Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-16
Our Principles.

Our Principles.
FIRST. We shall advocate repeal of the
laws of naturalization, or if that cannot be ac-
complished, then such a modification Of those
laws, as viii prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short of residence Of
twsnty-one years, after taking the oath Of ale
glance to the United States, and Of a1juration
Of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
Second. We shall advocate the passage Of a
stringent law by Congress to prevent the i'm
migration hither Of foreigners, who are either
paupers or criminals, and to send back to the
countries from which they come, all such for
signers 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, innae.
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 Jorsign-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 s00r maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the native-6osn citizens OF
the United States have the right to govern the
land Of their birth; and that all immigrants
from abroad should be content 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.
F5urth. We shall advocate and urge the
adoption Of such an amended form Of an oath
to support the Constitution Of tho 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 effectually exclude from such
offices all persons, whs shall not directly and
,srpJicitly 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 free suffrage any
person of foreign birth, who has not been fret
made citizen of the United States, according
to the uniform rule" of naturalization pre-.
scribed by Congress, under the provisions o.
the constitution
Sirth. We shall oppose, now and hereafter
any "u,sion of Church and State, no matte,
what class of reIigionists shall seek to bring
about such union.
Seuenth. We shall vigorously maintain the
uested 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 abridsment Of religious liberty, holding
it as cardinal maxim, that religious. faith is q
question between each individual and his God
and over which no political government, orothel
human power, can rightfully exercise any su.
pervision or control, at any time in any place
or in any form.
Ninth. We shall oppose all "higher law
doctrines, by which the constitution is to be sci
at nought, violated, or disregarded, whether by
politicians, by religionists, or by the adherents
or followers of either, or by any other class o.
persona
Tenth. We shall maintain and defend the
constitution as it stands, the Union as 1t ex.
lists, and the rights Of the States, without di-
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposi,ag al
all times, and to the extent of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them.
Elepenth. We shall oppose no man, and sus.
tain no man, on the ground of his opposition
to, or his support Of Democratic measures, OF
Whig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines.
Noelfth And lastly, we shall use our utmos,
exertions TO build up an american party,
whose maxim shall be:
AMERICANS SHALL RULE THEIR CoUNTRri
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom, passed
in the Assembly of Virginia in the beginning O
the year 1885.
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts to influence Il 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 plar
Of the Holy Author Of our religion, who, being Lord
both of body and of mind, yet chose not to prop.
agate Dy coercons on etDer, as was IN niS hlmRnty
power TO do; that the impious presumption Of leg
isatures and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical
who being themselves but fllible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith Of
others, setting up their own opinions and modes o.
thinking as the only true and infable, and as such
endeavoring to impose them upon others, hath es
tablished and maintained false religions over the
greatest part of the world, and through all time
that to compel a man TO furnish contributions o.
money for the propagation of opinions which be
disbeieves, is sinful and tyranncal that even the
forcing him to support this or that teacher of his
own religious persuasion is depriving him of tho
comfortable liberty Of giving his contributions
to the particular pastor whose morals he woult
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels mos
persuasive to righteousness, and ndiswithdrawng from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro
cecding from an appreciation of their personal con
duct, are an additional incitement to earnest anc
unremittng labors for the instruction Of mankind
that our civil rights have dependence on our re
ligious opinions more than our opinions in physic
or geometry that therefore, the prescribing 0