Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30

spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws
from our statute book.
Resolved, That we are hostile 10 secret political
societies in this land of political information and
free discussion, as unnecessary and opposed 10 the
spirit OF our institutions and dangerous 10 the
perpetuity of our form Of government, and that
we deem IT more compatible with the manhood,
holiness and integrity which should characterize
American citizens, TO meet III public for the dis
cusson of our principles and to set forth our pur
poses and our measures for the public eye and for
public comprehension and Judgment.
Res0iped, That the unqualified hostility OF all
friends of free institutions should be visited upon
that spirit OF scctarlan cnmty which has been in
voked OF late for partisan objects by designing
men in our midst ; that we utterly oppose the
prescription from office ,or deprivation of civil
rights of any citizen on account of his religious
belief honestly entertained, and the enjoyment
OF which has been sacredly guaranteed 10 him
under our State and Federal Constitutions and
that the man who will deliberately in this the
nineteenth century, and in these United States of
America, lend his voice or his vote for the build
ing up OF political parties upon religious differ
ences, is unworthy Of the honor Of American
citizenship.
Resotred, That we reitcrate our opinion former
ly expressed, that to the course Of the present
administration due all the disasters and defeats
which tie democratic party has experienced for
the past two years that the administration has
insulted and outraged the great national sentiment
of the American people, and that the only safety
OF the democracy and OF the whole country now
lies in an unconditional reputation of the admin
istration in the nomination for President of the
next National Democratic Convention of some
sound national man well known TO and coniided
IN by the country such, and in the adoption of a
platform which shall furnish further guarantees
Df no ,r ha
Union, and which shall resist the aggressons of
Northern sectionasm upon the rights of the
South, and restore tranquility TO the whole nation
Resolved, That we congratulate the democracy
OF Virginia upon their late victory over the secret
and proscriptive array of their opponents, and
attribute their success to the absence Of any on
dorsement by them of the administration, the
contrary cause having produced the absolute
overthrow of our party in other States in late
contests and we recommend that in our own
State, with view TO future successes, a repuda-
ton of the administration be insisted upon, by
which means and by union upon the true non
intervention platform consolidation ofdemo-
Gratis alone be secured, and a triumph Obtained
for cause.
Resolped, That among the acts passed al the last
session ofthe Legislature of this State, and promi-
nent even in that long array of fanatcal, ultra
and hypocritical legislative experiments, we espe-
cially repudiate and denouncc that attempt at
coercive and prohibitory legislation, the so-caled
!" act for the suppression Of ntcmperance, com
monty known the Maine law--that as an in
Engagement upon constitutional guarantees, upon
doctrines OF law as old as Runnymede, and upon
every true principle of political Justice and econo-
my reckless and wicked trihing with lawful
property and vested rights as an absurd attempt
to prohibit what the Scriptures, and the practice
OF the wise and great and good OF all ages, have
sanctioned as an exhibition OF narrow, malignant
an try nd or cto
law as unparalleled and especially iniquitions;
that we demand and expect its repeal as legiti-
mate result OF tie re-ascendancy of democratic
principles in the councils of the State, and as q
reasonable consequence of that reaction against
fanaticism which such enactments, from the ex-
tremty OF their absurdty, invariably produce in
the public mind.
ReSoired, That the hypocritical course Of the
faction mailing from that " house of refuge" for
knavish politicians, Tammany Hall, and claiming
to be democratic, III nominating four members Of
the know-nothing order for prominent offices at
the last election, and in now pretending to be
opposed TO the principles of that order, can only
be equalled by the bareiaced duplicty Of their act
on the prohibitory liquor law--two-thrds Of the
members of that faction in the Senate Of the State
having first voted for that law, and Tammany
Hall having subsequently passed resolutions
against the very act its representatives had aided
to communicating, by advocating both sides Of
these questions, and, being true 10 neither hoping
to succeed with all upon the base principle SO
often avowed by their leaders, that "all is fair in
politics." that such rascaty of profession and
practice demands the execration of every man
who values truth or recognises honesty az prn-
ciple of manly action
Resolred That the National Democracy Of New
York cordially respond TO the call for a Demo
cratic State Convention on the 5th day Of Sep
TENDER next, issued by the Democratic State
Committee at it's recent meeting in this city; and
that rejoice that the members Of that commit
tee did not undertake 10 exceed the powers with
which they were invested, by making presiden-
tal bargains or plotting for the sale and division
of valuable Offices, with those wEo approached
them, nevertheless as their constituents, free
ly invite all who agree IN the principles set forth
in these resolutions, and who desire the redemp-
ton and regeneration Of the State Of New York,
to unite with US in giving 10 our beloved COM
monwealth and our proud city, administrative
and legislative officers who shall be neither Free
soilers, Prohibitonsts, Know .nothings, or "a
natics of any other class, degree, or color