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

oilSt VI error ana has nothing to fear from the
conflict unless by human interpostion disarmcd Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate,
errors ceasng to be dangerous when it is permitted
freely to combat them. na 9 esI F61a II
Be IL therefore, enacted BY the General As,
se1n6ly, That norman shall be compelled to fre-
qnent or support any religious worship place or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced re-
strained, moested or burdened in his body or goods.
norsha he otherwise suffer on account ofhsrciigious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free to
profess and by argument TO maintain, their opir-
ions in matters Of religion and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities. Si@8a ala Is'aa s San 0ntE
And tboughwe well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes of legis-
lation 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 irrevocable would be of no effect in law
yet wea arc 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-
retions such an act will be an Infringement Of
natural right sss 3tps 7
4 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 viii doubt
less be read with interest BY the friends Of
American principles throughout tho country,
to wit: II &,s. s'''
ton was held at Caruss Saloon, on the 10th instant
upon call made IN and approved by the Executive
organ, tho proceedings of which, in the resolutions
dsd 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 resoi-
tons however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asual principles dear to the American
heart and 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 oticeholders as enter
tain those principles thereby TO perpetrate ruthless
prescription Of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference Of opinion: therefore, sra
Resotped That mere professions of love to the
stitution and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradcted by actions cannot deceive the sensible
and vgiiant guardians of American liberty whose
appfehensions have been excited at beholding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
trol OF our government by the subjects of foreign
potentate woll-known as the avowcd enemy of our
whole American system TO whose overthrow they
are solerrnly devoted
Resolved, That as vgilant custodans Of that bene-
hcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
ed to us by the fathers Of the republic it is duty
10 meet and repel all insdous attacks upon our lib
critics as well all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion Of prnci.
pies and purposes on the part of the recognised
ponents of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, subversive Of our republican institutions,
which constitute aggressons Of such a character
that II not now resisted will lead at distant day
70 the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the complete establishment of despotism.
Resotged That WHILE in the past political divisions
Of the country, as Wings and Democrats we have
struggled in honest conflict contested principles
and measures all Of which are now settled yetin
of In aH hat hnfh ,arfia
hold dear We win bury every remembrance Of past
opposition, and pledge TO each other lives,
fortunes, and our sacred honor net to cease
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it, hsd ,i ~ 4nes tir
RssoIved, That we proclaim, as the cardinal prnci-
pies Of our political and moral creed, sacred regard
or the constitution in all its provisions upon which
are based glorious American principles-freedom
Of speech freedom Of opinion freedom Of conscience,
freedom Of the press together with school system
for the diffusion Of intelligence ssnctified by open
Bible a. the rule Of faith and practice. holding m
essential to the s1ccess Of free government
ResoI0ed, That while we welcome 10 our country
the victims Of tyranny from foreign lands, and offer
them place BY our side under the shield of our
stution, we claim for Americans the right 70 govern
their own country and those who do not like our
government have hearty consent 10 20 elsewhere
n The pursuit of happiness. - ,elaA nt
Rssotved, That the fourth resolution Of the meeting
at Caruss Saloon recommending 10 the President of
the United States prescription OF all officers Of the
federal government who may have thought fit to be-
come members OF the association Of Know Kpoth-
mgs-a Recommendation which, before It's adoption,
bad been recognised and acted upon by the Execu-
tive Of the United Ststes-pguposes an alarming and
dangerous infaction of the principles of selfgovern-
ment and calls for the prompt aud decisive rebuke
Of all the free citizens of these United States without
distinction Of party, sect, or creed.
Resosced, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prin-
cple of separstisn Of Church and State--in which
principle many American Catholics sincerely concur,
whIe 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 aud America, the sad and
ruinous effects OF which, In the one, are seen IN
Countless emiEants flying from its tyranny and
misery 70 our own happy land and in the other, in
the ignorsnoe and poverty Of the masses In the
wealth and vices of the clergy and in the ceaseiess
insurrections, massscres and proverbial instability
Of our Southern sister Republics.
Rssotpef, That upon these principles we appeal
nom the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
ibis meeting, 70 The people Of the United States;
and, although we might infer they are an exponent
Of executive feelings from The official positions Of
those who controlled the proceedings yet we will stl
hope that the President who alone has the power,
viii arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
of6co-hoders, both Democrats and Wings, for daring
10 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and viii reject the fnerccuary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of tie meeting fast week.
as covert scheme 10 crafty the appetite Of office
rftAeft ~ tne tNptute 81 many VINO rrdtouHfY hn0
efficiently aided in his elevation 10 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances will FIX in
delibe stain upon him as man and the President
Of the United States.
hesoSpef, That having seen the denunciatons that
almost daily issue from certain presses against fbe
'fusionists' sf the North, who are denounced alb
sorbed in "the trstorous fsctionsv which distract
those States by which they after another be
ing placed in opposition to the administration, we
were astonshod 70 hear the pressing nviton in the
second resolution Of our opponents TO men Of all po-
tical opinions, without regard 10 their political
antecedsnts" " form "fusien" with them in their
future action invitation broad enough 70 include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Frcd Douglas, besides
their aoadiutors in the two houses Of Congress
Resotsed, That we, too, appeal TO all Americans
who love the Union, which must be preserved, and
the constitution which established and maintains it.
and the rights OF the States which compose IT. and
especially TO the religious the moral and the order
loving elasses, 10 unite with m effectng the re-
firms necessary 10 the safety and prosperity of
country, believing ~ do, that IL is high time the
osreer Of Interested and unscrupulous demagogues
should be checked, and the government be placed in
the hands OF men acquainted with its character and
spirit and who duly value Its countless blessings
And whereas believe he ror11r,efat,cv ahf1itv