Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-07-26

aud allowing them to vote in the Terrific
ries.
VN.-Hosti,ty to the corrupt means b,
which fbe leaders of party have biiheTtt
forced upon US, ouftulers and our polite.
al creed.
rnpfacabla enmity against the preva-
Ieut Democratic system OF rewards for po-
litlceI subserviency and OF punishments foi
political independence.
Disgust for the wild hunt after office
which characteristics aye.
These on the one hand On the other
Imitation of the practice Of the purer
days Of the Republic, and admiration OF
the maxim that 'ofiice should seek the
man, and not the man the office )" and of
the rule, that the Just mode OF ascertain
ing fitness for office is the capacity the
ta,thiulness, and the honesty of the incum-
bent or candidate.
Resistance to tie aggressive
policy and corrupt tendencies of the TO
man Catholic Church in our country bv
the advancement to all political stations
executive, Legislature, Judicial. or diplo-
matic--of those only r:ho DO not hold civil
allegiance, directly Or Indirectly, to any
foreign power whether civil or eeclesias-
teal, and " 40 are Americans BY birth.
education aud .raning--tlius fulfilling me
maxim, Americans only shall govern
America.
The protection 81 i! citizens IN the le-
gal aud proper exercise Of their civil and
religious rights and privileges; the main
tenance Of the right of every iaan to the
full, unfestrained and peaceful enjoyment
OF his own religious opinions and worship;
and Jealous resistance to all attempts by
any sect. denomination or church TO obtain
an ascendancy over any other ih the State,
by means OF any special privilege or ex
tmption, by any political combination of
its members, or BY division of their civil
allegiance with any foreign power, poten-
tate or eccleslastic.
IX,-The reformation of the chstscier
Of our national Legislature, by eIevating
tc that dignified and responsible position
men Of higher qualifications purer morals.
aud more unsefish patriotism.
L. The restriction ofexecutve patron
aee--esperially III the matter Of appoint
ments to otlice--so as i; may be permitted
by the Constitution, and consistent with
the public good.
Xl.--The education Of the youth Of our
country in schools. provided by the State,
~ ticii schools shall be common to all,
without distinction IF creed or party, and
ffe- from any influence of denomlna-
Hona or pafiiadn character.
IL !. al
constitutions Of nearly all the States, by
the decisions Of the most eminent judicial
authorities, and by the consent Of the reo-
pie 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 aud fountain Of all civil
and religious freedom we oppose every
attempt 10 exclude it from the schools thus
established in the States.
xli.-The american party having ari-
sen upon He reins, and in spite of the OPP
position, Of he Wing and Democratic par
ties, cannot be held in any manner re-
sponsiblt for the obnoxious acts or viola
ted pledges Of either. And the systematic
asIra;ion OF The slavery question by those
parties having elevated sectional hostility
into positive elemen, of political power.
aud brought our institutions into peril, il
has therefore become the imperative duty
OF The American party to interfere, for the
purpose of giving peace to the country
and perpetuity to the Unlon. And as ex-
periehce has shown il impossible 10 recon
cile opinions so extreme as those which
sepata'ate the dispulants, end as there can
be no dishonor IN submitting to the laws,
The National Council has deemed it the
best guarantee of common ustice and Of
future peace to abide by and maintain the
exiting laws 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
ayow tEeir opinions upon subject so i'm
portant, 10 distinct and uneouvoeal terms
II is hereby declared as the sense of this
National Council, that Congress possesses
no power, under the Constitution, to leg
lslate upon Il { subject Of slavery in the
Ntates where II does o. NAY exist OF TO
exclude any Stale from admission ,nto the
Union because its Constitution does or
does not recognize the restitution of Slave
ry as a part OF ITS secia' system; aud ex-
pressly preterm'lhg aay sxpIession OF
opinion upon the powey Of Congress to es.
tabI:sh or prohibit slavery il any rerri.o.
ry, il is the sense OF tire Na.lons Council
that Congress oughi ne to legislate upon
the subject CT slasesy within :ht Terrific
ries of the United States, and that any in.
terferance by Congress with slavery as il
exists in She District Of Columbia, would
be eiolstion of the spirit and intention OF
the compact by which the state &C Mary
land coded the District Of Columbla to the
United States, and brsach Of the nation
al faith.
XlII.-Ths Polcy of the Government
OF the United States, in is relations with
foreign governmehts: &c to exact Justice
from HE strongest, and do Justice to the
weakest; restraining, by all the dover OF
the government, all is citizens from in
lerler-hce with the internal concerns OF na.
lions with whom we are al peace.
AlN.-This National Council declares
that all the principles OF the Order shall
BE henceiorward everywhere openly
avowed and that each member shall be al
liberty to make known The existence of
the Order, and the TACT that he himself is a
member; and 1t recommends that there
he no eoneealment OF the places oil meet
ing Of suboidinate Councils.
L Il. BARTLETT. Of kestucky,