The Placer herald., 1856-03-22

gous freedom, the surrender of which is not
necessary to the temporal welfare of tho
State, and cannot be relinquished even by
the consent of the citizen, in a free govern
ment; that much less can any mere party OF
faction regulate the right by any party com
pact against his consent, without violating
this cardinal principle and the spirit of .our
constitution, our laws and our free govern
ment; and that the civil rights, privileges or
capacities Of any citizen should in no wise be
diminished or enlarged on account of his
religion.
We recognize the great body of the people
as the only tribunal for the decision of ques-
tons affecting their government, both as to
men and measures and open appeals to their
reason and patriotism, as the legitimate
means Of influencing their action; and we
utterly condemn all associations and COM
binations for political purposes formed to
! govern them by oaths and obligations, or
other compulsory means, to impair the eXer-
else of free will and independent Judgment
among them. That while we publicly avow
as fundamental principle, freedom of con
science, without distinction of religious faith
the political equality of all whom the law
]
ference to the accident Of biHh we rely for
success upon open discussion, and the nteli-
gence and virtue Of the people. We there
fore denounce the Know-Nothing organiza-
ton, so called, as intoleran in its warfare
upon the freedom of religious belief and the
sacred rights of conscience; unjustly eXclu-
sive in its requirements Of birth; corrupting
and demoralizing in its oaths and conceal
ments and anti-republican and dangerous to
! the stability of government and the rights Of
| the people.
We are in favor of religious liberation, as
| the founders of our republican institutions
achieved and understood it, and secured its
enjoyment by constitutional guarantees; aud
we will maintain and defend it from all in
vasion, either by Legislative interference or
the equally tyrannica prescription Of polit-
cal parties founded on bigotry or ideas of
intolerance
That our naturalization laws, our repubh
can institutions, our marvellous growth in
national greatness, and the happiness and
prosperity Of our people have been, and still
are, irresistible inducements and invitations
to the inhal itants of less favored lands to
become citizens of ours; and that past eXpe-
rience, justice, sound policy and national
pride all concur to favor the continuance of
our present naturalization laws: that if any
abuses have grown up under these laws they
have sprung from their imperfect execution
alone and not from any inherent defects in
the laws themselves and that we are in favor
of that policy which will soonest assimulate
naturalized citizens with the mass of our
people, and opposed to that anti-American
and illiberal policy which proscrbes the for
egn born for accident of birth, and drives
him in self-defencc to antaGonism with our
native-born citizens in feelings political opin-
ion and conduct.
We assert that our general government
never should consent to, or permit any Eu-
ropean power to colonize, assume control, or
extend their jurisdiction over any portion of
the American continent, and we cordially
indorse the position taken by President
Pierce in his late message to Congress on
that subject.
Arr /. This association shall be known
as the Gold Hill Democratic Club.
ART 2 The officers shall consist of Il
President, two Vice Presidents, one Secre-
tary, one Corresponding Secretary and one
Treasurer.
ART. 3. The President shall preside at all
meetings, put and announce the decision Of
all questions, maintain order, and may, with
the concurrence Of the Secretary, call special
meetings of the club. In the absence Of the
President one of the Vice Presidents shall
perform his duties.
ART. A. The Secretary shall keep minute
of all proceedings Of the Club, and shall
perform all other duties assigned him by the
Bylaws enacted by this association.
ART. 5. The Corresponding Secretary shall
conduct all correspondence required by and
in behalf of the Club.
ART. 6. The Treasurer shall collect, safely
keep, and faithfully disburse all moneys Of
this association, and shall report the financial
condition Of the Club as often as he may
be required.
ART. 7. A majority of the members pres
ent at any regular meeting shall constitute a
quorum to do business, and shall have full
power to enact such Bylaws as they may
deem eXpedent for the benefit Of the Club.
ART. s. Every Democrat may become a
member Of this association by signing this
constitution and indorsing the above platform.
ROBBERY OF RHODES AND WHTNEY's Ex