Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-21

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
in their original purity and vgor, and to keep them
unadultsrated and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious, well as by home faction
and homo demagogusm and believing that an
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 sufffages 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 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 native-bon citizens Of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants,
xcept that of participating in any Of eur 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 American 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
tain
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
zen 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 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
ucation.
I. That the doctrine Of availability, now 50 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 Is essentially
8. That as general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to the exercise of the power
Of removal from Office, as are made necessary to be
observed in the power Of appointment thereto !;
and that executive influence and patronage should
be scrupulously conferred and jealously guarded
Q. That the sovereignty Of the States should be
supreme in the exercise of all powers not express
" delegated TO the federal government and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry out the
~ AZ \
be observed and held sacred in all organizations Of
the American party.
10. That al sectarian informed ding With politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source 1t may, should be promptly resisted by all
such means AZ seem to be necessary and proper for
this end.
IL. That whist the perpetuity Of the present
form Of the federal government Of ths United
StAtss Is actually necessary for the proper develop
ment ofan the resources Of this country, yet the
principle Of fnon-intervention both on the part Of
the federal government and Of the several States
ofthe Union IN the municipal anAirs of each other,
s essential 70 peace and prosperity Of our country
and 70 the wel-being and permanence Of our insti-
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union.
IL. The red repnblicanism and Hcentious indul-
gence in the enjoyment Of civil privileges, are Is
much to be feared and deprecated BY an friends
to well-regulAted government and true liberty, a.
any OF the forms Of monarchy and despetism-
13. That the true Interests and welfare of this
country, the honor Of this nation, the Individual
and private rights ofih citizens, consplre to de-
mand that al other questions arising from party
organizations, or from any other sonrce should BE-
held subordinate to and In practice mads 70 Yield
10 the great principles herein promulgated.
ANDREW E. KENNEDY, OF Jefferson,
GEORGE D. GRAY, Of 6ulpeper
JOSIAH DABBS Of Hali6kx.