American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-07-07

that diGnifed and responsible position
men Of higher qualifications, purer morals,
and more unselfsh patriotism.
X.-The restriction of executive patron
age especially in the matter Of appoint
ments to oflice--so far as it may be permit
ted BY the Constitution, and consistent with
the public good.
Xl.--The education of the youth Of our
country in schools provided BY the State;
which schools shall be common 10 all, with
out distinction Of creed or party, and free
from any influence or direction Of dcnomi
national or Par,izon character.
And, ,nasmuch as Christianity, by the
Constitutions OF nearly all the States; by the
decisions Of the most eminent judicial au.
thorities: and by the consent of the people
Of America, lie considered an element Of our
political system, and as the Holy Bible is
at once the source of Christianity: and the
de posi,ory and fountain Of all civil and rei-
gious freedom, we oppose every attempt to
exclude it from the schools thus established
in the States.
XlI.-The American party having arisen
upon the ruins and in spite of the opposition
Of the Why and Democratic parties, cannot
DO held in any manner responsible for the
obnoxious acts or violated pledges Of either.
And the systematic agitation Of the slavery
question BY both those parties having ele-
waited sectional hostility into a positive ee.
msnt Of political power, and brought our i'll
situations into peril, il has heretofore become
the imperative duty Of the American party
to inlerpose, for the purpose Of giving peace
to the country and perpe,nity to the Union.
And as experience has shown it impossible
to reconcile opinions so extreme as those
which separate the dispu,ants 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 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 substance.
And regarding it the highest duty to avow
their opinions upon a subject so important,
in distinct and unequivoca terms, it is here
by declared as the sense of this National
Council that Congress possesses no power I'M
der the Constitution, to legslate upon the
subject of slavery in the States where it does
or may exist, or exclude any State from od-
mission into the Union because its Consti,u.
ton does or does not recognize the institu
ton OF slavery as a part Of its social system;
and especially pretending any expression
of opinion upon The power Of Congress to es-
tablsh or prohibit slavery in any Territory,
it is the sense Of the National Council that
Congress ough, not to !egisate upon the
subject Of slavery within the Territory Of the
United States, and that any interference by
Congress with slavery. as it exists in the
District of Columbia would be violation
Of 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.
XIIT.-The policy of the Government of
the United States, i'll its relations with for
eign governments, is to exact justice from
the strongest, and do justice to the weakest;
restraining, BY all the power Of the Govern.
ment, all lis citizens from Interference 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 hence
forward every where openly avowed; and
that each member shall be at the liberty to
make known the existence of the Order, and
the fact that he himself is a member; and it
recommends that there be no conceaImen, of
the places of meeting of :he Subordinate
Councils.
L. B. BARTLETT, Of Kentucky,
President Of the National Council.
G. ID. DEsnLER, Of New Jersey.
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES NJ. STEPHENS, Of Maryland,
@