Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-28
The washington Union.


the members of the American party obnoxious
to the charge Of violating the constitution, in
taking the oaths published by that paper as
those used in their councils. The oaths are
thus stated by the Uaion
That you viii not vote or give your influence
to any man for any Office in the gift of the people,
unless he be an American-born citizen, in favor OF
Americans ruling America, or If he be Roman
Catholic. @
That you will, when elected or appointed TO
an official station comforting on you the power Of
doing SO, remove all foreigners, aliens, or Roman
Catholics from Office place, and that you will in
no case appoint such to any Office or place in your
gift" tta
These oaths, the Union says, are taken in
the fsco Of the following clauses Of the consti
tuition, to,wt:
That no religious test shall ever be required as
qualification TO any Office or public trust under
the United States and " Congress shall make no
laws respecting the establishment Of religion, or
prohibiting a free exercise thereof"
The Union contends that the constitution is
thus violated by the members Of the American
party.
The editors of the Union, and all other men
Of tolerable information, know that the prohi-
bition In the constitution as to religious tests,
relates wholly to the exercise Of any such
power by Congress, and has no relation to the
individual action Of voters. Congress has no
right to require any religious test as a quail
iJScation to elace, but it is idle and absurd to
say that this prohibition affects the rights Of
voters, who may create for their own guide,
whatever tests they please, even embracing
the size or height Of a candidate, the color Of
his eyes or hair,--the mode or manner Of his
saying his prayers, ---or eating his meals, ---or
any other, even the most ridiculous test the
mind Of man can conceive.
The constitution interdicts Congress from
making religious test as a qualification for
office, but it does not compel a Catholic to vote
for Protestant, or Protestant to vote for a
Catholic; nor does it prevent Protestant Of
one form of faith from voting for a Protestant
of the same faith. ! A Methodist may, if he
chooses, agree with his associates, and bind
themselves by any pledge they choose to adopt
not to vote fer Baptist, and so nice persa.
There can be no test made by Congressional
law, but the people are free to confer their
sufrages upon whom they please, and to make
any tests in casting their votes they think pro.
per.
But again---if the ridiculous construction
put upon the above clauses of the constitu
ton were the true one, and if it were intended
to prohibit roter from making a religious test
in casting his own vote, pray how could the
constitution be enforced22
A Protestant may cast his vote for Protes-
TINT apd against Catholic. ayowedly on the
ground OF conformity in religious opinions
with the former, and on the ground Of a differ
ence in religious opinion with the latter and
where is tho remedy, if the constitution be
thus violated? There is none, and this fact
alone is sufficient TO show that there is no vio-
lation of the constitution committed by such
vote; for in all cases Of violation Of the con.
stituticn or Of any public law, remedy does
and must exist. Congress can pass no lac
making any religious test. 1t is right and
proper that no religious tests should be made
by government, and it is equally right and
proper that the voters should cast their votes
upon any considerations they please, whether
religious or political.
The right Of suffrage is persons, right, en-.
joyed by those who have the constitutional
qualifications, and il may be exercised by the
voter in his own discretion. This is the essence
Of Republican freedom. As to tho pledges
made by the members OF the American party,
each to the other, to vote for American born
citizens, who are Protestants, and none others
and to sustain all such in Office, their right to
give such pledges is absolute and uncondi-
tional, and requires no defence And it lily Boz
comes the apologists of this present administra-
ton, to say one word upon this subject, 10
face Of the indisputable fact that this admin
fstratioa requires an oath to be taken in ad-
vance Of any appointment in the departments
here, that the applicant is not member Of the
American party
Docs the Union pirate about freedom Of
opinion, when It's conductors know, that scores
Of honest, worthy Americans, aye, and Demo
oras amongst them, have been dismissed
from Office here by the present powers, solely
on tho ground that they have dared TO be pa
triotic enough TO adopt the doctrines OF the
American party2 We commend to the Union
perusal Of the letter Of the, Hon. Mr.. Pryear,
OF North Carolina, Published two days ago
We venture also, to recommend 10 the Union
TO consult the Law Officer Of the government,
before IL ventures any further constructions Of
the Constitution Of the United States.
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