American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-06-30

that dignifled and responsible position
men Of higher qualifications, purer morals,
and more unselfish patriotism.
X.-The restriction of executive patron.
age especially in the matter of appoint.
ments to oflce-so far as it may be permit
ted by the Constitution, and consistent with
the public good.
XI.-The education of the youth of our
country in schools provided by the State;
which schools shall be common to all, with
out distinction of creed or party, and free
from any influence or direction of u denomi.
natlona! or pariizan character.
And, masmuch as Christianity, by the
Constitutions of nearly all the States; by the
decisions of the most eminent judicial au.
thorities; and by tn consent of the people
of America, is considered an element of Our
political system, stdas the Holy Bible is
at once the sourccSf Chris,iani,yi and the
depository and fouffain Of all civil and reli-
gous freedom, weappose every attempt to
exclude it from It's schools thus established
in the States. .....a
All.-Ihe Am& ian party having arisen
upon the ruins arsGin spite of the opposition
OF the Wing and Dsnocratic parties, cannot
be held in any g,npner responsible for the
obnoxious acts or iolated pledges of either.
And the systems lc agitation of the slavery
question by both those parties having elc-
waited sectional hostility into positive ele-
ment of political power and broush, our in
stitutions into peril, it has heretofore become
the imperative DUTY of the American party
to in,erpoSe, forl the purpose of giving peace
to the country aud perpetuity to the Union.
And as experience has shown it impossible
to reconcile opinions so extreme as those
which separate the dispu,ants, aud 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 subject so important,
in distinct and unequivocal terms, it is here
by declared rs 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 adj
mission into the Union because its Consti;u-
ton does or does not recognize the institu.
ton Of slavery as part Of its social system;
and especially pretermiling 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 ought not to !egislate 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 tie State of Maryland coded tho
District to the United States, and breach
of the na,epal faith.
tbe policy q ment of
the United States, in its CTels 18th for.
egn yovtsnuehVs, is TO exae co from
the stror;ss, AND do jDstice weakest;
restraining, ay all he power 20. The Govern
ment, all its citizens from Interference with
the internal concerns Of nations with whom
we are al peace.
XIV.--This National Council declares that
oil the principles Of the Order shall be hence
forward every where openIy avowed; and
that each member shall be at The liberty to
make known the existence of the Order, and
the fact that no himself is member; and it
recommends that there be no conceament of
the places of meeting of The Subordinate
Councils.
j.. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
President of the National Council.
e. d. DEsnLEn, of New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary.
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