Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-15


public council that "no faith is 10 BE- kept NTH
hereticsn This has been openly avowed by the
Council Of Constance, but it was never openly dis
claimed Whether private persons ayow Or dis
avow il, 1t is fixed maxim OF the Church OF Rome.
But as long as II Is So nothing can be more PLAIN
than that the members of that church can give no
reasonable security TO any governments OF their al
legiance or peaceable behavior Therefore they
ought not TO be tolerated by any government,
Protestant, Mahommedan, or Pagan. You say
snay. but they will take an oath OF allegiance"
True, Ave hundred saths; but the maxim, no
faith Is to be kept with heretics" sweeps them all
away as a spiders web. So that still no governors
that arc not Roman Catholics can have any secu-
rity for their allegiance.
Again, those who acknowledge the spiritual pow
or of the Pope give no security of their alleg
ance to any government; but all Roman Catholics
acknowledge this; therefore they can give no Sc
curity for their allegiance. The power OF granting
pardon for all sins-past, present, and TO come
Is and has been for many centuries, one branch OF
hs spiritual power But those who acknowledge
him 10 have this spiritual power can give no Sc
cnrity for their allegiance since they believe that
the Pope can pardon rebellion, high treason, and
all other sins whatsoever The power OF dispen-
sing with any promise, oath, or vow, Is another
branch Of the spiritual power of the Pope, and all
who acknowledge his spiritual power must ac-
dispensing power Of the Pope can give no security
for his allegiance to any government. Oaths and
promises are gone; they are light as air---a dss-
y,essation makes them all null and void Nay, not
only the Pope, but even a priest, has power to
pardon sins!
This is an essential doctrine of the Church Of
Rome. But they that acknowledge this cannot
possibly give any security for their allegiance 70
any government. 0aths are no security for their
-. .,a,,t Oath ara m
curity ut all for the priest pardon both per-
jury and high treason. Setting their religion aside
it Is plain that, upon principles of reason no gov
eminent ought TO tolerate men who cannot give
any security to that government for their allcgi
ance and peaceable behavior. Bat this no 10
manist can do, not only while he holds that INC
faith Is to DO kept with heretcs" but SO long as nc
acknowledges either priestly absolution, or the
spiritual power Of the Pope.
If any one pleases to answer this, and sign his
\ name, shall probably reply. But the productions
Of any anonymous writer's do not promise to- take
any notice Of
am, sir, your humble servant
JOHN WESLEY.
City Road, January 81, 1880.
The whole force of the second provision is spen
10 the prohibition to Congress 1t forbids Con
gress to make any law respecting an establish
ment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercis
such establishments. On the contrary, we hav,
many Of them. 1t relates to the Legislation @
Ooaqress, not to the vote of the citizen, and tht
foreign zeal which would dstort these provisions
of the constitution, so rs to divest the citizen o
the uncontrolled exercise of his elective franchise
"a, as it seems to me, alike alien from the consttu
ton and the plainest dictates Of reason.
The twelfth article of the Philadelphia platform
has been the subject of much commentary state
without discussing them, my own opinions on thu
subjects of which 1t treats
recognise the impracticabty, from whatever
Cause ofreconciling the conflicting opinions which
exist on the subject of slavery and the danger Q
agitating that question in the National Legislature
am content that the American party shall in gooC
faith hold themselves bound to abide by, and main
tain tie existing laws on the subject, and with
their declarlt.ol that Congress has power to in
terfere with slavery in the States where it exists
or to refuse the admission Of any State, because it
constitution does does not recognise slavery a!
part of its social system. hold that the Terri
tories Of the United States, are the property, no
OF Congress-, but of the whole people of the Unitet
States, until such Territory becomes State. d.
not believe that Congress has the power to abolis
slavery in the District Of Co umbia apart from tn
contract with Maryland, or considerations Of pub
lie faith, but as Congress has no constitutions
power TO violate a solemn contract, or to commi
breach of the national faith, think they ar
equally precluded by these considerations
These are my opinions on the questions present
ed 10 me. desire to add brief remark on an
other subject.
The several parties in this State have all PLANTED
themselves on the fourth resolution of the Georgi
Convention of 1850, and the Interpretation givel
TO II by some persons, is that, upon the happening
of either of the contingencies specified in it. Geor
ga is to prepare for an immediate " disruption O
the Union" do not so understand it. thinl
t could not have been so understood by its trainers
am sure that this is not the fair import of it
terms, and still more confident that such is not thu
feeling Of the people of Georgia.
In the specified contingencies, Georgia pledges
herself to resist even last resort " to the dis
ruption of the Union. The term LAST is a relatv,
term. II necessarily implies some preceding action
some honest well-meant, patriotic efforts to secur
your rights, without the necessity of having re
course TO this LAST fearful resort the disruption
the Union. implore my countrymen 10 give +
this subject their earnest, anxious consideration
not 10 be diverted from II by the defamation G
political asprants, the agitations Of the canvass
the excitement Of the hastings but calmly, quietly
IN the retirement of their own homes, TO conside
what il is to which this controversy is tending
aud humbly supplicating that Almighty Being
under whose protecting providence our father
laid the foundation of this great republic to imbu
US with the same conciliatory spirit by which the!
were animated, TO seek under Ills benefcent gui
dance the solution Of the problem which shall re
concile Southern rights with the perpetuity OF thu
Union.
Respectfully your fellow-citizen,
JNo. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
The Petersburg (Va-) Express says: "0n Mon
day. the 9th Of August, most singular discover,