Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-24

over any other in the State, by means Of any
| special privileges or exemption, by any political
combination Of its members, or by division OF
their civil allegiance with any foreign lower po-
| tentate, or ecclesiastic. a
IX.--The reformation of the character of our
National Legislature by elevating TO that dignitied
and resl,onsible position men Of higher qualdca-
tions, purer morals, and more unselfsh patriotiss
| X.-T he restriction Of executive patronage es-
pecially in the matter of appointments to office, so
far as il may be permitted by the Constitution and
consistent with the public god.
| XL--The education Of the youth Of our country
in schools provided by the State; which schools
shall be common to ALL without distinction Of creed
or party, and free from any iniutmce or direction
OF denominational or partisan ch aracter.
And. inasmuch as Christianity Ivy the Constitu-
tions Of nearly all the States by .he decisions Of
the most eminent judicial authorites; and by the
consent Of the people OF America is considered an
element OF our political system; and, as the Holy
Bible is at once the source of Christianity, and the
depository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom, We oppose every attempt to exclude IL
from the schools thus established in the States.
Xu.--The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite Of the opposition of the Whg
and 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 el
eyated sectional hostility into positive element
Of political power, and brought cur institutions
into peril, it has therefore become the imperative
| duty Of the American partyto interpose for the
/ purpose OF giving peace to the country and per
1 petuity to the Union. And as experience has
\ shown 1t impossible to reconcile opinions 80 ex-
.reine as those which separate til disputants and
as there can be no dishonor in . ubmittng to the
Laws, the National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee Of common justice and of future peace,
and ntvx IL.
the subject Of slavery, as a final and conclusive
settlement OF that subject in spirit and in SUBJ
stance.
And regarding 1t the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon subject so Important in distinct
nd unequivocal terms, it is hereby declared as the
ense Of this National Council that Congress pos.
ssses no power, under the Constitu ion to legis-
Ia 70 upon the subject Of Slavery in the States
here 1t does may exist or to exclude any State
FRI I'm admission into the Union, because its Consti-
tu ton does or does not recognise the institution
of Slavery as part of its social system and ex-
pi essly pretermtting any expression of opinion
upon the power of Congress to establis h or pro-
hi bit Slavery in any Territory, it is the sense of
the National Council that Congress ought not to
legislate 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 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
XlIL-inhe policy of the Government of the
United States, in Its relations with foreign govern
ments, is to exact justice from the strongest, and
do justice TO- the weakest restraining. by all the
power of the government, ell its citizens from in.
reference W ith the internal concerns of nations
with whom we are at peace
XIV-This Is National Council declares that all
the principles Of the Order shall be henceforward
everywhere openly ayowed; and that each men,
ber shall be at liberty to make known the existence
of the Order and the fact that he himself is mem
Der, and it recommends that there be no conceal
ment of the places Of meeting Of subordinate coun-
ellis.
Il. b. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
President of National Council
G. ID. DEsHLER OF New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES M. SrxPHEss, Of Maryland,
4.F.@4 Rec0ydig0 Secrefnys,