American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-02-09

And, masmuch as Christianity, by the !
Constitutions OF nearly all the States; BY the |
decisions Of the most eminent judicial au. |
thorities; and by the consent Of the people |
OF America, is considered an element of our !
political system, and as the Holy Bible is |
at once the source of Christianity: and the |
depository and fountain of all civil and rel.
g'ous freedom, we oppose every attempt TO
exclude ii from the schools thus established
in the States.
Al.-The American party having arisen
upon the ruins and in spite of the opposition
OF the Wing and Democratic parties, cannot
be held in any manner responsible for the
obnoxious acts or violated pledges OF either.
And the systematic ag,a,ion of the slavery
question by both those parties having ele-,
waited sectional hostility into positive Gle.
ment OF political power, and brought our in
stiiutons into peril, it'll has heretofore become
the imperative duty of the American party
10 interpose, for the purpose of giving peace
to the county and perpe,uity to the Union.
And as experience has shown it impossible
to reconcile opinions SO extreme as those
which separate the disputants, and as there
can be no dishonor i'm submitting to the laws
the National Council has deemed i, tho best
guarantee of common justice and future
peace, to abide by and maintain the existing
Jaws upon the subject of slavery, as final
and conclusive settlement OF that subject, in
spirit and in substance. .... -.
And regarding it the highest duty to avow
their opinions upon subject so important,
| IN distinct and unequivocal terms, it is here
| by declared as the sense Of this National
| Council that Congress possesses no power uu-
der the Constitution, TO legslate upon the
subject Of slavery III the States where il does
or may exist, or exclude any State from adj
mission into the Union because its Constitu.
ton does or does not recognize the institu-
lion Of slavery as par, of its social system;
and especially pretending any expression
OF opinion upon the power of Congress to es-
tabsh or prohibit slavery in any Territory,
it is the sense Of the National Council that
Congress ought not to !cgislatc upon the
| subject of slavery within the Territory of the
| United States, and that any interference by
Congress with slavery, as it exists in the
| District OF Columbia, would be violation
of the spirit and intention OF the compact
| by which the State of Maryland ceded the
District to the United States, and breach
! OF the national faith.
XIlI.-The policy Of the Governmen, OF
the United States i'll its relations with For
elgn governments, is TO exact justice from
the strongest, and do justice to the weakest,
restraining BY all the power of the Govern.
ment, all lis citizens from Interference with
| the ia!ernal concerns Of nations with whom,
we are at peace.
&lV.-This National Council declares tina
all the principles of the Order shall he hence
forward every where openly avowed; and
that each member shall be at the liberty TO
make known the existence of the Order, and
the fac, that he himself is member; and it
| recommends that there be no concealmeni of
! the places of meeting of the Subordinate
Councils.
i. B. BARTLETT, of Kent:cky,
President Of the National Coun Gil
G. d. DEsHLER, OF New Jersey,
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES NJ. STEPHENS, Of Maryland,
Recording Secretary.