Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-07
WASHINGTON. .. G. WEDNESDAY, AFTERNOON MARCH Z 1856
Our Principles.

Our Principles.
First We shall advocate repeal Of the
laws of naturalization, or if that cannot be ac-
complshed, then such modification Of those
laws, as will prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short Of a residence Of
twsnty-one years, after taking the oath Of ale
glance to the United States and Of G6juration
of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
Second. We shall advocate the passage Of
stringent law by Congress to prevent the inn
migration hither of foreigners, who are either
p0upeys or criminals, and to send back to the
countries from which they come, all such for
eigners Of these classes as may, in violation Of
such law, hereafter reach our ports; and to
require the President Of the United States to
demand from any government, which may
send hither such classes Of its subjects, inms-
diats and ample satisfaction for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof
Third. We shall oppose the election or ap-
pointment Of any Joroiga-born citizen to any
Office of trust honor or emolument, under the
Federal or State governments, or the employ
ment or enlistment of such persons in the army
or navy in time of soar !; maintaining, a. we
do the opinion that the natipe-5orn citizens Of
the United States have the right to govern the
land of their birth; and that all immigrants
from abroad should be csntent with the enjoy
ment Of life, liberty and property, under our
institutions, without seeking to participate in
the enaction, administration, or execution Of
our laws
Fourth We shall advocate and urge the
adoption Of such an amended form Of an oath
to support the Constitution Of the United
States, and to be administered to all persons
elected or appointed to any Office Of trust honor,
or emolument, under the Federal or State gov
ernments, as will efectually exclude from such
Offices all psYons, whe shall not directly and
explicitly recognise the obligations and bind
ing force of the Constitution Of the United
States, as paramount to all obligations Of adhe-
sion or allegiance to any foreign prince, power,
potentate, or authority whatever, under any and
all circumstances.
Fifth. We shall maintain the doctrine that
no one Of the States of this Union has the right
to admit to the enjoyment of .trss su6rage any
person of foreign birth, who has not been frat
made citizen of the United States, according
to the uniform rule" of naturalization pre-
scribed by Congress, under the provisions Of
the constitution.
Sirth. We shall oppose, now and hereafter,
any I" union Of Church and State" no matter
what class of religionists shall seek to bring
about such union.
Seeenth. We shall vigorously maintain the
psstsd rights Of all persons Of native or foreign
birth, and shall at all times oppose the slightest
interference with such vested rights.
Eighth We shall oppose and protest against
all abridSmont Of religious liberty, holding
it a. cardinal maxim, that rsligious faith is q
question betwesn each individual and his God,
and over which no political government or other
human power, can ighthully exercise any su-
pervision or control, 1t any time, in any place,
or in any form.
Ninth. We shall oppose ~ "highsr hw"
doctrines, by which the constitution d 10 be cot
at nought, violated or disrcgaried, whether by
politicians, by religionists, or by the adherents
or followers Of either, or by any other class Of
persona
Tenth We shall maintain and defend the
constitution as II stands, the Union q II ex-
lists, and the rights Of tho States without di-
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposing at
all times, and to the extent Of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them.
Eleventh.. We shall oppose no man, and sus-
tain no man, on the ground Of his opposition
TO, or his support Of, Democratic measures, or
Whig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines.
T1eLfh. And lastly, we shall use our utmost
exertions to build up an "Americdn party"
whose maxim shall be:
AMERICANS SHALL RULE THEIR CoUNTRYi
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom, passed
In the Assembly of Virginia in the beginning of
the year 1885:
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts TO influence It by tenn
poral punishments or burdens or by civil incapa-
citations tend only TO beget habits Of Hypocrisy
and meanness, and are departure from the plan
Of the Holy Author of our religion, who being Lord
both Of body and OF mind, yet chose not to prop
agate by coercions either, In his almighty
power 10 do; that the mpious presumption Of leg
islatures and rulers civil a. well M ecclesiastical,
who, being themselves but hllble and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith Of
Others setting up their own opinions and modes of
thinking MS the only true and inialible and such
endeavoring to impose them upon others, hath e.
tablshed and maintained false religions over the
greatest part of the world, and through all tine
that TO compel a man to furnish contributions Of
money for the propagation of opinions which he
disbeleves, Is sinful and tyrannic; that even the
forcing him to support this or that teacher Of his
own religious persuasion is depnving him Of the
comfortable liberty Of giving bis contributions
70 the particular pastor whose morals he would
make his pattern and whose powers he feels most
persuasive TO righteousness and is Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro
ceedng from an appreciation Of their personal con-
Duct are additional incitement TO earnest and
unremitting labors for the instruction Of mankind;
that our civil rights have no dependence on our re-
Iiooua orinions m than onintouu IN rhvqica