Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-06

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ments Of Others only as they shall square with, or
differ from, his own; that il is time enough for the
rightful purposes of civil government, for its Off
Gers 70 interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and
finally, that truth is great and win prevail if left to
herself that she Is the proper and sufficient antag
onist OF error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict unless by human interposition disarmed Of
her natural weapons, free argument and debate
errors ceasing to be dangerous when ii is permitted
freely to combat them
Be ID, therefore, enacted 5y the General As-
seaabty, That no man shall be compelled to fire.
quent or support any religious worship, place. or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced, re-
strained molested burdened in his body or goods
shall otherwise account ofhs religious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be free 10
profess, and by argument to maintain, their opin-
ions in matters of religion, and that the same shall
In no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil
capacities. III arsr
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legs-
laton 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 irrevocablc would be of no effect in law
yet we are free TO declare, and do declare that the
rights hereby asserted Of the natural rights Of
~AA~AnlAAAS ~uA ehlut ~ uuy uCL buhu ucrc0lLer
passed to repeal the present. to narrow its ope-
rations, such an act viii be an infringement Of
natural right.
The following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at q mass meeting of the citizens of
Washington, on the 9th day Of September
last present the general sentiments Of the
American party in this city, and will doubt
less be read with interest by tho friends Of
American principles throughout the country,
to wit:
ton held at Carusis Saloon on the 10th instant,
upon a call made in and approved by the Executive
organ, the proceedings of which, in the resolutions
sdad TO have been adopted at that meeting and in the
adjourned meeting are now spread before the public
eye in the columns Of said organ and its kindred
presses with appreciation and whereas said resolu-
nons however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asJal principles dear to the American
heart and necessary to the safety of the constitution
and TO the peace and prosperity of country and
whereas the Executive is invoked therein to remove
from public employment such oficeholders as enter
tain those principles thereby to perperate ruthless
prescription Of both Wings and Democrats for an
honest difference of opinion: therefore
hesotoed, That mere professions Of love to the
sttatlon and to civil and religious freedom, when
contradicted by actions cannot deceive the sensible
and yigilant guardians of American liberty, whose
apprehensions have been excited at beholding the
troll Of our government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate weil-known as the avowed enemy of our
whole American system, to whose overthrow they
are solemnly devoted.
fcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath
ed to US by the fathers of the republic it is our duty
TO meet and repe all insidious attacks upon lib
ertes as well as all open assaults and that we view
with indignation and alarm the assertion of prnci
Piles and purposes, on the part of the recognised
ponents of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
states, subyersive of our republican institutions,
that if not now resisted viii lead at no distant day
to the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the complete estsblishment Of despotism.
Rssoloed, 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 vet In
the present crisis of danger TO all that both parties
opposition, and "pedge to each other our lives, our
fortunes, and our sacred honor net TO
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menace it.
pies OF our political and moral creed sacred regard
for the constitution in all its provisions, upon which
are based our 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 sanced by an open
Bible the rule Of faith and practice holding as an
established principle that intelligence and virtue
essential 10 the success of free government.
RssoIoad, That while we welcome TO our country
the victims of tyranny from foreign lands, and offer
them place by side under the shield Of our con-
their own country; and these who do not like our
government have our hearty consent TO go elsewhere
II the pursuit Of happiness.
Rssoaced That TIE fourth resolution Of the meeting
the United States prescription q all officers Of the
federal govcrnncnt who may have thought fit 10 be-
come members Of the association of Know Knoth-
ings-a Recommendation which, before it's adoption,
bad been Recognized and acted upon by the Execu-
tive Of the United Statea- proposes alarming and
dangerous infracton OF the principles of selfgovern-
ment and calls for the prompt and decisive rcbuke
Of all the free citixsns Of these United States without
distinction Of party, sect or creed.
Reotced, That every Protestant denomination in
the United States maintains the constitutional prin-
cple of scparsten Of Church and State-in which
prinupie many American Catholics sincerely concur,
while on the other hand, the Papal Church abroad
openly and always, and everywhere maintains the
doctrine OF obedience Of the civil 10 the ecclesiastical
authsrity both in Europe and America; the sad and
countless emigrants flying from its tyranny and
misery to our own hsppy land and In the other, in
the ignorance and poverty Of the masses, in the
insurrections massacres and proverbial instability
OF our Southern sister Republics
RnsotDed, That upon these principles We appeal
from IRON the opinions, whose proclamation has caused
TINS meeting, to the people OF the United States
and, although We might infer they arc an exponent
OF executive feelings, from the official positions Of
tnose VINO controlled the proceedings, yet will still
hope that the President who alone has the power,
will arrest the prescription already begun of faithful
ofhce-hoders both Democrats and Wings, for daring
to entertain American and Protestant sentiments
and viii reject the nercenary suggestion urged upon
him by the fourth resolution Of the meeting last week.
as covert scheme 10 crafty the appetite Of effee
seekers at the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation topower and whose
removal under existing circumstances win fix in
dehble stain upon him man and as the President
Of the United States.
feso1ped That having seen the denunciations that
almost daily issue from certain presses against the
fusionists" If the North, who denounced as alb
sorbed in "the tratorous factions" which distract
those States, by which they after another be-
ing placed N opposition 10 the administration, we
were astonshed 10 hear the pressing invtion in the
second resolution OF our opponents to of all po-
btfcal opinions, without regard 10 their "potical
antccedents to form 'fusien" with them in their
future action-an invitation broad enough TO include
Garrison, Abby Kelly, and Fred Douglas besides
their coadiutors in the two houses Of Congress.
Resotscd, That we, too, appeal to all Americans
who love tho Union, which must be preserved" and
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