Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-21
WASHINGTON. D. G.. SATURDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 81 1856

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ments of others only as they shall square with, or
differ om, his own that IL is time enough for the
rightfnl purposes of civil government, for its off,
Gers to interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
naliy that truth is great and viii prevail IL 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 nterposition disarmed Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate
errors ceasng TO be dangerous when il is permitted
freely to combat them.
BE IL therefore, enacted 6y the General As
se'ndiy, 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, molested burdened in his body or goods
nor shall he otherwise account ohis 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 thoughwe well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes of legis-
lation 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 rrevocable 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
mankind, and that If 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. e r
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 citrzens Of Washing
ton was held at Caruss Saloon on the 10th instant
upon q call made in and approved by the Executive
organ the proceedings of which, in the resolutions
sgd 70 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 resolu-
nens however dressed up in abstract professions Of
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 oficeholders enter
tam those principles thereby to perpetrate ruthless
prescription of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference OF opinion: therefore
ResotUed That mere professions of love to the eon-
stitution and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradicted by actions cannot deceive the sensible
and yigilant guardians of American liberty whose
approximations have been excited at behofding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
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
Resotued, That vgilant custodians Of that bene-
fcent system of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
ed to by the fathers Of the republic il is our duty
TO meet and repel all nsidious atacks upan our lib
critics as well as all open assaults and that we view
With Indignation and alnrm the assertion Of princi-
pies and purposes on the part Of theSecognsed ex-
ponents of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subyersive Of eur republican insttutions,
which constitute aggressions of such a character
that II not now resisted will lead at distant day
TO the overthrow Of the American tConstitution and
the complete establishment of despotism.
Resoloed, That while, in the past political divisions
of the country, as Wings and Democrats, we have
struggled in honest conflict contested principles
and measures, all of which ase settled, yet in
the present crisis of danger TO all that both parties
hold dear we will bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and pledge 10 each other lives our
fortunes, and our sacred honor not 10 ex-
ertidns until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now monaceit asaz
hesotred, That We proclaim, the cardinal pTinci-
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 sanctiied by open
Bible as the rule Of faith and practice, holding
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential 70 the success of free government
Resolred, That while we welcome TO our country
the victims of tyranny from foreign ands and offer
them place BY our side under the shield Of our
stitution claim for Americans Che right to govern
their own country; and those who do not like our
government have our hearty consent TO 20 elsewhere
II the pursuit OF happiness.
esotoed That the fourth resolution Of the meeting
at Caruss Saloon, recommending to the President OF
the United States prescription Of all officers of the
federal government who may have thought it 70 be-
come members Of the association Of Know KDoth-
ings.a recommendation which, before its adoption,
had been recognised and acted upon by the Execu-
tive of the United States proposes an alarming and
dangerous nraction of the principles Of selgovern-
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.
Resotped, That every Protestant denomination In
the United States maiDains the constitutional prin-
ciple of separation OF Church and State-in which
while on the other hand, the Papal Church abroad
openly, and always, and everywhere maintains the
doctrine of obedience of the civil TO the ecclesiastical
authority, both in Europe and America the sad and
countless emigrants flying from It's tyranny and
misery TO 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 ceaseess
insurrectons, massacres, and proverbial instability
of our Southern sister Republics.
Resotssd That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
this nesting TO the people Of the United States !;
hnu, hithouRn we uignt tnIer lhey are an exponent
Of executive feelings from the efcial positions Of
those who controlled the proceedngs yet we will still
hope that the President, who alone has the power,
will arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
ofice-holders, 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 at the expense of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation TO power, and whose
renovalunder existing circumstances will fix an in
delible stain upon him man and the President
Of the United States.
fesolued, That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fusionists" ef the North who are denounced as alb
sorbcd in "the traitorous factions" which distract
those States, by which they after another be
ing placed in opposition TO the administration, we
we're asonished to hear the pressing invton in the
second resolution Of opponents 70 of oil po-
litical opinions, without regard to their political
antecedents," 10 form "fusien" with them in their
future action-an invitation broad enough to include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Fred Douglas besides
their coadjutors in the two houses Of Congress.