Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-30

spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws
from our statute book
Resolved, That we are hostile TO secret political
societies in this land of political information and
free discussion, unnecessary and opposed TO the
spirit OF our institutions and dangerous 10 the
perpetuity OF our form of government, and that
we deem II more compatible with the manhood,
holiness and integrity which should characterize
American citizens, TO meet IN public for the dis
cussion of our principles and TO set forth our pur
poses and our measures for the public eve and for
public comprehension and judgment.
Resolred, That the unqualified hostility of all
friends OF free institutions should be visited upon
that spirit OF sectarian cnmity which has been in
voked OF late for partisan objects by designing
men IN our midst that we utterly oppose the
prescription from Office or deprivation of civil
rights OF any citizen on account of his religious
belief honestly entertained, and the enjoyment
OF which has been sacredly guaranteed 10 him
under our State and Federal Constitutions, and
that the man who will deliberately ia this the
nineteenth century, and in these United States of
America, lend his voice or his vote for the build
ing up political parties upon religious differ
| ences, is unworthy OF the honor Of American
citizenship.
RESOLVED, That we reitosate our opinion former
ly expressed, that to the course of the present
administration are due LII the disasters and defeats
which the democratic party has experienced for
the past two years that the administration has
insuted and outraged the great national sentiment
I, OF the American people, and that the only safety
OF the democracy and OF the whole country now
lies in an unconditional reputation Of the admin
lstration III the nomination for President of the
next National Democratic Convention Of some
sound national man well known to and confided
IN by the country such, and in the adoption of
platform which shall furnish further guarantees
OF the rights and interests of every portion of the
Union, and which shall resist the aggressions of
Northern sectionasm upon the rights of the
South, and restore tranquility TO the whole nation
Resolred, That we congratulate the democracy
OF Virginia upon their late victory over the secret
and proscriptive array Of their opponents, and
attribute their success to the absence of any eli
dorsement by them Of the administration, the
contrary cause having produced the absolute
overthrow OF our party in other States in late
contests; and we recommend that in our own
State, with view TO future successes, repudia-
ton OF the administration be insisted upon, by
which means and by union upon the true non
Intervention platform conso ldation ofdenlo-
Gratis alone be secured, and triumph obtained
for our cause.
Resolred That among tile acts passed al the last
session ofthc Legislature of this State, and promi-
nent even in that long array of fanatcal, ultra
and hypocrtical legislative experiments, we espe-
caly repudiate and denouncc that attempt at
coercive and prohibtory legislation, the so-called
"act for the suppression Of ntcmperance, /" com
monty known as the Maine laW--tAut AZ an ill-
frngement upon constitutional guarantees, upon
doctrines Of law as old as Runnymede, and upon
every true principle of political Justice and econo-
my as q reckless and wicked trlhing with lawful
property and vested rights as an absurd attempt
TO prohibit what the Scriptures, and the practice
OF the wise and great and good Of all agcs, have
sanctioned as an exhibition ofnarrow, malignant
| and Jealous bigotry and ascctcims we stamp this
law as unparalleled and especially iniquitions;
that we demand and expect its repeal as a lcgiti-
mate result Vt tie re-ascendancy Of democratic
principles IN the councils OF the State, and as a
reasonable consequence of that reaction against
tanaticlsm which such enactments, from the ex-
tremity OF their absurdity, invariably produce in
| the public mind.
Resolved, That the hypocritcal course of the
faction mailing from that " house of refuge for
knavish politicians, Tammany Hail. and claiming
to be democratic, i'll nominating four members OF
| the know-nothing order for prominent Offices at
the last election, and in pretending to be
opposed to the principles of that order, can only
be equalled by the barefaced duplicy Of their act
on the prohibitory liquor law-two-thirds Of the
members of that faction in the Senate Of the State
having first voted for that law, and Tammany
Hall having subsequently, passed resolutions
against the very act its representatives had aided
to communicative, by advocating both sides Of
these questions, and being true 10 neither, hoping
| to succeed with all upon the base principle so
often avowed by their leaders, that all is fair in
| politics" that such rascality Of profession and
practice demands the execraton of every man
who values truth or recognises honesty as a prin-
| ciple Of manly action.
| Resoired, That the National Democracy Of New
| York cordially respond 10 the call for Demo
| cratic State Convention on the 9Th day al Sep
TENDER next, issued by the Democratic State
| Committee at It's recent meeting in this city; and
that we rejoice that the members Of that commit
| tee did not undertake 10 exceed the powers with
which they were invested, by making presiden-
tia bargains plotting for the sale and division
| OF valuable Offices, with those wto approached
them, we nevertheless, as their constituents, Free
| y invite all who agree IN the principles set forth
in these resolutions, and who desire the redemp-
ton and regeneration Of the State Of New York
to unite with us in giving TO our beloved com
monwealth and our proud city, administrative
and legislative officers who shall be neither Free
sellers, Prohbitonists, Know .nothings, or "a
natcs Of any other class degree, or color