Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-26

tons above, we have 10 say that the members
Of our order are "the people" and that they
do freely deliberate and determine upon
measures efpabtic policy, " and that we admit
all free american born citizens who sympa-
thise with us, into our councils, and thus Gre
ate that "fraternal feeling 80 necessary among
citizens of the same Confederacy."
No man of responsibility, who professedly
agrees with us upon the fundamental princi-
Piles ON which our party is formed, is excluded,
unless we have reason to believe he is, at heart,
inimical to us, and seeks admission into our
councils for mischief
AS to the second resolution Of the two above, we
have to say, that we do not seek TO exclude any
man from the enjoyment Of his constitutional
rights that we invade no mans religious or
other privileges--and that it is no evasion Of
the spiyit of the constitution to refuse to cast
our votes for those whose opinions, whether
political or religious, are not in consonance
with our own.
tits the constitutional right of the voter to
cast his suffrage freely and independently, nor
is he answerable to any power whatever for
the manner Of his exercising this right, or for
the reasons on which he acts
But another question here presents itself
That has Congress to do NTH regulating the
right Of sutrage' In what sense, are the
above resolutions, or any Of them, within the
competency of Congress to adopt and enforce
Congress has the power to enact a uniform
rule Of naturalization, and when that power
is exercised the States are authorized to adj
NIT to the right of suffrage any portions Of the
citizens of the United States and under such
regulations, as they may severally choose to
adopt, not inconsistent with the paramount law.
That clause Of the constitution cited in Sem
tor Weller's last 'resolntion, which relates to a
religious test" applies only to persons who
may hold Office slnder the United States" M
"No religious test shall ever be required as
qualification to any office, or public trust un-
der the United States" Such is the constitu-
ton, and when any person elected to federal
office, applies to be sworn into Office, no Gre
ligious test" is to beapplied By tho Government
Of the United States. He can be "sworn in"
without interrogation on the question of his
religious creed But this in no way contracts
the right of the voter, who may cast his vote
ON any ground he chooses to assume, for his
vote is his individual privilege
Nor does the above clause Of the constitu-
ton interdict the States from creating religious
tests if they choose to do so, as New Hamp-
shire the Gibraltar Of Democracy act
ually done
This set Of resolutions is, therefore, 6ru-
tuus .fulmen- effort by Senators to create
prejudice against the American party"-a
demonstration against the sovereign people, as
weak and impotent as it is inconsistent
darting of straws against a tornado-an effort
which will neither change single vote of the
people, nor save one enemy of Americanism
from his fatel What Increment ne1ts
Triumphant still--virginia Speaking Out.
AT the recent election for town officers, ut
Wheeling, Va, the American ticket was tri-
umphantly elected. This is an index Of what
is to come. 81
The Forney and Pierce presses have boosted
that in Virginia, where the oipa poce system
is in operation, Americans would not dare to
vote openly in opposition to their former predi-
lotions. Americans are silent, quiet, orderly
and law-abiding people, but they will never
falter in the discharge Of their duty, even
though they expose themselves to the abuse of
old party hacks and hircling presses.