Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-29

or parity, and itee from any Influence Or direction

OF party, ana Tree Hom any influence or direction
OF denominational or partisan character.
And, inasinuch as Christianity, by the Constitu-
tions OF nearly all the States by the decisions Of
the most eminent judicial authorities: and by the
consent OF the people Of America, is considered an
element Of our political system; and, as the Holy
ible Is dt once the source of Christianity and the
depository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom, we oppose every attempt TO exclude Il
rom the schools thus established IN the States.
AL--The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite ofthe opposition Of the Whg
ana democratic parties, cannot be in any manner
responsible for the obnoxious acts of violated
pledges Of either. And the systematic agitation
OF the slavery question by those parties having o.
evated sectional hostility into positive element
OF political power, and brought our institutions
into peril, it has therefore become the imperative
duty Of the American party to ipterpose for the
purpose OF giving peace to the country ana per
petuity 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 dishonor in submitting to the
laws, tho National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee Of common justice and of future peaco,s
to abide by and maintain the existing laws upon
the subject OF slavery, as final and conclusive
settlement 81 that subject, in spirit and in sub
stance. 8 6A ssagY 81
And regarding it the highest duty to avow their.
and unequivocal terms it is hereby declared as the
sense OF this National Council, that Congress pos
scsscs no power under the Constitution, to legis-
late upon the subject of Slavery in the States
where It does or may exist or to exclude any State
from admission into the Union, because its Consti-
tuition does or does not recognise the institution
OF Slavery as part of its social system ; and ex-
pressly pretemitting any expression Of opinion
upon the power of Congress to establish or pro-
hibit Slavery in any Territory, it is the sense of
the National Council that Congress ought not to
lcgislate upon the subject Of Slavery within the
Territories Of the United States, and that any in
reference by Congress with Slavery as it exists in
the District Of Columbia would be a violation OF
the spirit and intention Of the compact by which
the State Of Maryland ceded the District to the
United States, and breach Of the National faith.
XlII.-The policy of the Government of the
United States in its relations with foreign govern
ments, is to exact justice from the strongest, and
dojustice to the wealtest restraining, by all the
power Of the government, all its citizens from in
terfcrence with the internal concerns Of nations
with whom we are at peace,
XfV.-This National Council declares that all
the principles Of the Order shall be henceforward
everywhere openly avowed; and that each mem
Der shall be at liberty to make known the existence
Of the Order and the fact that he himself is mem
ber, and it recommends that there be no conceal
cils g1fG
Il. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky
President Of National Council.
O. ID. DEsHEER, of New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary. u
JAMES N. STEPHENS, of Maryland
Recording Secretary.