Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-30
WASHINGTON D. G.. FRIDAY AFTERNOON MARCH 30 1856
Our Principles.

Our Principles.
First. We shall advocate repeal of the
laws Of naturalization, or if that cannot be &C.
complished. then such modification of those
laws, as win prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short of residence o.
twsnty-one years, after taking the oath Of ale
glance to the United States, and of aJjsration
of all other powers, potentates, and princes
Second. We shall advocate the passage of a
stringent law by Congress to prevent the inn.
migration hither Of foreigners, who are either
paupers or criminals, and to send back to the
countries from which they come, all such for
egners 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 imnse.
aiate and ample satisfdction for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof
Third. We shall oppose the election or ap-
pointment Of any Joreign-6orn 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 s0Gr maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the natioe-6orn 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 Oonstitution 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
erplicitly 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 .yfrst
made citizen Of the United States, according
to the uniform rule" Of naturalization pre-
scribed by Congress, under the provisions Of
the constitution.
Sirth. We shall oppose, now and hereafter,
any "union Of Church and Stats" no matter
what class Of religionists shall seek to bring
about such union
Seventh. We shall vigorously maintain the
rested 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 cardinal maxim, that religious faith is 4
question between each individual and his God,
and over which no political government, or other
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 set
at nought, violated, or disregarded, whether by
politicians, by rsligionists, or by the adherents
or followers Of either, or by any other class Of
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 d.
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposing at
all times, and to the extent of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them.
Eleusath We shall oppose no man, and sus-
tain no man, on the ground of his opposition
TO, or his support OF, Democratic measures, on
Rhig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines.
H1elfth And lastly, we shall use our utmost
exertions to build up an "American party, '
whose maxim shall be:
AMERICANS SHALL RULE THEIR CoUNrRri
AN ACT for establishing religious feedom, passed
in the Assembly of Virginia in the beginning o.
the year 1855:
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts 10 influence il by tenn.
porsl punishments or burdens or BY civil incapar
citations, tend only TO beget habits Of hypocrisy
and meanness and are q 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 coercons on either, as was In his almighty
power TO do; that the impious presumption Of leg
isatures and rulers, civil well ss ccclesiasticai
who, being themselves but hllible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith OF
others, setting up their own opinions and modes Of
thinking the only true and infaible, and 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 man 10 furnish contributions ol
money for the propagation Of opinions which be
disbeieves is sinful and tyrannical that even the
forcing him to support this or that teacher of his
own religious persuasion is depiving him Of the
comfortable liberty of giving his contributions
10 the particular pastor whose morals he would
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels mos
persuasive tonghteousDess, and Ia Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro
ceeding from an appreciation Of their personal con
duct, are an additional Indictment to earnest and
unremitting lsbors for the instruction of mankind
that civil rights have no dependence on our re
ligious opinions more than our opinions in physics
or geometry; that, therefore, the prescribing O
any oitzen as unworthy the public confidence by
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