Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-05
WASHINGTON. D. G.. MONDAY AFTERNOON MARCH 8 1855 4

ments Of others only as they shall square with or
differ from, his own; that il is time enough for the
rghtful purposes Of civil government for its off,
Gers TO Interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
finally, 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 interposion disarmed OF
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasng to be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them. !.
Be IL, therefore, enacted 5y the General As
sembty, 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 burdened in his body or goods,
orshall he otherwise suffer ofhisreiigious
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 well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
lation only, have 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 are Of the natural rights Of
aAu eiiuS "a any dCt blhu De ueFeAIJeF
passed to repeal the present, or 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 win 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, the 10th instant
upon a 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 approbation and whereas said resolu-
nens however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asUal principles dear to the American
heart and necessary to the safety Of the constitution
ana TO the peace and prosperity Of country and
Whereas the Executive is invoked therein to remove
rom public employment such officeholders as enter
tain those principles thereby to perperate ruthless
prescription of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference of opinion therefore
Resolved That mere professions Of love to the con-
sttunon and TO civil and religious freedom, when
contradcted by actions cannot deceive the sensible
ana vlg1lant guardians of American liberty, whose
apprehensi0ns have been excited at behoiding the
strides that have been made toward complete con.
trol OF our government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate well-known as the ayowed enemy Of our
whole American system, to whose overthrow they
are solemny devoted.
Resoloed That as vgilsnt custodians of that bene-
hcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
to meet and repe all insidious attacks upon our lib
critics as well as all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion of prnci-
pies 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 aggressions of such character
that II not now resisted, wilead at distant day,
TO the overthrow Of the.American Constitution and
the complete establishment Of despotsm.
Resoloed That WHILE In the past political divisions
of the country, as Wings and Democrats, we have
struggled in honest conflict over contested principles
and measures, all of which now settled, yet in
the present crisis Of danger to all that both parties
opposition and "pedge to each other lives, our
fortunes and sacred honor" net to cease our ex
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it.
Piles of political and moral creed sacred regard
for the constitution In all its provisions upon which
are based our glorious American principles
OF speech, freedom of opiHion, freedom OF conscance,
freedom of the press, together with school system
for the diffusion Of intelligence sanctied by open
Bible as the rule of faith and practice, holding as an
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential to the success Of free government.
Resoyped That while we welcome TO our country
the victims of tyranny from foreign lands and offer
them place by side under the shield Of our
stution, claim for Americans the right 10 govern
their own country and these who do not like our
government have our hearty consent 10 20 elsewhere
ResoJced That the fourth resolution Of thcmeeting
At Caruss Saloon, recommending 70 the President OF
the United States prescription OF all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought ft TO be-
come members Of the association of Know Knoth-
ings--a recommendation which, before its adoption,
had been recognised and acted upon by the Execu-
tive Of the United States-proposes alarming and
dangerous infracton Of the principles Of sefgoyern-
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.
ResoLUed, That every Protestant denomination In
the United States maintains the constitutional prin
ciple Of separation Of Church and State-in which
principle many American Catholics sincerely concur,
while on the other hand, the Papal Church abroad
openly, and always, and everywhere maintains the
doctrine Of obedience Of the civil 70 the ecclesiastical
authority both In Europe and America; the sad and
countless emigrants flying from its tyranny and
misery to our own happy land, and in the ether, in
the Ignorance and poverty Of the masses, in the
wealth and vices Of the clergy, and in the ceaseess
massacres, and proverbial instability
Of our Southern sister Republics.
Resotoed, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
this meeting, TO the people Of the United States;
and, although We might infer they are an exponent
Of executive feelings, from the official positions Of
hose who controlled the proceedngs yet we viii still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
viii arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
Dfioebolders, both Democrats and Wings, for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and viii reject the mercenary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of the meeting last week.
ss covert scheme TO crafty the appetite Of Office
seekers at the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation 70 power, and whose
removal under existing circumstances viii 6I an in
delible stain upon him as man and the President
Of the United States.
ResotUed, That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
fusionistso Of the NORTH who are denounced alb
sorbed in "the tratorous factions which distract
those States by which they are enc after another be-
ing placed in opposition 10 the administration, we
astonished 10 hear the pressing nvition in the
second resolution Of opponents to men Of all po-
liticsl opinions without regard 10 their "political
antecedents," 10 form "fusen" with them in their
future scton-an invitation broad enough to include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Fred Douglas, besides
their coadiutors in the two houses of Congress.
Resolved, That we, too, appeal 10 all Americans
who love the Union which "must be preserved" and
the constitution which established and maintains il,
and the rights Of the States which compose IL and