Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-24

ments OF others only as they shall square with, OF
diner rom his own; that it is time enough, for the
ightfui purposes Of civil government, for its off
GERS to interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and
nnay that truth is great and viii prevail IL left Il
hersei that she Is the proper and sufficient antag
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
CONNECT unless by human interposition disarmed o
her natural weapons, free argument and debate
errors ceasng to be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them.
Be st, therefore, enacted By tie General As
sendty, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place. ol
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced. re.
strained, molested, burdened in his body or goods
norshal he otherwise sufferon account ofhs religious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free Ia
profess and by argument to maintain, their opn
ions In matters Of religion, and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities.
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes of legis
lation only, have no power to restrain the acts d
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
equal TO our own; and that therefore, to declare
this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law
yet we are free to Declare and do declare, that the
rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights Of
mankind, and that If any act shall be hereafter
passed to repeal the present. or 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 9th 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, 2 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
SAID to have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches OF certain selected orators at subsequent
adjourned meeting now spread before the public
eye in the columns of said organ, and its kindred
presses, with appreciation; and whereas said resou
items, however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asual principles dear to the American
neart ana 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
from public employment such officeholders as enter
tain those principles thereby perpetrate ruthless
prescription Of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest diference of opinion: therefore tt
HesosUod That mere professions of love to the con-
sfituton and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradiced by actions cannot deceive the sensible
and yigilsnt guardians Of American liberty, whose
ef1SzSAHAunn unV6 Dceu exCite0 NJ DeQOlQlnQ the
strides that have been made toward complete CON
troll OF our government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate well-known as the avowed enemy Of our
whole American system, TO whose overthrow they
are solemnly devoted
Resol0ed That as vigiant custodians OF that bene-
hcent system of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
ed to us by the fathers Of the republic it is our duty
to meet and repel all nsidous attacks upon our lib
critics as well as all open ASSAULTS and that we view
with Indignation and alarm the assertion of princi-
D0a and In fha - pf
ponents OF the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subversiye of republican institutions,
which constitute aggressions Of such o character
that II not now resisted will Lead at distant day
70 the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the complete establishment of despotism.
Resoseed That while, in the past political divisions
q the country, as Wings and Democrats, We have
sugged in honest conflict over contested principles
and measures, all of which are now settled, yet in
The present crisis of danger to all that both parties
hoad dear we will bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and "pledge to each other our lives, our
fortuneA and our sacred honor not 70 our ex-
ereons until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace IL
RsHlced, That we proclaim, as the cardinal princi-
pies Of our political and moral creed sacred regard
for the constitution in oil is provisions, upon which
are based our glorious American principles
Of speech, freedom Of opinion, freedom Of conscience
freedom Of the prsss together with school system
for the diffusion of intelligence, sanctifed by open
Bible as tho rule Of faith and practice, holding
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential TO the success OF free government
Rssolosd, That while we welcome 70 our country
the victims Of tyranny from foreign lands and oHcr
them place by side under the shield Of our con-
stttuton, we claim for Americans the right 70 gorern
their OWE, country; and tAese who do not like our
IN the I1nUuit Of hsppensss
RSsd5ssd That the fourth resolution Of the meeting
at Carusfs Saloon recommending TO the President o
ths United States prescription Of all officers of the
federal government who may have thought fit TO be-
come members Of the association of Know Knoth-
ings-a Recommendation which, before its adoption,
had been recognised and acted upon by the Execu-
tive Of the United States proposes alarming and
dangerous infracton Of the principles Of selfgovern
ment and calls for the prompt and decisive rebuke
Of all the free citizens Of these United States without
distinction OF party, sect, or creed.
RcsotUed, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prn-
ciple of a separation of Church and State-in which
principle many American Catholics sincerely 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 emigrants flying from It's tyranny and
misery 70 our own happy land, and in the other, in
the ignorance and poverty of the masses, In the
wealth and vices Of the clergy and in the ceaseess
massacres and proverbial instability
of our Southern sister Republics
Resotped, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions whose proclamation has caused
this meeting, TO the people Of the United States
and, although we might infer they exponent
of executive feelings, from the official positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yet will still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
win arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
office holders both Democrats and Wings, for daring
10 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and will reject the mercenary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution of the meeting last week.
as covert scheme to crafty the appetite of Office
seekers at the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation to power, and whose
removal under existing circumstances will fix in
deble stain upon him as man and as the President
Of the United States.
Rasolped, That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fusionists' Of the North, who are denounced alb
sorbed in "the traitorous factions" which distract
those States by which they enc after another be-
ing placed in opposition 10 the administration, we
were astonshed 10 hear the pressing nviton in the
second resolution Of opponents TO Of all po-
htcal opinions, without regard 70 their political
antecedents," 10 form 'fusien" with them in their
future sctionan invitation broad enough TO include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Fred. Douglas, besides
their coedjutors In the two houses Of Congress.
Resotped, That we, too appeal TO all Americans
who love the Union, which "must be preserved" and
the constitution, which established and maintains it