The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-03-28
Constitution OF the Sag NIGHTS.
ARTICLE /.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.

SECTION l. AS lunudWeHtal dIIiCie
in our POLITICAL creed, we hold, in the Ian
guage of the Constitution of the State of
Ohio, that call men have natural and in
defeasible right to worship Almighty God
according to the dictates Of their own con-
SCIENCE" and that "no religious test shall
be required as qualification for Office"
Sec. 2. AS principle equally dear to
every friend to our Republican form Of Gov
ernment, we hold, that whenever the born
subject of any foreign state, petentate or
power, renounces and foreswears all allegi-
ance to the same, and by our laws, and his
own free will and accord, becomes a citizen
of the United States, all distinctions on ac-
count of birth are anti-American, anti-Repub-
lcan, and dangerous to the perpetuity Of
free institutions, which have made this Gov
ernment, above all others, the home of the
down-trodden and the oppressed Of other
lands.
Sec. 8. That with the early fathers of
this Republic--the wise aud patriotic men
of the Republic, who framed. adopted, and
gave to the world the American Declaration
of Independence, in the resolves of the 18th
of August, 1776, adopted by the Continental
Congress, we hold that sit is the wise poll
cy Of these States to extend the protection
of their lava to all those who should settle
among them, of whatever nation or religion
they might be, and to admit them to partic-
ipation of the benefits of civil and religious
freedom; and the benevolence of this prac-
tice, as we'll as its salutary effects, have rem
dered it worthy Of being continued in future
tines"
Sec. 4. That secret political party
known to the world as "Know Nothings,' u
but to the initiated as the "Supreme Order
of the Star Span9lsd Banner" has reared ito
dsorganizng head in our midst-binding it's
members by sacred and dreadful oaths to set
at naught and to render nugatory that great
principle of our liberties, mans free right to
worship God as his conscience may dictate,
making freedom Of worship, unless it is ex-
ercised as majority of its members choose,
an arrangement from places of honor or Of
proft-and to render nugatory and void the
pledges of the Continental Congress, almost
coincdent with the Declaration of IndepeH-
dence, and drafted and passed BY the same
men, and thus to create in our midst priv
ileged class, like the nobility of Europe
based upon birth and not upon merit.
Sec. S. That we are opposed to such Q
party-opposed to its attacks upon the Con
stitutien-opposed to it because of the prin'
ciples, at war with free government, which
it incuIcates-opposed to it because it wal
germ of the reasonable Hartford Conven
ton which, during the darkest hours of the
war with England, met as band of conspir'
ing traitors, giving aid and comfort to the
enemy, and who declared, among Other
things, as their 9th resolve, "That no per
son who shall hereafter be naturalized, shall
be eligible as member Of the Senate Of
House Of of Representatives, nor capable o
holding any civil office under the authority
of the United States;" and this they did, al
Know Nothingism now does, under the falls
plea, they "were no parties to the compact
and have no stake in the welfare Of the coun
try but what is recent and transtory."
Sec. 6. That standing by our govern
ment as it is-believing it to be the frees
and best of any human government yet de
vised-holding to the principle of religion
toleration "as the mariner clings to his lai
T plank when darkness and tempest close
round him',,-we are antagonistc to so-cal
ed Know Nothingism in all things whiC
propose a change of the settled principle
and policy Of our government.
ARTICLE
, OBJECTS AND NAME OF THIS ASSOCIATION
r SEcrIoN /. That in order that our o
position to Know Nothingism may be t
more efftctual--in preventing the incen'
ary efforts Of those who seek to change q
!, government as regards religious freedo
and who seek to make birth qualitcati'
;. for office, we form ourselves into an ass
citation to be known as the "Sag Nichts Co
= stitutional Council" 1 e..
Sec. 2. That for the present its procee
Q ings shall remain secret, but no oaths are
: be administered, and its proceedings are n
:. in any form or manner to interfere with 4
:, religious, political, or other natural rigt
: of any man. ,g gas
'e SEC. 8. That as soon as it is able
4 ward off the danger which now menaces I
,s the Republic, and with the defeat and c
posure Of Know Nothingism, this Coun
shall be dissolved, and cease to have m
- ganized existence. sAE
b. SEC. A. That for the purpose of car
ne ing this Constitution into effect the Coun
III shall have power to make and ordain 81
bylaws, for its government, not conflict
:. with this Constitution, as its members,
'n ~ vote, at regular meeting, may choose
y adopt. = g. " 9f2oa ''.# '.'1 2
ts 40 sai ------2 --~.ss.----- : 49, d7'a
IF or James MagillOn has q good he,
.Ef. ~ 80