The true Democrat., 1856-01-29
For the True Democrat. Federalism Dissected, Or Federalism alias Know Nottingham shown in their true Colors.

l | NO. XI.
 Having at length reached the last phase which federalism, as now swallowed up in abo litionism has assumed, viz: Know Nottingham, it is necessary to correct understanding of this old political Gorgan undera new name, that we have some knowledge of two of the material features embraced in its pernicous, debasing, and anti-republican doctrines, and which con- stitute its most objectionable characteristics,- we allude to the abomnable test-oath, together with the religious prescription, 1.-the bigoted and intolerant principles sought to be incucated by this resusciated relic of an ignorant and bar barous age. The atrocious and anti-republican features embraced in the test-oath, is borrowed from that inmltabe Gin the eyes of federalsts) piece of workmanship the British constitution, that ''no person, be he Catholic Baptist Cove nanter Presbyterian or dissenter of any kind from the Protestant Episcopal church of Eng land, should hold an office of trust, honor, or profit under the British government, without he would first take an oath, that he believed the King or Queen Gas the case might be) to be the proper head of Christs church here OH earth, and that he would support she episcopal or established church of England" This Is what is known as the odious test oath of Eng land and which was the unhappy cause of both Protestant and Catholic blood flowing in torrents. The puritans and other dissenters had already suffered enough at the hands of of their Protestant brethren, but the horrible t-oath, together with the bloody prosecutions arising from the non-o observance of its abomna- ble acquisitions, drove thousands of our repub- lican fore fathers to then bleak, wild, andinhos- pitable shores of America.
 The framers of the constitution of the United States of whom it was said by one of the pro- foundest stat ,smen that England ever produced, that since the creation of the world until that time, there never had assembled such body of wise men before,''-we say, that tho framerS of tho constitution, at the head of whom stood the immortal George Washington, seeing the evils which the test.oath had brought on Eng land, Ireland and Scotland, and knowing also, that both Catholic and Protestant prosecutions had drenched the farest portions of Europe in blood, that they inserted this very clause in the seventh article of the constitution, viz "N re- ligious test shall ever be required as qualifca- tion to any office or public trust under the Unit ed States" On submitting this constitution to the people of the United States, it was approv- ed by them; but notice again the political saga city and foresight of our patriotic forefathers. Foreseeing what has actually come to pass, and believing that the framers of the constitution, with all of their political astuteness and wisdom, had not sufficiently guarded against religious fanaticism,-the blending of religion and poli- tics,-the union of church and state; they call ed another convention for the purpose ofamend- ing the constitution, and the very first article of those amendments reads thus: '>Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press" etc.
 Under the benign blessings conferred on us by this glorious constitution our country has advanced with gigantic strides to it's present proud and exalted position. Under the broad egs of this unrlvaled constitution we were born, have been nourished, and have been protected in all of our civil, religious and political rights from the very moment of our existence down to the present day; therefore, as those boastng of the proud and honored name of Americans, in view of the innumerable privileges confer red on us by 1t, We arc bound to support and defend 1t against both internal and external foes, against every earthly power.
 We were told when entering the Know No- thing lodges, that we would not be required to take an oath that would conflict with our civil or political privileges, or with the constitu- ton of the United States; and of course by implication with the constitution of the State of Arkansas; and yet the paths taken in those lodges are in direct violation not only of the constitution of the United States, but of every State in the Union.
 This being the case then, that We were led blindly to take an oath that conflicts not only with the constitution of the United States, but with the State of Arkansas, that causes us not only to violate the sacred charter of liberty transmitted to Us by our republican forefahers, but actually robs of those privile yes, ever held dear by every true American, of voting just as he pleased, and for whom he pleased, we are no more bound by those oaths than if we never had taken them; for whilst we are solemnlv bound by the oaths administered by judicial tril, pol. +h, z .l
 whilst we are bound by the oaths administered by social institutions which have for their de- signs the accomplishing of good and legal ob- jects, yet no man is bound by the oaths admin istered in a Know Nothing lodge where the eighth article of their creed or ritual is retained for that article is in direct violation of the con- stitution of Arkansas, and of every State ill the Union; therefore, an oath that conflicts with our civil or political privileges or with the con- stltution of our country, is of no more binding force than if it never was taken, for there is no oath either human or divine, that compels man to do an evil, or to perpetrate either moral or political treason.
 It has been decided by Paley, by Brown, and by the most distinguished writers on casu- istry or matters of coDscence,-it has been decided by the most enlightened judicial tribunals on earth, = it has been signal ly decided by the thousands who have quit the Know Nothing lodges, and indeed by the whole civilized world, that there is no oath binding which compels man to do an evil, or any act that will conflict with the constitution and laws of his native or adopted country
 We are aware of the fact that many of those political trcksters who have succeeded in seduc- ing their neighbors and fellow-citizens from the paths of justice and independence, treach- erously endeavor to make the impression on the minds of their dupes that in nobly freeing