Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-07
where did il come from I

Where did il come front
We found amongst our letters, this morning,
carefully enyeloped and directed to us, docu-
ment headed Basis Principles efthe An,eri-
can Party Of Virginia." printed neatly, with
handsome border, and other evidences that
the document came from somewhere, and meant
something, but Of its origin or paternity we
kno@ nothing We don't know" who wrote
it or who printed it; nor did we ever see the
individual who showered it down. upon us
These arc strange times, when we are permit
ted to "know nothing" about such manifestly
important matters.
The result Of our cogitations over this docu-
ment is, that somebody must have concocted
it--written 1t out--had 1t printed, and sent to
us. This is our sage conclusion But, cui
bonos For what purpose was it manufactured?
Why sent to our address? We wouldn't be
surprised if the thing was intended for publ
cation! Let us read it again. Well, as we
can't exactly comprehend the purposes of the
document we win give it "oerbatin,, paactua-
tim, et Rteratim," to our readers, and let them
find out what it means. Certain it is, it came
from the "Old Dominion" for it was post
marked Virginia" and therefore we don't
believe there is any treason in the document!
Basis PRIScIPLEs OF THE AMERICAN PARTY or
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to preserve our political
institutions in their original purity and yigor, and
to keep them unadulterated and unimpared by
foreign influence, either civil or religious, as well
as by home faction and home demagoguism; and
believing that an American policy religious, politi-
cal and commercial, necessary for the attainment
Of these ends we shall observe and carry out in
practice, the following principles:
II. That the sufiiages of the American people
for political Offices should not be given 70 any
others than those born on our SOIL and reared and
matured under the influence of our institutions
~. That no foreigner ought to be allowed to
exercise the elective franchise, till he shall have
resided within the United States sufficient length
Of time to enable him to become acquainted with
the principles and imbued with the spirit Of our
institutions, and until he shall have become thor
oughly identified with the great interests Of our
country.
-. That whilst no obstacle should be interposed
to the immigration Of all foreigners Of honest and
Industrious habits, and all privileges and immuni-
tics enjoyed by any native-born citizen of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants,
except that Of participating in any Of our political
administrations; yet all legal means should be
the vicious and worthless the criminal and
pauper.
- That the american doctrine of religious
oleration and entire absence of all prescription for
opinions sake, should be cherished as one Of the
very fundamental principles Of our civil freedom,
and that any sect Or party which believes and
maintains that any foreign power, religious or po-
itica has the right to control the conscience or d
rect the conduct of a freeman, occupies position
which is totally at war with the principle Of free
dom of opinion, and which is mischievous in its
tendency, and which principle If carried into prac
tice would prove wholly destructive of our reli-
gous and civil liberty.
So. That the Bible in the hands of every free
citizen, is the only permanent basis Of all true lib
erty and genuine equality
&C. That the intelligence of the people Is me-
cessary to the right use and the continuance Of our
liberties civil and religious, hence the propriety
and importance of the promotion and fostering Of
all means of moral and intellectual culture, by
some adequate and permanent provision for gene
raj education.
81. That the doctrine Of availability, now 80
prevalent and controlling, in the nomination Of
candidates for Office in total disregard of all prin-
cpes Of right, OF truth, and of justice, is essen
TALLY wrong, and should be by all good men con-
demned.
"S. That as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise of the power
of removal from Office, as are made necessary to
be observed In the power Of appointment thereto;
and that executive influence and patronage, should
be scrupulously conferred and jealousy guarded.
80 That the sovereignty Of the States should be
supreme in the exercise of all powers not expressly
delegated to the Federal Government and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry out the
powers delegated, and that this principle should
be observed and held sacred in all organizations of
the American party.
40. That all sectarian intermeddling with poll
tics or political institutions coming from whatever
source it may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means as seem TO be necessary and proper for
this end.
al. That, whilst the perpetuty of the present
form Of the Federal Government of the United
States is actually necessary for the proper devel
opment of all the resources of this country yet the
principle Of non-ntervcntion, both on the part Of
the Federal Government and OF the Several States
of the Union, in the municipal affairs Of each other
ia essential to the peace and prosperity Of our
try, and to the webeing and permanence of our
institutions and, at the same time the only reliable
bond of brotherhood and union
''l2. That Red Republcanism and licentous in
diligence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges, are
as much to be feared and deprecated by all friends
to wel-regulated government and true liberty, as
any of the forms Of monarchy and despotism.
"l3. That the true interests and welfare Of this
country, the honor Of this nation, the individual
and private rights Of Its citizens, conspire TO de-
mand that all other questions arising from party
organizations, from any other source, should be
held subordinate to- and in practice made to yield
TO- the great principles herein promulgated