American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-07-28
LIBERTY AND AND NsEpARABLEn
NORGGAN7OWN M0NONGALA COUNTY VVA SATURDAY, July @ BB

I, country could accomplish to bring back our
Institutions to their original purity, that they
might be handed down to posterity as they
were let by our revolutionary ancestors.
| The, sir, is the origin of the American
party, or organization, and now a. 10 its prin.
ciples. These may be summed up in a very
lew words. Civil and religious liberty, and
the pernianency of the Union Oil tue cons,i.
| tuuonal basis. Yes--civ;! and religious lib
erty, 10 the broadest extent, consistent with
the preceps of the Bible, the provisions of
the Constitution of the United States, and
the iai.ntul execution of the laws.
We do not oppose n,en--imdiUidually they
have our best wishes and kindest offices i'm
their pursuit of wealth and happiness. But
when we find them combining 10 deprive us
OF these principles, or to dissolve this Union.
we will oppose such combinations by all lc /.
gal and honorable means.
We have been charged with prosecuting
Romanists The charge is false-for know
not man belonging to our organization,
who would not, at the hazard of his life, de-
lend Romanists, or any other sect, from ag-
gression, for worshipping their Maker ac-
cordng to the dictates of their own con-
sciences. But when we find Romanists
banding together, to combine civil and &C.
clesiastical jurisdiction in our country, TO
subvert and destroy our institutions, aud to
set up in their places the absolute and des
potlc power OF foreign tyrant we will re-
sIst them. even TO the death if necessary +:
and we will equally resist such unholy com.
binaiions, if attempted, by Presbyterians,
Methodist, Baptists, Episcopallans, or any
other sect.
We have been charged with prescription
This charge is not true. Like all other par
ties, where men are sincere in their princi-
pies, we endeavor to elect those who will
faithfully carry out our principles. Is this
prescription? If so, prescription should be
defined as am honest adherence of conscien-
hous principles; and with such prescription
our Revolutionary ancestors, and every par
| ~ since that day, are fairly charreable. II
is alleged, further, that we are liable to- this
charge, because men of opposite principles.
IN some cases, have been removed to make
way for adherents of our Order! | know of
no such cases. 1t is true that where the
commissions of individuals had expired they
were not re-appointed, Americans having
been selected to fill those offices. But is
lhs proscripion?} Did the immortal Wash
llngton surround himself or his adminis,ra-
| ton with Tories? And vet the adhereuis
OF Great Britain, The friends of Kingly pow
erawere. no more Tories in those DAYS Than
are those of our own time, who are, striving
| 10 dissolve the Union, to subvert our institu
tons, and to destroy our liberties But, sir.
even If we were guilty of prescription, the
charge comes with bad grace from this ad
rnnistra,ion, where mere difference of o.
plnion is regarded as sufficient ground for
removal, and where the vacancies Ghus caus-
ed are filled, to great extent, with foreign
leFs; the staunch adherents of Popery, or
with spies and inforn1ers, the base tools OF
bad men, who are thus rewarded for their
infamy. a35 'II
| Though you have thus virtually declared that
not one OF the American party, now includ ing
| large portion of tho entire population of this
country, shall have any share i'm the government
ot Their country, and that you will strike down
every individual OF the Order within your mower,
rest assured that you cannot thus annihilate or
destroy The party, or crush the spirit Of Ameri-
cans, rs you have threatened. They arc not of
the stamp that can be bought or Jrighfened They
arc governed and directed by principle, and by
| that they Will stand--and bear and 'forbear. if
need be--till the time shall como when they NAV
redress their grievances at tho ballot-box. Ear
Inestly do l.hopc. however, that the administra-
ton will be brought to sec tho error of its ways
boforo that period arrives, and before the pa-
tenco and forbcarancc of tho American people
are exhausted. And although its noon-day has
been dnrkened by deeds such as these described
none would rejoice more sincerely than myself,
TO see that darkness dispelled, and its setting
sun 60 down in a blaze of glory. H
1t is charged that bad men have united with
l'this association for purposes of personals pocu-
mary, or political prcfement. Admitting such
10 De tho fact, (and it may be truc) is not this
the case inevery association Was there not a
JUDAS among the twelve Apostles, who sold his
ISayionr Tor thirty pieces Of silver2 Was thoro
not Benedict Arnold among the patriots and
heroes oi tho RcYoluton7 And were there not
swarms oi tories, also, among them, who carried
devastatiod and blood into tho peacefi,l homes
OF those patriots and hcroes7 Surely mankind
| have not become perfect since those DAYS as YOU
VIII readily soc by countless examples among
| your own party. s 1
We are further charged with opposition to
| foreigners, and with constructing the laws for
the naturalization of foreigners.o
| The former Of these charges is false. As al
| ready stated, we oppose not individuals foreiyn
or native; but when We find foreigners combin-
| ing to oppress the children of the soil bringing
with them the absolute and deSpotic notions Of
their nftiyc homes, and AFRO gantly tlrrusting a.
side Hatiyc-born ci;izcns--clamng as a right,
! place and power to rule over aud tramplc us i'm
the dust, we resist and oppose such acts, as alike
disgrdceu to the foreigner and insulting to tho
native.
! They are welcome TO tho hosptalities of our
| land, to tho protection of our laws, to tho FREQ
exercise ofthcr industry and talents, and to the
enjoyment OF their religion, and tho means they
may acquire. But we do no, want them to rule
over us---we believe WE are competent to that
duty, and prefer retaining that right
The latter Of these charges is simply absurd
and ridiculous, and mover could have boon har-
| bored, save IN tho brain of some romancer, or
| in the heart ofsomc yottloggng special pleador.
The friend of civil and religious liberty who fos
| TO our shores ifom persecution and oppression,
| TO enjoy those inestiinabo blessings, has been,
and will ever be, welcomed 20 our hearts and
homes! But the willing tools Of papal and jos
uitica tyranny, sent iithof 10 oyeturn and dos-
troy civil and religious liberty, cannot, and
should not, be thus welcomed while tho p,
J pens and criminals, who have becn sent hero
tic cargo, as to another Botany Bay, whose ideas
| Of liberty arc bound up in lic6ntionsnoss, ard
whose pattiotism and sufrsgos arc in tho narko {
at very low rate, cannot, and should not bc
encouraged in their transportation hithcr. Jnst
| such conduct on tho part Of Great Britain was
|