Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-13
WASHINGTON AFTERNOON. SEPTEMBER 1s 1855

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 elevating to that dignifed
and responsible position men of higher qualifica-
tons, purer morals, and more unsehsh patriotism
x.--The restriction of executive patronage, es-
pecialy 10 the matter of appointments to Office, so
far as il may be permitted by the Consultation, and
consistent with the public good.
M-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 denominatonal or partisan character.
And, inasmuch as Christianity, by the Constitu-
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 ofthe opposition of the Whg
and Democratic parties, cannot be in any manner
responsible for the obnoxious acts Of violated
pledges Of either And the systematic agitation
ofthe slavery question by those parties having ell
evated sectional hostility into a 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 as experience has
shown it impossible to reconcile opinions so ex-
sreme as those which separate the dispuants, 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 a subject 80 important, in distinct
and unequivocal terms it is hereby declared as the
sense of this N itional Council, that Congress pos
sesses no power under the Constitution, to legis-
late upon the subject Of Slavery in the States
where it does 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 ex-
pressly pretermitting any expression Of opinion
upon the power of Congress to establish or pro-
hibit Slavery in any Territory, it 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 1t exists in
the District Of Columbia, would be violation of
the spirit anu llteHttOl OI Tue compact Dy Wnlch
the State Of Maryland ceded the District to the
United States, and breach of the National faith
XlII.--The policy Of the Government Of the
United States, in Its relations with foreign govern
ments, is to exact justice from the strongest, and
do justice to the weaklst restraining, BY ~ the
power of the governni17 fts & 49, np In
reference with the internal concerns pms
with whom wesse at peace. ~
!, XtY.-- Thie National Council DECEASED all
the priheipl& Of the Order shall be hencei ard
everywhere openly avowed, !; and that each 3kem
Der shall be atlberty to mako known tissexistence
Of the Order, and the fact thsk5ke hipst mem
Der, and it reeonmends that yherpbe no conceal.
ment Of the places of meeting Of subordinate coun
cis.
i. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
President Of National GoplciL
O. D. DEsHLEa, Of New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES NJ. STEPHENS, of Maryland,
Rec0rdin0 Secreknrv