Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-08

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 any foreign power, po-
tentate, or ecclesiastic.
IX--The reformation of the character Of our
National Legislature, by elevatng to that dignifed
and responsible position men of higher qualifica-
tioRs, purer morals and more unselhsh patriotism
X.-The restriction of executive patronage, es-
pecialy in the matter of appointments to office, so
far as 1t may be permitted by the Constitution, and
consistent with the public good.
X.-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.
And, inasmuch as Christianity, by the Consttu-
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 the source of Christianity, and the
depository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom we oppose every attempt to exclude it
from the schools thus established In the States.
XII.--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 ell
evated sectional hostility into positive element
Of political power, and brought our institutions
into peril it 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 rs experience has
shown it impossible TO reconcile opinions so ex-
sreme 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 peace,
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.
And regarding it the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon 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 il does or 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 part of its social system and eK-
pressly pretormitting any expression of opinion
upon the power Of Congress to establish or pro-
hibit Slavery in any Territory, 1t is the sense Of
the National Council that Congress ought not to
legislate 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 a violation of
the spirit anu lnteuIlon VI tne cOInpact Dy WHICH
the State of Maryland ceded the District to the
United States and breach Of the National faith.
XIII.--rhe policy of the Government Of the
United States in its relations with foreign govern
ments, is to exact justice from the strongest and
do j6stice 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 all
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
ber and 1t recommends that there be no conceal
ment of the paces'of meeting Of subordinate coun
cils
L. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
President of National Council
G. ID. DEsHLER, of New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary
JAMES NJ. STEPHENS of Maryland,
Recordip1 SecretarU