Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-31
WAsHINGToN d c. SATURDAY AFTERNooN, MARCH 81. 1855

ments Of others only as they shah square with or
differ from, his own that II Is time enough for the
rghtful purposes Of civil government for It's OH
cers 70 Interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
finally that truth is great and viii prevail if left TO
herself that she is the proper and sufficient antag-
onist of error, and has nothing to fear from the
confict, unless by human interposition disarmed Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasing to be dangerous when Il is permitted
freely to combat them. I#9st
BE II, therefore, enacted by the General As-
se'n6ty, 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 molcsted, burdened In his body or goods
shall he otherwise suffer on account ofhsreiKicus
opinions or belief but that all men shall be frss to
profess, and by argument to maintain, their 0pin-
ions in matters Of religion and that the saas sAal
In no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect tissir civil
capacities. Rx
And though we well know tlsis Assembly, elected
BY the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
ation 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 irrevocabe would be of no effect In law
yet we are free to declare and do declare that the
rights hereby asserted 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.
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at a mass meeting of the citizens Of
Washington, on the 27th 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 citizens of Washing
ton was held at Carusis Saloon on the 10th instant
upon . call made In and approved by the Executive
organ, the proceedings Of which, in the resolutions
sad 70 have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches of certain selected orators at subsequent
adjourned meeting spread before the public
eye In the columns of said organ, and its kindred
presses, with appreciation; and whereas said resou
uens however dressed up in abstract professions of
patriotism, assall principles dear to the American
heart and necessary TO the safety of the constitution
and to the peace and prosperity of our country and
whereas the Executive is invoked therein to remove
rom pubic employment such officeholders enter
tain those principles thereby to perpetrate ruthless
prescription of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference of opinion therefore
heso60ed That mere professions Of love TO the con-
contradicted by actions cannot deceive the sensible
and vlgllant guardians of American liberty whose
apprehensions have been excited at behofding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
troll OF our government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate weknown as the avowed enemy Of our
whole American system, TO whose overthrow they
are soemnly devoted.
Resotoed That as vigilant custodans Of that bene-
ed to us by the fathers of the republic it is our duty
TO meet and repel all insdious attacks upon our lib
critics az well all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion Of princi
Piles and purposes the part of the recognised ex
ponents Of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subversive of sur republican institutions,
which constitute aggressons of such character
that If not now resisted, viii lead at distant day.
TO the overthrow of the American Constitution and
the complete establishment of despotism.
haoSred, That while in the past political divisions
OF the country, as Wings and Democrats we have
struggled In honest conflict contested principles
the present crisis Of danger TO all that both parties
hold dear we will bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and pledge 70 each other our lives,
fortunes, and our sacred honor net 10 cease our
srhons until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace IT.
hesotoed That We proclaim, as the cardinal princ-
Piles Of our political and moral creed sacred regard
for the constitution In all its proysions upon which
Of speech freedom Of opinion, freedom of conscience
freedom OF the Press, together with school system
for the diffusion Of intelligence sanctifed by an open
Bible an the rule of faith and practice holding az an
tefnHeuc6
essential 70 the success Of free government
Resotped, That while we welcome TO our country
the victims Of tyranny from foreign lands and offer
them place BY our side under the shield Of our con-
their own country; and these who do not Ike our
government have hearty consent TO 70 elsewhere
il the pursuit of happiness
Reso1tcd That the fourth resolution of the meeting
At orrusis Saloon recommending TO the President oi
the United States prescription Of all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought ct 70 be-
come members Of the association of Know Knoth-
ings-a recommendation which, before its adoption,
had been recognised and acted upon by the Erecu-
tive OF the United States-proposes alarming and
dangerous inaotion Of the principles of sefgovern-
ment and calls for the prompt and decisive rebuke
Of all the free citizens OF these United States without
distnction p Of party, sect or creed.
Reeotped, That every Protestant denomination In
the United States maintains the constitutional prin-
cple Of separation Of Church and State--in which
principle many American Catholics sinscrely concur
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
ruineus effects Of which, in the one are seen In
countless emigrsnts flying from its tyranny and
misery 10 our own happy land, and in the other in
wealth and vices Of the clergy, and in the ceaseless
insurrechons, massacres, and proverbial instability
Of our Southern sister Republics
Resotped, That upon these principles we appeal
S'hoNN
this meeting, 10 the people Of the United States !;
and, although We might infer they are an exponent
Of executive feelings, from the ef6cisl positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yeti viii still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
will arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
fhce-holders, both Democrats and Wings for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments
and win reject the mercensry suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of the meeting last week
az covert scheme 10 GRITTY the appetite Of Office
seekers at the expense If many who Ieaiously and
efficiently aided in bis elevation 10 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances will x in
debble stain upon him q and as the President
Of the United States.
6esotped, That having seen the denuncistons that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fusonists' n the North, who denounced as alb
sorbed in the traitorous factions" which distract
those States by which they are enc after another be
ing placed in opposition 10 the administration we
we're astonisbed 70 hear the pressing nvion in the
second resolution Of our opponents 70 Of all po
litical opinions, without regard 10 their "polihoa
antecedentsn 70 form ''fusienp with them in their