Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-06

The Convention of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met at Winchester, on
Tuesdey, the 18th of March, appointed the UNDER
names of the following:
Basis Principles Of the American Party of
Virginia.
Determined to preserve our political institutions
in their original purity and yigor, and to keep them
unadulterated and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious, as well as by home faction
and home demagoguism and believing that an
American policy, religious, political, and sommer
cia necessary for the attainment of these ends we
shah observe and carry out in practice, the follow
ing principles
l. That the suffrages of the American people
for political Offices, should not be given to any
other than those born on our soil, and reared and
matured under the influence Of our institutions.
.. That no foreigner ought to be allowed to ex-
ercise the elective franchise, till he shall have re-
sided 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 tho
roughly identified with the great interests Of our
country.
8. That whilst no obstacle should be interposed
10 the immigration Of all foreigners of honest and
industrious habits, and all privileges and immuni-
country should be extended to all such immigrants,
xcept that Of participating in any Of our political
administrations; yet all legal means should be
adopted 70 obstruct and prevent the immigration
OF the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
pauper.
4. That the Americar doctrine Of religious tol-
eratiou, 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 OF party which believes and main
talns thst any foreign power, religious or psltica,
has the right 70 control the COINCIDENCE or direct
the conduct of freeman, occupies position which
ID totally at war with the principles of freedom OF
opinion and which Is mischievous In its tendency,
and which principle, II carried into practice, would
prove wholly destructive of our religious and civil
liberty. at t tf la
3. That the Bible In the hands Of every free cit
zsn Ia the only permanent basis Of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
q. That the intelligence Of the people 10 neces-
sary 70 the right use and the contnusncs Of our
liberties, civil and religious hence the propnctJ
.nd importance Of the promotion and fostering Of
an means Of moral and intellectual culture by some
adequate and permanent provision for general ed
ucstion-
Y. That the doctrine Of availability now 20 prev
slent and controlling, In the nomination of candi.
dates for Office in total Disregard TO all principles
of right, OF truth, and Of justice, Is essentially
wrong, and should be by all good men condemned.
g. That, as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise Of the power
of removal from Office, made necessary 10 be
observed In the power OF appointment thereto
nnx that executive influence and patronage should
b. scrupulously copfsrred and jeslously guarded.
o. That the soversignty Of the States should b.
supreme In the exercise Of all powers not express
N delegated 70 the federal government, and which
NAV not be necessary and proper 70 carry out the
powers 70 delegated and that this principle should
b~ obeerved and held sacred In all organisations oi
The American party.
10. That all scctsrian intermeddIing with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source Il may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means seem 10 be necessary and proper for
this end.
IL. That whilst the perpetuity Of the present
form Of the federal government Of the United
gtsfea Ia actually necessary for tho proper develop
mont Of all the resources ofthis country, yet the
principle OF fnon-interyention, both on the part Of
the federal government and of the several States
Of the Union in the municipal affairs Of each other
u essential 70 peace and prosperity Of our country
and to the well-being and pernancnce Of our insti
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond OF brotherhood and union.
IA. The red repnbIicanism and lioentious indul
gence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges, are a
much to be feared and deprecated by all friends
70 well-regulated government and true liberty, Al
any Of the forms Of monarchy and despotism.
l3. That the true Interests and welfare Of thi
country, the honor of this nation, the individua
and private rights ofits citizens, conspire to de
mand that all other questions arising from part,
organizations, or from any other sonrce, should b
hold subordinate to and in practice made 10 vel,
70 the great principles herein promulgated.
ANDREW T. KENNEDY, Of jefferson,
GEORGE d. GRAY, Of Culpeper,
JOSIAH DABBS, Of Halifax.