Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-03-12
MORE AMENDMENTS.

On the LIST of March Representative
Clayton, of California, by unanimous
consent, presented the petition of citi-
zens Of California, asking an amendment
to the Constitution prohibiting the with
drawing of any State from the Union,
also showing the relations of civil and
ecclesiastical authority, etc, which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiei-
airy. and ordered to be printed in the
Congressional Record The petition is a
California outeropping, and presents
some features which are likely to awaken
interest in their favor and to arouse hos
tlity to them. The petition goes on TO
say:
Whereas portion of our fellow citi-
zens believe that allegiance to their re-
spective State is paramount, and, in vim
dlcation OF that opinion, appealed to the
sword, the highest arbiter of nations
and, notwithstanding the decision of the
battle field was against them, and thai
the people have, in four consecutive
presidential elections, decided in favor
of national sovereignty, many OF our peo-
pie still believe their highest allegiance
is due to the State, your memorialists be-
lieve the time has fully come when this
controversy should be determined by an
amendment to the Constitution so ex-
plicit as to remove all doubt on the sub
ject;
And whereas our theory ofgovernment
wisely separates Church and State, leav-
ing each independent within its own
sphere, and guaranteeing to the citizen
the free exercise of his religion, yet
our Constitution nowhere discriminates
between the secular and the spiritual,
the civil and the ecclesiastical, nor clear
ly affirms the supremacy of either in Sec
ular affairs; and as many foreigners who
reach our shores hold to the supremacy
of the ecclesiastical authority in all
things, spiritual and temporal, these are
liable to misunderstood our theory of
government; it seems therefore TO your
memorialists that justice to the foreigner
rs well Us the safety OF our institutions,
requires an amendment to our Constitu-
ton on this subject, and corresponding
amendment to our naturalization laws.
These measures may preserve for time
our admirable system government; but
the only safeguard against the dangerous
theories mentioned-the only guarantee
of its perpetuty-is in the education Of
the people in its fundamental principles.
For the foregoing reasons your memorial
lists respectfully pray your honorable
bodies
First. To submit to the people an
amendment to our Federal Constitution,
declaring that the people of the United
States constitute one nation, and that no
State. nor any number of States, can
withdraw therefrom.
Secondly. An amendment of the Con-
stitution, showing the relations of civil
and ecclesiastical authority asserting
the supremacy ~ the former in secular
matters.
Thirdly. To amend our naturalization
laws, so as to require all applicants for
citizenship, besides the Remuneration OF
allegiance to civil powers now required,
to renounce civil and political allegiance
to all hierarchical authorities whatever
Fourthly. To provide national text
book, containing a brief exposition Of
the principles of civil government, tbs
Constitution of the United States, com
mentary thereon explaining the relations
of the Federal and State governments, alsC
the relations of the civil and ecclesiasti
cal authorities, with such other instruc
ton as may be necessary to enable tn,
citizen to perform, in an intelligent man
ner the responsible duties pertaining t.
the high prerosative of American citi
zenship.
Filthy. To enact law requiring sail
textbook to be used in all our school
and institutions of learning, both publ
and private; and to make education com
pulsory.