Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-03

The Convention of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met at Winchester, on
Tuesdey, the 18th of March, appointed the under
signed committee to make publication, over their
names, of the following:
Basis Principles of the American Party OF
Virginia.
Determined to preserve our political institutions
10 their original purity and vigor and to keep them
unaduItcrated and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious as well as by home faction
and home demagoguismi and believing that IN
American policy, religious, political, and CONNER
cial necessary for the attainment of these ends we
shall observe and carry out in practice the follow
ing principles:
/. That the suffragcs 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.
= 3. That no foreigner ought to be allowed to ex-
ercise the elective franchise, till he shall have
sided within the United States Q 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. 5k M fse
3. That whilst no obstacle should be interposcd
TO the immigration Of all foreigners of honest and
industrious habits, and al privileges and immuni-
ties enjoyed by any native-boIn citizens of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants,
rcept 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, tho criminal and
paupcr.
4 That the American doctrine Of religious tol-
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
tsins that sny foreign power, religious psliticd
has the right to control the conscience or direct
the conduct Of freeman, occupies position which
Il totally at with the principles OF freedom OF
opinion, and which is mischievous in It's tendency,
and which principle, carried into practice, would
prove wholly destructive of our religious and civil
liberty.
s. That the Bible In the hands of every free cit
ixen Is the only permanent basis of all true liberty
and genuine equality.
8. 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. ekrF -stst ttt sF+F
I. That the doctrine of availability, now so prev.
alent and controlling, in the nomination Of candi-
dates for Office, In total disregard to all principles
Of right, Of truth, and Of justice, Ia essentially
wrong, and should be by all good mon condemned.
g. 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
DO scrupulously conferred and jealously guarded.
.. 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
- - IN
powers so delegated and that this principle should
be observed and held sacred In all organizations Of
the American party.
10. That all sectarian ntermeddling with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source It 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 nonintervcntion, both on the part Of
the federal government and of the several States
ofthe Union, In the municipal affairs of each other,
is essential TO peace and prosperity Of our country
and to the weI-bcing and permanence Of our insti-
tutions and at the same time the only reliable
bond of brotherhood and union.
H. The red rcpublicanism and licentious indul-
gence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges are as
much 70 be feared and deprecated by all friends
TO weIlregulated government and true liberty, as
any of the forms of monarchy and despotism.
1s. That the true Interests and welfare of this
country, the honor Of this nation, the individual
and private rights ofts 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 10 yield
TO the great principles herein promulgated.
ANDREW 4. KENNEDY, OF jefferson,
GEORGE ID. GRAY, Of Culpepcr,
JOSIAH DABBS Of Halifax.