Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-10

The Convention of the AMERICAN PARTY
OF VIRGINIA, which met at Winchester, on
Tuesdey, the 18th Of March, appointed the UNDER
signed a committee, to make publication over their
Names of the following ta -
Basis Principles OF the American Purity of
54 e Virginia. lHrF
Determined TO preserve our political institutions
in their original purity and vgor and to keep them
unadulterated and unimpared 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 onds, we
shall observe and carry out in practice the follow.
ing principles: .e
/. That the sufffagcs of the American people
for political offices, should not be given to any
other than those born on soil, and reared and
nntured 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. 9Th
3. That whilst no obstacle should be intcrposcd
to the immigration of ell foreigners of honest and
industrious habits, and all privileges and mmuni-
ties enjoyed by any native-boIn citizens of our
country should be extended TO all such immigrants,
Notps tunb VI III any Oh our PORTUGAL
administrations; yet all legal means should be
adopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
OF the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
paurer.
n 4. That the American doctrine Of religious tol-
Grafton, and entire absence Of all prescription for
opinions sake, shonld be cherished as one Of the
very fundam entail principles of our civil freedom
and that any sect or party which believes and main.
tans that any foreign power, religious or psltica
has the right 10 control the conscience or direct
the conduct Of freeman, occupies position which
is totally at war with the principles OF freedom of
opinion, and which Is mischicvous in It's 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 IL ncces-
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. *s a#iE 81.
Z. That the doctrine Of availability, nov 10 prev
slent and controlling, in the nomination Of candi-
dates for Office in total disregard 10 all principles
Of right, Of truth, and of Justice, is essentially
wrong, and should be by all good men condemned.
g. That, as a general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed to 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 jealousy guarded.
Q. That the sovereignty of the States should be
supreme In the exercise of all powers not express
ly delegated 70 the federal government and which
may not be necessary and proper to carry out the
powers so delegated, and that this principle should
be observed and held sacred in all organizations Of
the American party. r9s ss.4 rs-rZ
10. That all scctarian intermoddng 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.
IL. That whilst the pcrpctuity Of the present
form Of the federal government Of tho United
States ia actually necessary for the proper develop
ment Of all the resources Of this country yet the
principle Of fnon-ntervention, both on the part of
the federal government and OF the several States
Of the Union In the municipal affairs Of each other,
ia essential to peace and prosperity Of our country,
and to the wellbeing and perrhanonce Of o,ir inst
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union.
IL. The red repnblicanism and lcentous indul
gence in the enjoyment of civil privileges, are as
much 10 be feared and deprecated by all friends
70 wellregulated government and tr1ie liberty, as
any OF the forms of monarchy and dcspotism.
13. That the true interests and welfare Of this
country, the honor Of this nation. the individual
and private rights ofits citizens conspire to de-
msnd that all other questions arising from party
organizations or from any other sonrce, should be
held subordinate 10 and in practice made 70 yield
TO the great principles herein promulgated.
ANDREW X. KENNEDY, Of jefferson,
GEORGE d. GRAY, Of Culpeper,
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