Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-16

ments Of Others only as they shall square WITH or
differ from, his own that II is time enough for the
rightfu purposes Of civil government, for its Off
GERS to Interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
hnally that truth Is great and will prevail if left to
herself that she is the proper and sufficient antag-
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict unless by human interposition dlsarmed OF
her natural weapons, free argument and debate.
errors ceasng to be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them.
seoabty, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship place. or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced re-
strained, moested or burdened in his body or goods
norsha he otherwise on account ofhs religious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free to
profess, and by argument to maintain, their opin-
ions in matters of religion and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities
And though we wen know this Assembly. elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
laton only, have no power to restrain the acts Of
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
equal TO our own; and that, therefore, to declare
this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law
yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the
rights hereby asserted of the natural rights of
mankind, and that IL any act shall be hereafter
passed to repeal the present. to narrow its ope-
rations, such an act will be an Infringement of
natural right.
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at a mass meeting of the citizens of
Washington, on the 9th day of September
last, present the general sentiments Of the
American party" in this city, and will doubt
less be read with interest by the friends of
American principles throughout the country,
to wit:
Whereas, public meeting Of citizens Of Washing
ton was held at Carusis Saloon on the 10th instant
upon call made in and approved by the Executive
said to have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches of certain selected orators at subsequent
adjourned meeting are now spread before the public
eye In the columns Of said organ and its kindred
presses, with appreciation; and whereas said resou-
tens, however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asDal principles dear to the American
heart and necessary to the safety of the constitution
and TO the peace and prosperity of country and
whereas the Executive is invoked therein to remove
from public employment such ofceholders as enter
tain those principles thereby to perpetrate ruthless
prescription of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference of opinion therefore
Resolved That mere professions of love to the con-
shtution and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradiced by actions, cannot deceive the sensible
and vigilant guardians Of American liberty, whose
apprehensions have been excited at beho1dng the
n
troll Of our government by the subjects of foreign
potentate well-known as the avowed enemy of our
whole American system, TO whose overthrow they
are solemnly devoted.
Resolsed That as vigilant custodians Of that bene
fcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
ed to us by the fathers of the republic it Is our duty
to meet and repel all insdious attacks upon our lib
critics as well as all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion Of prnci-
Piles and purposes, ON the part Of the recognised
ponents Of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subversive Of eur republican institutions
which constitute aggressons Of such a character
that if not now resisted will lead at no distant day.
to the overthrow of the American Constitution and
the complete establishment of despotism.
esotged, That WHILE in the past political divisions
Of the country, as Wings and Democrats, we have
struggled in honest conflict contested principles
and measures, al ef which are now settled, yet in
the present osis of danger TO all that both parties
hold dear we will bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and "pledge to each other our lives, our
fortunes, and sacred honor" net to cease our
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it.
Resotpsd That we proclaim, as the cardinal princi-
Piles of our political and moral creed, sacred regard
Tor the constitution in all its provisions, upon which
are based our glorious American principles freedom
Of speech freedom Of opinion freedom Of conscience,
freedom Of the press, together with school system
for the diffusion of intelligence sancted by an open
Bible the rule Of faith and practice holding as an
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential to the success Of free government
Resotped, That while we welcome 10 our country
the victims of tyranny from foreign lands and offer
them place by our side under the shield Of our con
sttution, we claim for Americans the right TO govern
their own country; and those who do not like our
government have hearty consent 10 20 elsewhere
Rssosped, That the fourth resolution Of the meeting
at CarusYs saloon recommending TO the President OF
the United States prescription OF all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought ft 70 be-
come members Of the association Of Know Knoth-
rpro anda xVhi hefn ia adj
had been recognised and acted upon by the Erecu-
tive Of the United States-proposes alarming and
dangerous infaction Of the principles Of selfgoyern
ment and calls for the prompt and decisive rebuke
Of all the free citizens OF these United States, without
distinction Of party, sect, or creed.
R1solced, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prn-
cipe OF a separation of Church and State-in which
while on the other hand, the Pspal Church abroad
openly, and always, and everywhere maintains the
doctrine of obedience of the civil 10 the ecclesiastical
authority, both In Europe and America the sad and
runeus effects Of which, in the one, are seen IN
countless emigrants flying from It's tyranny and
misery 10 our own happy land, and in the other, in
the ignorance and poverty Of the masses, In the
wealth and vices of the clergy, and in the ceaseless
ipsurrectons, massaores and proverbia instability
Of our Southern sister Republics.
ResoSped, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
and .sSoue we mi might sGps infer sbeg sg' are e an
Of executive feelings, from the official positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yetwe will still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
win arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
oficeholders, both Democrats and Wings for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and will reject the mercenary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of the meeting last week,
as covert scheme 10 crafty the appetite of Office
seekers Mt the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation 10 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances will ir an in
deible stain upon him as a man and the President
Of the United States.
fesolped, That having seen the dcnuncations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fusionists" ef the North, who denounced abb
sorbed in "the traitorous factions" which distract
those States by which they after another be
ing placed in opposition to the administration, we
ssonished TO hear the pressing invition in the
second resolution of opponents to Of all po
itcal opinions, without regard TO their political