Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-12
Basis Principles of the American Party OF
Virginia.


Determined to preserve our political institutions
In their original purity and vigor, and to keep them
unadulterated and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious, as well as by home faction
and home demagoguism and believing that an
American policy, religious, political, and CONNER
cial necessary for the attainment of these ends
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.
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 natiye-boIn citizens Of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants
except that of participating in any Of political
administrations; yet all legal means should be
adopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
Of the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
pauper.
4. That the Americax doctrine of religious toll
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 or party which believes and main
tains that amy foreign power, religious pslitica
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, II 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 Ia 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 propriety
and importance of the promotion and fostering Of
all means of moral and intellectual culture by some
adequate and permanent provision for general ed
ncaton.
n That the doctrine of availability, now so prev
slent 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.
g. That, as general rule the same restrictions
should be prescribed 10 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 jealously guarded.
o. That the sovereignty Of the States should be
supreme in the exercise OF all powers not express
ly delegated TO the federal government, and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry out the
powers 20 delegated, and that this principle should
be observed and held sacred in all organizations Of
the American party.
10. That all scctaran intermcddling with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source Il may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means as seem TO be necessary and proper for
this end.
H. 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 fnon-intervention, both the part Of
the federal government and Of the several States
Of the Union in the municipal affairs Of each other,
IL essential to peace and prosperity Of our country
and to the wellbeing and pernanence of our insti-
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union.
IL. The red repnbEcanism and licentious indul-
gence in the enjoyment of civil privileges, are as
much TO be feared and deprecated by all friends
TO well-regulatcd government and true liberty, as
any Of the forms of monarchy and despotism.
Is. That the true interests and welfare of this
country, the honor Of this nation the Individual
and private rights ofits citizens, conspire to de-
mand that all other questions arising from party
organizations or from any other sonrce, should be
held subordinate TO and in practice made to yield
TO the great principles herein promulgated.