Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-12

W.
nghthal purposes Of ciyl government. ior ia Oh.
cem % Interfere when principles brs2k oas Info
overt acts against peace and good order; and.
nnaly that truth Il great and viii prcys II len 10
herself that shc i the proper and sufficient anssg.
onist OF error, and has nothing TO fear from ths
conflict unless by human interpodsioa dis&r.ed q
hcr natural weapons, free argument and debate,
freely TO combat them.
Dc q, therefore, enacted by hs Geasyai IA.
semoty That no man shall be compelled 10 irc.
quent or support any religious worshp, place. or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced re.
strained, molested or burdened In his body or eooix
norsha ne otherwise suffer account ofiis religious
opinions or belief but that all men shah be free 10
profess, and by argument 10 maintain their opIn.
ions IN matters Of religion and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities
And though we well know this Assembly. elected
by the people for the ordinary purposes Of legis-
iAtion only, have no power TO restrain the acts Of
succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers
equal TO our own; and that therefore, TO declare
this act irrevocabe would be Of no effect IN law
yet we are free to DECLARE and do DECLARE that the
rights hereby asserted Of the natural rights Of
mankind, and that IL any act shall be hereafter
passed to repeal the present, or to narrow is one.
rations, such an act will be an Infringement Of
natural right.
The Convention Of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met at Winchester, on
ruesdey, the 18th Of March, appointed the under
signed committee, to make publication, over their
names, of the following
Basis Principles Of the American Party or
Virginia.
Determined to preserve our political institutions
in their original purity and vgor, and to keep them
unadulterated and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious, well as by home faction
and home demagoguism and believing that an
American policy, religious, political, and CONNER
cia necessary for the attainment Of these ends we
shall observe and carry out in practice, the follow
ing principles
!. That the suffrages of the American people
for political Offices should not be given to any
ether than those born on our soil, and reared and
matured under the influence of our institutions.
2. That no foreigner ought to be allowed to ex-
ercise the elective franchise till he shall have re-
sided within the United States a sufficient length
Of time 70 enable him to become acquainted with
the principles and inibued with the spirit of our
institutions, and until he shall have become tho
roughly identified with the great interests Of our
country.
s. That whilst no obstacle should be interposed
70 the immigration of all foreigners of honest and
industrious habits, and all privileges and immuni-
ties enjoyed by any native-bom citizens Of our
country should be extended TO all such immigrants
fcept that OF participating in any Of our political
administrations; yet all legal means should be
idopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
Of the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
pauper.
4. That the American doctrine OF religious tol.
GRAFTON, and entire absence of all prescription for
opinions sake, should be cherished as one of the
very fundamental principles Of our civil freedom,
ana that any sect or party which believes and main
tains that any foreign power, religious or pslitical
has the right to control the conscience or direct
the conduct of freeman, occupies position which
s totally at war with the principles OF freedom of
opinion, and which Is mischievous In its tendency,
prove pS sf wholly dsssSEsss # ssss % d int practice would
liberty.
s. That the Bible in the hands of every free cit
izen il the only permanent basis Of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
8. That the intelligence Of the people is neces-
sary to the right use and the continuance Of our
liberties, civil and religious; hence the proprety
and Importance Of the promotion and fostering Of
all means Of moral and intellectual culture by some
adequate and permanent provision for general ed
ucation.
!. That the doctrine of availability. now 40 prev
aent 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 as are made necessary TO be
observed in the power of appointment thereto
and that executive influence and patronage should
be scrupulously conferred and jealously guarded.
Q. That the sovereignty of the States should be
supreme in the exercise Of all powers not express
ly 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 ia all organizations of
the American party
TO- That all sectarian intermeddling with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source 1t may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means as seem to be necessary and proper for
this emo.
III. That whilst the perpetuity of the present
iorm OF the isderal government of the United
States Is actually necessary for the proper develop
ment oil all the resoerces of this country, yet the
principle OF fnon-intervenson, both on the part Of
the federal government and If the several States
Of the Union, in the municipal arsirs Of each other
Is essential TO peace and prosperity Of our country
and to the well-being and permanence Of our insti
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union. :
IL. The red repnblcanism and licentous indul-
gence In the enjoyment Of civil privileges, are as
much to be feared and deprecated BY all friends
10 wel-regulatcd government and true liberty, as
any Of the forms Of monarchy and despotism.
Is. That the true interests and welfare Of this
country, the honor Of this nation, the individual
and private rights ofits citizens conspire to de-
mand that all other questions arising from party
organizations, or from any other sonrce, should be
held subordinate to and in practice made to yield
10 the great principles herein promulgated
ANDREW f. KENNEDY, Of Jefferson,
GEORGE d. GRAY, of 0ulpeper,
JOSIAH DABRS Of HaIimr