Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-28
WASHINGTON FRIDAY AFTERNOON SEPTEMBER 28 1855

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 amy foreign power po-
tentate, or ecclesiastic. ge 9{4 9
IX.-The reformation of the character Of our
National Legislature by elevating 70 that diguifed
and responsible position men Of higher quali6ca-
tions, purer morals. and more unselfsh patriotism
X.-The restriction Of executive patronage, es-
peciay in the matter Of appointments to office, 80
far as II may be permitted by the Constitution and
consistent with the public good. t s.s.s
M.-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 influence or direction
of a denominational or partisan character. M,
And, inaslnuch 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
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 ii
from the schools thus established in the States y,
XII 1.-The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite Of the opposition Of the Wing
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-
evated sectional hostility into positive element
Of political power, and brought our institutions
into peril II has therefore become the imperative
! duty Of the American party to interpose for the
purpose Of giving peace to the country and per
petuity to the Union. And as experience has
shown 1t impossible to reconcile opinions SO ex-
.reme as those which separate the disputants and
\ as there can be no dishonor in submitting to the
laws, the National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee Of common justice and Of future peaco,
to abide by and maintain the existing laws upon
the subject Of slavery, as final and conclusive
settlement Of that subject, in spirit and in sub
stance. lf
And regarding It the highest duty to ayow their
/ opinions upon a subject SO important, in distinct
and unequivocal terms, it is hereby declared as the
sense Of this National Council that Congress pos
sesses no power under the Constitution, to legis-
late upon the subject of Slavery in the States
where 1t does 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 a part of its social system; and ex-
pressly pretermitting 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
legislato 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 d
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
XIIL-The policy Of the Government of the
United States IN Its relations with foreign govern
ments, Is to exact justice from the strongest, and
dojustce to the weakest; restraining, by all the
power Of the government, all its citizens from in.
reference with the internal concerns of nations
with whom we are at peace.
! XIV.-This National Council declares that ali
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
Der, and 1t recommends that there be no conceal
ment Of the places Of meeting Of subordinate coan.
ellis.
Z. B. BARTLETT, Of Kentucky,
President Of National Council.
| G. d. DEsHLER, Of New Jersey,
/ Corresponding Secretary.
JANIS M. SrKPHESs, of Maryland,
=