The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-03-28
ARTICLE /.
DEcLARArloN OF rnINc1sLEs.

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ARTICLE ]. 2
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
SEeTIoN i. As a fundamental articl,
AIN our political creed, we hold, in tn
.language.o of the Constitution of the Stat
@of Ohio, that "all men have a natural
and indefeasible right to Worship Al,
mighty God according to the dictates o
,theirown c~onsciences,"p and hat 'ino re
Iigious test shall be required as a quli6-
cation for offcs.
SEC. 2. As a principal equally dear tt
every friend to our Republican form of
Governments, We hold that whenever the
born subject of any foreign state, poten-
tate or power, renoun ces and forswari
all allegiance to the same, and by oar
laws, and his own free will and accord.
becomes a citizen of the United States,
all distinctions on eccount of birth are
sntisAmeriean, anti-R Republican, and
dangerous tc the perpetuity of free In
astitutions, which has made this Govern
ment, above all others, the home Of the
down-trodden and the oppressed of other
lands.
SEC 8. That with the early fathers
of this Republic-the wise and patriotic
men of the Republic, who framed, adop-
ted, and gave to the world the American
Declaration of Independence, in the re-
solves of the I4thsef August. .l776,-
adopted by the Continental Congress,
we bold that lit is the wise policy of
these States to extend the protection of
4heir laws to all these who should settle
among them, of whatever nation OF relig-
ion they might be, ard TO admit them to
a participation of the benefits Of civil
aud religious freedom and the benevo-
leuce of this practice, as we'll as its sal
sutary effects, have rendered it worthy of
Icing continued in future times"
SEC A. That q secret political par
ty, kpcwn to the world IS rHnoac
A0thtngS bnt to she initiated ms the
= Sup snc Order Of The Star Spa7gled
Banncr,a' has reared its designating
head IN our midst-binding its mem
beers by sacred ard dreadful paths 20 set
at naught and to reLder negatory that
great prin :iple OF our liberties, mans
free right to worship God as his col
science may dictate making freedom of
worship, unless it is exercised as a ma
jority of its members choose, au4 estrange-
nent from places of honor or of profit
and to render nugatory and void the
pledges Of the Coatinental Congress, al
most eoincident with the Declaration of
Independence, and drafted and passed
by the same men, and thus to create in
cur midst a privileged class, like the no.
bility of Europe, based upon birth and
mot upoa merits.
SEC. S. That we are opposed to such
a party@opposed to its attacks upon
The Constitution-oppose to It because
of the principles, at war with free gov
eminent, which it inculcates-opposed
to IT because it was a germ of the
reasonable Hartford Convention which
during the darkees ho1rs oftke war with
England met as a band of conspiring
traitors, giving aid and comfort to the
enemy, aud who declared, among other
things as their 9Th resolve, /" That no
person who shall hereafter be natural
ICED, shall be eligible al a member of
the Senate or House Of Representatives,
nor capable of holding any civil Office
under the authority of the United
States;" and this they did, as Know
Nothingism now does, under the false
plea, they "were no parties to the COM
pact and have no stake in the welfare of
the country but what is recent and
trausitory.n
Size. s. That standing bysour gov
eminent as it is-believing it to be the
fresst and best of any human govern
ment yet deyised-holding to the prin-
.ciples of religious federation "as the
mariner clings to his last planks VIII en-
darkness and tempest close around
him Two are ~antagonistie to Sc called
propose a change of the settled princi-
Piles and policy Of our government.
ARTICLES
DIRECTS AND NAME OF THIS ASSOCIATION.
2 SEC; /. That in order that our OPP
position to Know Nothingism may be
the more effeetnal-in preventing the
ineendiary efforts of those who seek to
change the government as regards re-
freedom, end, who seek to make
birth capitalization for Office, we form
ourselves into an association to be
known az the Sag Nights Constitu-
EiOnaL Council"
SEC. 2. That for the present its
proceedings shall remain secret, but 70
oaths are to be administered, and its
proceedings are not ia any form or
to interfere win the religious,
political, or other natural rights of any
man.
SEC. 3 That as soon is it is able to
ward of the danger which now meances
The Republic, and with the defeat and
exposure of Know nottingham, this
Council shall be dissolved, and cease to
an organized existence.
SEC. That for the purpose of car
wing this Constitution into effect the
Council shall have power to make and
such bylaws, for its government
not conflicting with this Constitution,
a its members, by vote at a regular
Aeeting, may choose to adopt.
LIZ For the frat veekin February
me silths of4,eS2 children were regis
!etea d London In the ten correspond
ing esskc Of IS45-i54 the average mum