Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-01
WASHINGTON, d. C. AFTERNOON FEBRIARY / 1855

Is dangerous 1alacy, which at once destroys oil
religious liberty, because he being Of course Judge
Of that tendency, will make his opinions the rule
OF Judgment, aud approve or condemn tho senti-
ments Of others only as they shall square with, or,
differ from his own; that 1t Is time enough for the
rightiu purposes Of civil government, for its OH
GERS TO interfere when principles break out into
overt acts against peace and good orders and,
linay that truth is great and win prevail if left to
herself that she Is the proper and sufficient antag-
onist Of error, and has nothing to fear from the
conflict unless by human nterposition disairned Of
her natural weapons free argument and debate.
errors ceasng to he dangerous when 1t is permitted
freely to combat them. M, s;.gl r5 sf8,.. 4
BE IL thersfore enacted By TIE General as
se,nbty That no man shall be compelled to fre-
qucnt or support any religious worship, place. or
ministry whatsoever, nor shall he be enforced re-
strained, moested or brdcned in his body or goods,
norsha he otherwise sueron account ol lsreiigious
opinions or belief but that all men shall be ffeo to
profess, and by argument TO maintain, their opin-
ions in matters OF religion and that the same shall
in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities. l 5e g-,3ssss es
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 irrevocable would be- of no effect in law;
rights hereby asserted are Of the natural rights Of
mankind, and that If any act shall be hereafter
passed to repeal the present. or to narrow its ope
rations, such an act will be an Infringement Of
naturai right @
Basis Principles Of the American Party OF
tt t Virginia.
Determined to preserve our political institutions
in their original purity and vigor and to keep them
unadulteratcd and unimpaired by foreign influence.
either civil or religious, as well 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: t@
i. 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.
Q. That no foreigner ought to be allowed to ex-
ercise the elective franchise, tin 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 ,aY4
g. That whilst no obstacle should be interposed
to the immigration of all foreigners of honest and
industrious habits, and all privileges and mmuni-
ties enjoyed by any bonn citizens of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants,
except that of participating in any of our political
administrations yet all legal means should be
adopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
pauper
4. That the AD,ericaa doctrine of religious toll
eration 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 or party which believes and main
tains that any foreign power, religious or pstical,
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 nschievous in its tendency,
and which principle, if carried into practice, would
prove wholly destructive of our religious and civil
liberty.
s.. That the Bible in the hands of every free cit.
izen is the only permanent basis Of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
g. 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.
2. That the doctrine of availability, now SO prev
alcnt 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
s. That, as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise of the power
of removal from Office arc made necessary to be
observed in the power of appointment thereto
and that executive influence and patronage should
be scrupulously conferred and jealousy guarded
O. That the sovereignty ofthe States should be
supreme in the exercise Of all powers not express
ly delegated to the federal government, and which
may notbc necessary and proper to carry out the
powers delegated, and that this principle should
be observed and held sacred in all organizations of
the American party. 4.#
10. That all sectarian intermcddlng with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source 1t may, should be promptly resisted by nil
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 ofthis country, yet the
principle of ofnon-intervention, both the part of
the federal government and Of the several States
Of the Union, in the municipal affairs Of each other
is essential to peace and prosperity Of our country
and to the well-being and permanence ofour insti-
tutions, and at the same tine the only reliable
bond of brotherhood and union. sg
IL. The red repnblicanism and licentious indul-
gence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges are as
much to be feared and deprecated by all friends
to well-regulated government and true liberty, as
any of the forms of monarchy and despotism.
13. That the true interests and welfare Of this
country, the honor of this nation, the individual
and private rights ofits citizens, conspire to dc.
mand that all other questions arising from party
organizations, or from any other source, should be
held subordinate to and in practice made 10 yield
to the great principles herein promulgated.
E- PERSONS residing i'm the First and
a, 4f4 4hxs q A