American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-02-23

anu, inasinuch as Christianity, by the
Constitutions Of nearly all the States; by the
decisions OF the most eminen, judicial au.
thorit'es; and by the consent Of the people
OF America, is considered an element of DUR
poiihcai system, end as the Holy Bible is
al once tue source Of Christianity: and the
depository and fountain Of all civil and reli-
gious freedom, we oppose every attempt to
exclude it from the schools thus cote blished
In the States.
XtI.--The American party having arisen
upon the ruins and in spite OF the opposition
Of the Wing and Democratic parties, cannot
Do held IN any manner responsible for the
obnoxious acts or violated pledges OF either.
Aud the systematic egitaton OF the slavery
quesiion by both those parties having eie-
ysted sectional hostility into a positive ele-
mett OF political power, and brought our in.
siitu,ions into peril, IL has heretofore become
the Imperative duty Of the American party
to in,erpose. tor the purpose Of giving peace
to the country and perpetuity to the Union.
And as experience has shown it Impossible
to reconcile opinions SO extreme as those
which separate the dispuiapts, and as there
can be no dishonor in submitting to the laws
the National Council has deemed il the best
guarantee of common justice and future
peace, to abide by aud maintain the existing
Jaws upon the subject of slavery, as final
and conclusive settlement Of that subject, in
spirit end in substance.
And regarding it the highest duty to avow
their opinions upon a subject 80 important,
IN distinct and unequivocal terms, il is here
BY declared ~ the sense OF this National
Conncil that Congress possesses no power I'M
der the Constitution, to legislats upon the
| subject of slavery in the States where il does
| or may exist, or exclude any State from sd-
mission iato the Union because its Constitu-
ton does or does not recognize the institu.
ton OF slavery as a part Of its social system;
and especially pretermiting any expression
| OF opinion upon the power of Congress to es-
| tablish or prohibit slavery in any Territory.
it is the sense of the National Council that
| Congress ought not to !egisIate upon the
subject Of slavery within the Territory of the
| United Ststes, and that any Interference by
Congress with slavery, 90 il 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.
| XIII.-The policy Of the Government Of
the United States, ia its relations with For
egn governments, is 10 exact justice from
the strongest, and do justice to ths weakest
restraining, by oil the power Of the Govern
/ ment, ell lis citizens from Interference with
the internal concerns OF nations with whom
we are at peace.
| xlV.--This National Council declares that
all the principles of the Order shall be hence
/ forward every where openly svowed; and
that each member shall be at the liberty 10
make known the existence of the Order, and
the fact that he himself is member; and il
recommends that there be no concesImeat OF
the places Of meeting of the Subordinate
| Councils.
| e. B. BARTLETT, of Kentucky,
! President of the National Council
| G. d. DEsHLEa, of New Jersey.
Corresponding Secretary.
JAMES NJ, STEPHENS, Of Msryland,
Recording Secretary