Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-31
Our Principles.

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First. We shall advocate repeal Of the
laws of naturalization, or If that cannot be ac-
complished. then such modification of those
laws as win 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 abj,ration
Of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
Second. We shall advocate the passage of
stringent law by Congress to prevent the Inn
migration hither Of foreigners, who are either
paupors or criminals, and to send back to the
countries from which they come, all such for
eigners 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, insneA
diats and ample satiSaetion for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof
Third. We shall oppose the election or ap-
pointment Of any .Joreign-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 soar /; maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the native-5o7n citizens Of
the United States have the right to govern the
land Of their birth; and that all immigrants
from abroad should be centent 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.
Fburth. We shall advocate and urge the
adoption of such an amended form Of an oath
TO support the Constitution of the 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 whe shall not directly and
explicitly 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 first
made citizen of the United States, according
to the "uniform rule" of naturalization pre-
scribed by Congress, under the provisions Of
the constitution
SirM. We shall oppose, now and hereafter,
any union Of Church and State" no matter
what class of religionists shall seek to bring
about such union.
Sepenth. We shall vigorously maintain the
Oested 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 a6ridgment of religious liberty, holding
it as a cardinal maxim, that religious faith is
question between each individual and his God,
and over which no political government or other
human power, can rightfully exercise any su-
peryision 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 set
at nought, violated, or disregarded, whether by
politicians, by rsligionists, or by the adberents
VI iouoWoio Va oas'oi, Vi W any oehci Sin~s VI
persons
Tenth. We shall maintain and defend the
constitution as 1t stands, the Union as it ex-
lists, and the rights Of the States without di-
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposing at
all times, and 10 the extent Of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them.
Eleoenh. We shall oppose no man, and gus
tain no man, on the ground Of his opposition
to- or his support Of Democratic measures or
Whig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines
7soeLth. And lastly, we shall use our utmost
exertions TO build up an american party"
whose maxim shall be-:
AMERICANS SHALL RULE THEIR CoUNTRrl
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom, passed
in the Assembly of Virginia in the beginning Of
the year 1885:
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts TO influence Il BY tenn
porsl punishments or burdens or by civil incapa-
citations, tend only to beget habits Of hypocrisy
and meanness, and are departure from the plan
of the Holy Author Of our religion, who being Lord
both Of body and Of mind, yet chose not TO prop
agate by coercions either as was In his almighty
power 70 do; that the impious presumption Of leg
slatures and rulers civil as wel as ecclesiastical,
who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith of
others, setting up their own opinions and modes Of
thinking the only true and infallible and such
endesvoring to impose them upon Others, hath es-
tabished and maintained false religions over the
greatest part Of the world, and through all time;
that to compel man to furnish contributions Of
money for the propagation Of opinions which he
disbeeves, is sinful and tyrannica; that even the
forcing him 10 support this or that teacher Of his
own religious persuasion is depriving him of the
comfortable liberty of giving his contributions
to the psrticulrr pastor whose morals he would
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most
persuasive torghteousness, and Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro-
ceeding from appreciation of their personal con
duct, additional incitement to earnest and
unremitting sbors for the instruction of mankind
that civil rights have dependence on our re-
ligious opinions more than opinions in physics