom
Speech freedom Of opinion, freedom Of conscience,
freedom Of the press together with school system
for the diffusion Of intelligence, sanctied by open
Bible the rule Of faith and practice holding as an
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential TO the success Of free government
Resolred, That while we welcome to our country
the victims Of tyranny from foreign lands and offer
them place by our side under the shield Of our
sttuton, claim for Americans the right 10 govern
their own country; and these who do not like our
government have our hearty consent to 70 elsewhere
Rasolued, That the fourth resolution OF the meeting
at Caruss Saloon, recommending to the President Of
the United States prescription OF all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought ct 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 an alarming and
dangerous infracton Of the principles of seRovern-
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-
ciple 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 to the ecclesiastical
authority, both in Europe and America; the sad and
ruineus effects Of which, in the one, are seen in
countless emgrants flying from its tyranny and
misery TO our own happy land, and in the other, in
the Ignorance and poverty Of the masses, in the
wealth and vices Of the clergy and in the ceaseless
instructions, massacres, and proverbial instability
of our Southern sister Republics.
ResotDed, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
and, although we might infer they are an exponent
Of executive feelings from the Official positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yet we viii still
hope that the President, who alone has the power,
will arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
ofice-holders, 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 last week.
as covert scheme TO crafty the appetite Of efce-
seekers at the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation to power, and whose
removal under existing circumstances win FIX an in
delibe stain upon him a man and the President
Of the United States.
fssoIpsd, That having seen the denunciatons that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fnsionists" sf the North who are denounced alb
sorbed in "the tratordus factions" which distract
those States, by which they after another be-
ing placed in opposition 10 the administration, we
were sstonshed 10 hear the pressing nviton in the
second resolution Of opponents 70 men Of all po-
tical opinions, without regard to their political
antecedents" 10 form "fusien' 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-
Reso,ped, That we, too, appeal TO all Americans
rhO tba TTnior vhf ho