The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-08-30
gerous combination, that the price OF liberty

W ilSI' iOt tnC ouhiO HiihSiPiCc thut Sch uio'
ed this Country then, and in vindicalne
which Jefferson triumphed, and Madison
earned the love and gratitude of thankful
peopie. The insignificant and minor subjects
of difference that have for some time past di'
vlded the public men of the country, are all
oblilerated by the magnitude of the question
now before you. Your opponents, under a
deludng and tempting cry demanding that
"Americans shall rule America" have al
last, with forced and compulsive candor, ac-
kuowledged that they wish 10 establish Two
rriuciples.
/. That mons but those born iu tins coun-
try, shall enjoy the rights of citizenship.
H. Tha, there shall be established re-
gious lest for Office.
To reach these ends The Constitution Of
the U S. must be changed or its provisions
evaded, and The spirit of our Democratic
Republican forms of government thus alto
gelher subverled. The Declaration of Inde-
pendepce itself chatged upon The King of
Great Britain, as one of the most serious
grievances under which we had suffered
that che had endeavored 10 prevent The pop.
ulation of these States, for that purpose OBJ
s,rucung the laws for the naturalization of
foreigners. refusing 10 pass others to encour-
age their migration hnher, and raising the
conditions Of new appropriations OF land.'-
The complaint thus made, was part OF the
first public protest Of united people against
arbitrary authority, and in favor of Human
Rights. The reasons that then prompted
this, have been ever since acknowledged as
an element of our institutions that has se-
cured 10 us the confidence of mankind, and
success as people.
When The defects Of the Confederation
were apparent, and the necessities of the
public called for more stable and perfect
form of Union jhe Constitution was adopted;
among its most conspicuous provisions was
the authority delegated 10 Congress 10 es-
tablish an uniform rule of Naturalization, and
IN the very last clause of the very last sec.
tioE of that instrument the following words
were inserted, "No religious lest shall ever
be required as qualification 10 any office
or public trust under the United Slaies."--
Thus sealing, as il were, the Bond OF our
Union with The sacred and rational principle
of tho Liberty OF Conscience aud the right
of Private Judgment
When the Constitution was submitted to
the States for their adoption, it is TO be re-
membered that New Hampshire, New York,
Pennsylvania and Virginia, all ratified it with
a solemn declaration of rights, which they
set forth as explanations consistent with it,
and which could not be abridged or violated,
and which they proposed should be adopted
as amendments thereto. Rhode Island and
North Carolina, in spirit of sturdy resistance
to absoulism and of manly devotion 10 the
cause of Liberty, for their own sake, for the
sake of their prosterity, and for the sake Of
the human race, re.asserted the doctrines
and dogmas of the Bill Of Rights, and for a
while declined 10 raiify the Constitution un-
til these sacred and inviolable principles of
natural right were acknowledged and adopt
ed as part of its text, aud in all OF these
| DEJfOsGl "ClO iuCUlpOldtOu q
solemn declaration in favor of civil and re-
lisious liberty. AT the first session of the
first Congress the amendments 10 the Con-
stiiution were adopted and subsequently rali-
fled BY the States, and the first article of those
amendments sci The question at rest forever
by declaring that "Congress shall make no
law respecting the establishment of religion
prohibiting the free exercise thereof" 1t is
worthy of observation, that when in Conven-
tion II was proposed by Mr.. Pnckney to add
10 the Sixth Article the clause prohibiting a
religious test that Mr.. Sherman thought it
unnecessary, the prevailing liberality being
sufficient security against such test, after
which MIR. Gouyernenr, Morris and General
Pinckney approved the motion, and il was
carried unanimously. These enlightened
men were too well aware of the disastrous
consequences attendant upon any inteTfer-
ence by the Stale with the religious opinions
of lis citizens. The bloody record Of fanati.
cal prosecutions was spread out before them,
and in il they read of those atrocities that
were the darkest stains upon the character of
the human race. From the earliest day g
down 10 their own time, had the history of
mankind shown that its advancemenis in civ
ilizatlon had been retarded, and sometimes
almost stihed, in The lerocious conflicts be-
tween contending sects and exIermuating
propagandism. 10 all parts of the world had
fire and faggoi, The sword and The spear, bru-
talized men into implicit obedience to relig-
Gus opinions they did not understand, and
faiths at which their consciences revolted.-
From religious persecution had their fathers
fed, and by emigration had their sovereign
ties been established. Up 10 that time, by
Gods providence, had this land been the
refuge of oppressed men, and with Gods
protection they were resolved 10 dedicate
their country 10 The cause Of civilization and
religious freedom, and from that day TO this
time has their noble work remained untouch-
ed. May ii last forever!