Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-29
WASHINGTON. D. G. TUESDAY AFTERNOON. MAY %, 1856

The Convention Of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met 1t Winchester, on
Tuesdey, the 18th of March, appointed the UNDER
signed committee, to make publication, over their
uames, of the following:
Basis Principles Of the American Party Of
e 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 by home faction
and homo dcmagoguism 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 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.
s. 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
adopted 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 a. one Of the
very fundamental principles Of our civil freedom,
and any sect or party which believes and main
tains that any foreign power, religious pslitica
has the right to control the conscience or direct
the conduct of freeman, occupies position which
is totally at war with the principles OF freedom Of
opinion and which Is mischievous in It's 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
isen Is the only permanent basis of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
o That the intelligence Of the people is Aeces-
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 cd
ucation.
4. That the doctrine Of avaiabIlity, now 50 prev
alent and controlling, in the nomination of candi
dates for Office in total disregard to al principles
Of right, Of truth, and of Justice, Is essentially
CUu06mUo0-
8. That, as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise Of the power
Of removal from Office, are made necessary to be
observed in the power of appointment thereto;
and that executive influence and patronage should
be scrupulously conferred and jeaiously guarded.
g. That the sovereignty Of the States should be
supreme in the exercise of all powers not express
iy delegated to the federal government and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry ont the
AL Al ~
be observed and held sacred In al organizations Of
the American party. 0
10. That all soctarisn intermeddfng with politios
or political institutions, coming from vhatsssr
source 1t may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means as seem to be necessary and proper for
this end.
IL. That whilst the perpetuity Of the present
form of the federal government Of the United
States Is actually necessary for the proper develop
ment Of all the resources Of this country, yet the
principle of non-interventon, both on the part of
the federal government and of the several States
of the Union, In the municipal sfiirs Of each other,
Is essential TO peace and prosperity Of our counsry,
and TO the well-beng and permanencc of our insti-
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union.
IL. The red repnblicanism and Hcentiom indul-
gence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges are q
much to be feared and deprecated BY ~ friends
TO wen-regulated government and true liberty, -
any Of the forms Of monarchy and despstisn.
Is. That the true Interests and welfare OF this
country, the honor Of this nation, The Individual
and private rights ofih cifissnA conspirs 70 de-
mand that all other questions srising don party
organizations, or from any Other sonrca, should be
held subordinate TO and In practice mads 70 yisld
TO the great principles hereia prouulgAted.
ANDREW K KENNEDY, Of JefBssson,
GEORGE ID. GRAY, a Culpspsr,
JOSIAH DABBa Of Hali6x.