Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-16
WASHINGTON D. 6. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 1e 1855


The Convention of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met at Winchester on
Tuesdey, the 18th Of March, appointed the under
signed committee to make publication, over their
names, of the following
Basis Principles Of the American Party Of
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 homo demagoguism and believing that an
American policy, religious political, and commer-
cial 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
other 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 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.
3. That whilst no obstacle should be interposed
to the immigration of all foreigners Of honest and
industrious habits, and all privileges and immuni-
ties enjoyed by any native-boIn citizens Of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants
xcept that of participating in any Of our political
administrations yet all legal means shonld be
adopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
Of the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
pauper.
A. 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
and that any sect party which believes and main
tains that any foreign power, religious or pslitca
has the right to control the conscience or direct
the conduct of freeman occupies position which
is totally at with the principles OF freedom Of
opinion, and which is mischievous in its tendency
and which principle If carried into practice would
prove wholly destructive of our religious and civil
liberty.
8. That the Bible in the hands of every free cit
zen is the only permanent basis of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
8. That the intelligence Of the people is neces-
sary to the righe 6se and the continuance of our
liberties, civil and religious; hence the propnety
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.
q. That the doctrine of availability, now 90 prev
alent 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
8. That, as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise of the power
Of removal from Office, made necessary to be
observed in the power of appointment thereto !;
and that executive influence and patronage should
be scrupulously conferred and jealoasly guarded.
.. That the sovereignty of the States should be
supreme in the exercise Of all powers not express
" delegated to the federal government, and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry out the
powers so delegated, and that this principle shoud
be observed and held sacred in all organisations of
the American party.
10. That all sectarian ntermeddling With politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source 1t may, should be promptly resisted by ill
such means - seem TO be necessary and proper for
this end. lfs
IL. That whilst tho pespssuisy q the present
form of the federal governn,snt Of the United
States is actually necessary r Ne proper develop
ment of all the resources ofthis country, yet the
principle Of non-intervsntiop. Acfh on the part of
the federal government and of the several States
Of the Union In the municipal sAirs Of each other
Is essential TO peace and prosperiy of our country
and TO the welLbeing and permsnenoe of our insti-
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond of brotherhood and union.
Ia. The red repnbIicanisn and licentious indul-
gence in the enjoyment of civil privilegss, are as
much to be feared and deprsostsd BY I'll friends
TO well-regulated government and trus liberty, As
any Of the forms OF monarchy end despstism-
Is. That the true i,iterests and welfare of this
country, the honor Of this nation, the individual
and private rights Of It's citissns, conspire to do
mand that all other questions arising from party
organizations, or from any other sonrcs, should be
held subordinate 20 and in practice made 20 yield
70 the great principles herein promulgatsd.
ANDREW X KENNEDY, Of ofJefIsrson,
GEORGE ID. GRAY, of Culpeper,
JOSIAH DABBS of Halifax ssH