Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-08


ments Of Others only as they shall square with, or
dier from his own that ii is time enough, for the
rightful purposes Of civil government for its Off
GERS 70 interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and
that truth Is great and will prevail if left to
nerseH that she is the proper and sufficient antag
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
conlcI, : unless Dy human interpretation disarmed of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate
errors ceasing 70 be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them.
Re Il, therefore, enacted 6y the General As
sem6ty, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place. or
ministry whatsoever nor shall he be enforced. rc-
strained molested or burdened in his body or goods
norshal he otherwise suffer account ofhs religious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free 10
profess, and by argument to maintain, their opin. 4
ions in matters Of religion, and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
Capacities. EGfH -N &T t
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of leeis
laton 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 irreyocable 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, to narrow it's ope-
rations, such an act will be an infringement of
natural right. 5,
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at q 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-
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 n the
speeches OF certain selected orators at subsequent
eye in the columns Of said organ, and its Kindred
presses, with appreciation and whereas said resolu-
tons, however dressed up in abstract professions OF
Patrlotlsm, astal principles dear TO the American
and to the peace and prosperity of country; and
Whereas the Executive is invoked therein to remove
from public employment such offceholders as enter
tam those principles thereby operpetate ruthless
prescription OF both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference of opinion: therefore
hesod0ed That mere professions OF love to the con-
sttution and TO civil and religious freedom, when
by actions, cannot deceive the sensible
ana vlgllant guardians Of American liberty, whose
apprehensions have been excited at behofding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
troll of government by the subjects of a foreign
potentate well-known a. the avowed enemy of our
whole american system, 70 whose overthrow they
Reso1eea That a. viglant custodians of that bene-
fcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
ed to us by the fathers Of the republic 1t is our duty
TO meet and repel all insdous attacks upon our lib
critics well all open assaults; and that we view
with ndgnafaon and alarm the assertion of princi-
ples and purposes the part Of the recognised ex-
gonents OF the Roman Catholic Church in The United
o&o rtxv~nv. - -
which constitute sggressions Of such character
that If not now resisted, will lead, at no distant day.
TO the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the complete establishments of despotism
esoIned That WHILE In the past political divisions
Of the country, as Wings and Democrats, we haye
struggled 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
opposition, and "pledge 10 each other our lives our
fortunes and our sacred honor net to cease our ex
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it
Rcsotved, That we proclaim as the cardinal princi-
pies Of our political and moral creed sacred regard
Tor the constitution In all its provisions upon which
are based our glerious American principles-reedom
OF speech freedom Of opinion, freedom Of conscience,
for the diffusion q intelligence, ssncted by an open
Bible as the rule OF faith and practice holding
established principle that intelligence and virtue are
essential TO the SUCCESS Of a free government.
WeIcOmG
the victims Of tyranny from foreign lands, and offer
them place BY our side under the shield Of
sttnton, we claim for Americans the right TO govern
their own country; and those who do not like our
goyernmenf have our hearty consent TO 60 elsewhere
Rssolsed That the fourth resolution Of the meeting
at Carusis Saloon, recommending to the President of
the United States prescription OF all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought fit 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 Execu-
tive of the United States proposes an alarming and
dangerous infraction OF the principles Of selfgoven
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. H
ResoLved, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prn
oiple Of 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 10 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 TO our own happy land, and in the other, in
the Ignorance and poverty Of the masses, in the
nsurrections, msssacres and proverbia instability
of our Southern sister Republics. @
Resolred, That upon these principles we appeal
from the opinions whose proclamation has caused
and, although we might infer they are on exponent
Of executive feelings, from the official positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yet we will still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
viii arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
ofice-hoders, both Democrats and Wings for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and viii reject the mercenary suggeston urged upon
him by the fourth resolution of the meeting last week,
A. covert scheme 70 crafty the appetite Of office
seekers AZ the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation 70 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances viii fix an in
delible stain upon him man and the President
of the United Statss 8 l ~
fesoIped, That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
"fusioniss' sf the North who are denounced as abb
sorbed in "the traitorous factions which distract
those States by which they are one after another be-
ing placed in opposition 10 the administration, we
were astonished TO hear the pressing inviton in the
second resolution Of our opponents TO Of all po
ltical opinions without regard IN their aolitical