Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-14

1 An important Address has been put forth
by the Twelfth Council Of New York, develop
ing the principles of the American party. II
is being circulated and adopted throughout tho
State by the several Councils. This document
is in Its principles identical with those Of the
American Organ, and we commend the follow
ing extracts. from ii to the attention Of those
who refuse to believe that the American party
| Of the North is not an Abolition party:
The large and commanding masses Of Ameri-
can ctizens-the surest support and defence Of our
republic, whose love Of country is untainted by sell
fsh aims, and who, unambitious Of political prefer
ment have no other interest in public measures
than that which refers to the public welfare-have
seen, with anxious concern the intactabe temper
with which parties have, of late, sought motives
for contest in the most dangerous sectional ques
tions; the wicked zeal with which these parties
have driven the country TO the verge Of civil com.
motion the art with which they have exasperated
the passions Of excitable communities, by appeals
OF the press and the forum to opinions and preiu.
dices peculiarly susceptible of mischevous exag-
geration; and, above ALL the reckless ardor with
which they have sought to array the North against
the South, and the South against the North In hos
tile division, infaming the sensitive pride of each
by angry defamation and sharp defiance, until
they have brought even our sacred Union itself
into jeopardy. These agitations our grayest and
best citizens have Witnessed with equal alarm, and
indignation and they have found themselves i'm
PEELED to invoke the patriotism Of the nation to
mediate upon theremedy which shall restore peace
to the distracted minds Of the dispuants, and sup.
ply better purposes to employ the energy that has
been devoted to this unhappy discord. To accom-
1 psh this, the American association or party has
suddenly arisen in every section Of the country"
| We append the resolutions adopted by tbs
same Council, as forming q platform on which
all Americans, whether Of theS South or North,
can safely plant themselves j:
RESOLUTIONS
!. Resolved, That the highest civic duty OF an
American citizen Is to promote the prosperity Of
his own country that to do this he should endea.
yor to preserve, strengthen, and defend the prin-
cples Of American republicanism, as they were
promulgated in the Revolution of l776, and incor-
porated In the Constitution Of the United States
And to this end we hold Il indispensable that
every citizen who has the privilege of voting in
elections should be acquainted with the constitu-
ton, both by capacity to read and understand IL
in the language in which Il is written. and by uc
long and familiar intercourse with the country and
Its institutions as ia necessary to imbue his mind
with the distinctive American perception of the
nature OF free government and with that senti-
me1t or attachment to It which shall render hin,
- THAT T ff %sh Il this view friend and supporter
vsnabin we proclaim It tcs qualifications for cti-
cent Of our republican system, that inesanfal pre-
be governed by Americana s,
q. Resolyed, That whilst we have fui conncencS
In the strength OF our nationality as 1t Is cherished
and defended by our native citizens, and, with
scarcely less attachment, maintained by numbers
az citizens of foreign birth, who, by long domesti-
cation, have been identified with our people, wc
are yet deeply impressed with conviction that,
in the extraordinary concourse OF aliens which re-
cent inducements have brought 70 our iand IN the
peculiar incompetency Of many Of them, from edu-
cation and habits Of life, to become thorough Amer
can citizens; in the attraction which, both from
their numbers and their facility to be misled they
offer 10 the ambition Of demagogues, who have not
scrubbed TO make use Of them as allies 70 secure
selfish ends In the frequent evidence they afford
Of their incapacity to appreciate the right OF SUI
frage when they have obtained u by the operation
Of our present system Of naturalization, and 10 the
manifold abuses TO which this right is subject ht
their hands that the time has come when Il 10 es-
sential 10 the purity of our government, and Its
wholesome administration, that the laws regulating
the admission OF foreigners TO citizenship should DO
revised and that either longer term for proba-
ton for citizenship, and rigid provisions for
couferring IL, should be established, or that thc
naturalization laws should be wholly repealed.
8. Rssolued, That we regard Il TO be the inter
est and duty Of our government and people TO give
10 the honest and mertorious portion OF the emf
grants from foreign lands, who seek an asylum In
the United States friendly reception; TO extend
| 70 them protection and encouragement; 70 confer
upon them every right necessary TO the security OF
their welfare, In whatever lawful pursuit they may
employ themselves and to demonstrate 70 them,
by liberal and consderatc hospitality, that IL Is
both the policy and pride OF our country TO share
| the benefits of our free government with all man
| kind who may prove themselves worthy Of such
participation.
4. Resolued That we acknowledge religious tol-
Grafton TO be an essential and fundamental princi-
| pie Of free government; and VIC declare that We
| hold the right Of couscience-by which We mean
especially the freedom Of opinion and the privilege
| Of every man TO worship God In such manner
and according TO such belief as his convictions
dictste-to be amongst the dearest and most sacred
| rights OF frcemen that we will defend these
rights against all assault, from whatever quarter;
and that in this determination we know no distinc-
ton of creed, nor sect, person, holding that
the State should exercise no other control over
these rights than that which may be necessary TO
guard the public morals against licentious abuse,
| and TO secure TO every one the fun and peaceful
enjoyment Of his religious opinions and worship.
! IS. Resolved, That as necessary TO religious toll
Grafton, and as indispensable TO It's healhful sup
port, we regard every attempt Of any one sect or
denomination, or church, TO obtain an ascendency
over others IN lne othtt, w Jug
privilege or exemption OF any kind, within the
sphere Of political rights and duties and still more,
| any combination OF the members OF any denomina-
ton TO obtain political power BY concert Of acton,
IN the performance Of civic government TO be dan
gerous to that equality Of right which should be-
long TO all citizens hostile TO the order OF society
and conspicuously Objectionable as . step towards
the subsection Of civil power to ecclesiastical infu
ence that we therefore take our stand against all
such attempts, wherever we may find disposition
| to make them.
q. Resoived, That we cherish, with the highest
annreciatjon. the education Of the youth Of our
country in schools provided by the State, believing
such institutions 10 be the most valuable auxsres
| to enlightened and free government. We look TO
these as the truest and best nurseries Of republican
sentiment and brotherhood; and regarding them
az particularly adapted TO the formation Of vigor-
GUS national character, we hold that they should
be common TO all citizens, without distinction OF
creed and to that end should be free from all In
Auence or direction OF religious zeal And az we
believe the Holy Bible to be the fountain and de-