Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-26
WASHINGTON ). @. THURSDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 2e 1855

ments Of Others only as they shall square with, or
diier rom, his own; that 1t is time enough for the
rghtfdl purposes of civil government ior its on
Gers TO Interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good order; and,
hnaily, that truth is great and will 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 ceasng to be dangerous when It is permitted
freely to combat them. =
De q, therefore, enacted 5y the General As
se'abiy, 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 rburdened In his body on goods
nOrshal he otherwise suffer on account religious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be ffee to
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. ,
And though we well know this Assembly, elected
BY the people for the ordinary purposes Of legs-
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 we are free to declare, and do declare, that the
rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights Of
mankind, and that IL any act shall be hereafter
passed TO repeal the present. or to marrow its ope-
rations, such an act win be an infringement Of
natural right
Tho following preamble and resolutions,
adopted at mass meeting of the citizens Of
Washington, on the 27th day of September
last present tho general sentiments Of the
American party" in this city, and win doubt
less be read with interest BY the friends Of
American principles throughout the country,
to wit:
Whereas, . public meeting Of citizens Of Washing
ton was held at Caruss Saloon, on the lsth instant
upon call made in and approved by the Executive
organ, the proceedings Of which, in the resolutions
sod TO have been adopted at that meeting and in the
speeches Of certain selected orators at subsequent
sdoqrnsd meeting are now spread before the public
eye in the columns Of said organ, and its kindred
presses with appreciation; and whereas said resou-
hens however dressed up in abstract professions Of
patriotism, asusl principles dear to the American
nesr ana necessary 70 the safety Of the constitution
ana 70 the peace and prosperity Of country; and
Whereas the Executive is invoked therein remove
hom public employment such ofaceholders as enter
tam those principles thereby TO perperats ruthless
honest difference Of opinion therefore 7-7 4
issocsd, That mere professions of love TO the con-
sttution and 70 civil and religious freedom, when
contredicted BY actions, cannot deceive the sensibe
and vlg1lant guardians of American liberty, whose
apprehsnsions have been excited at behoiding the
strides that have been made toward complete con-
troll OF our government by the subjects Of foreign
potentate wellknown a. the avowed enemy Of our
whole American system, to whose overthrow they
Rssoloea That vigilant custodians Of that bene-
hcent system Of civil and religious freedom bequeath-
cd 70 US BY the fathers Of the republic 1t is our duty
70 meet and repel all insdious attacks upon our lib
critics wen al open assaults; and that we view
with Indignation and alarm the assertion of prnci-
pies and purposes, on the part Of the recognized
gonents OF the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States subversive Of eur republican institutions,
which constitute aggressons of such q character
that not now resisted win lead at no distant day
70 the overthrow Of the American Constitution and
the oomplets establishment Of despotism.
Rssc1ssd That WHILE IN the past political divisions
Of the country, as whip and Democrats, we have
struggled IN honest conflict over contested principles
and measures, al Of which are now settled, yet in
me present crisis Of danger TO all that both parties
opposition, and "plsdes to each other our lives. our
fortunes, and our crcd honor not 10 cease our ex-
ertions until our country shall be freed from the
dangers that now menscs it
plee Of our political and moral creed sacred regard
Tor ths oonsttuton In al its provisions, upon which
arc based our glorious American principles freedom
cfgsech. Freedom Of opinion, freedom Of conscience,
X The dihsion ef intsiAxsnos ssuctiAsd 81 a opsn
oleAg he rule of hith and practos, holiinx q an
principle that intsfligsnss and virfus are
ss1ssal 2 The Success Of . fFee government
- vstina of tyranny from fbreign lands, and olsr
01 pasco By side under the shield oE our CON-
sat.don, We claim for AmercAns the rghs % govern
tAcr own country; and tbsse who do not liks our
n - Yursuit Of happiness ''4T' M 81
&es2sed That ths f6urth rsselntion Of The meeting
= uees 4eloon, rscommsnding 70 The President q
~ usassa 5tasss proscipdo9 Of ~ oflcsn of The
esns members u the association Of Know Knofh-
mED--a Recommendation which, before hs adoption
haA hsn rccenised and sotsd upon BY ths kxscu.
~ g sse United stes,-proposss IN alarming and
dan4ous inftaction Of the principles Of .slfgovers
ms,5 ana oalls for the prompt and decisive rebuke
Al The fSe oitizens OF these United Statss without
dssncton q party, sect, or creed
the Unitsd Ststes maintains ths oonstitutona prin-
cipls Of sepsrstion Of Church snd 4tate-in which
prfndple many American Catholics sincerely oenour
whiie on the other hand, the Pspsl Church abroad
sssrns q Obedience Of The cy 70 The % socssasca cal
authority, boA In Europe and America; the sad and
ruSneus effects Of which, in the one are seen in
countless enigrHnts flying from its tyranny and
The ienoranos and poverty Of the masses, in The
wealth and vces Of the clergy, and In the csaseless
insurrectons massacres, and proverbial instability
Of our Southern sister Republics.
from the opinions, whose proclsmstion has caused
this meetng 70 the people Of the United States;
and, although we might infer they are an exponent
OF executive feelings, from the efcial positions Of
those who controlled the procecdngs yet we win stl
hope that The President who alone has the power,
viii arrest the prescription already begun Of faithful
ceholders, both Democrats and Whfgs for daring
70 entertain American and Protestant sentiments,
and viii reject the mercenary suggestion urged upon
him by The fourth resolution Of the meeting last week.
~ covert scheme TO crafty the appetite Of Office
seekers At the expense Of many who zealously and
efficiently aided in his elevation 70 power and whose
removal under existing circumstances win fx An in
deble stain upon him a. man and "A the President
Of the gnited States n
kesolss6 That having scan the denunciaHons that
almost daily issue fom certain presses against the
fusiousts' Vt the North, who are denounced ~ alb
sorbed In The traitorous factions" which distract
thoss Statss BY which they arc enc AFTER another be
ing plaood in opposition 10 the administration, we
were .stonished 10 hear the prcssing invon in the
second resolution Of our opponents 70 Of al po
htcai opinions, without regard 70 their "politica
sntscedsnts' y form "fnsien'' with them In their
futurs scton-sn invitation broad enough 70 include
0arrissn, Abby Kelly, and Fred. Douglas, besides
their cosdiutors IN the two houses of Congress-
Resolped, That we, TOO, appeal to all Americans
who love the Union, which 'must be preserved and
the constitution, which established and maintains IL
and the rights Of the 6tstes which compose II, and
especially 70 the Religious the moral and the order
loving classes 10 unite with us In affecting the