Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-09


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 la
Basis Principles Of the Amcrican Party of
f3 eT Virginia. a5 is M 4 81
Determined to preserve our political institutions
10 their original purity and vgor, and to keepthem
unauthorized and unimpaired by foreign influence,
either civil or religious, 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: 4 1886 sst Hrae
i: 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.
Q. 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 10 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.
8. 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 natve-bom citizens Of our
country should be extended to all such immigrants
xcept that OF participating in any Of our political
administrations; yet all legal means should be
adopted to obstruct and prevent the immigration
OF the vicious and worthless, the criminal and
pauper
A. That the Ameriosn dvctrine 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 party which believes and main
tains that any foreign power, religious psltical
hes the right TO control the conscience or direut
the conduct Of freeman, occupies position which
Is totally at war With the principles Of freedom OF
opinion, and which IL mischievous In It's tendency.
and which principle, carried into practice, woald
prove wholly destructive Of religious and civil
liberty.
s. That the Bible m The hands Of every free cit
izsn Is the only permanent basis Of all true liberty
and gceuioe equality.
8, That the intelligence Of the people is neccs.
ssry 10 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 Cd
ucation.
T. That the doctrine OF availability, now 20 prev
alent 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.
8. That, 90 general rule, the same restrictions
should be prescribed TO the exercise Of the power
of removal from Office, ~ are made necessary 10 be
observed In the power Of appointment thereto ;
and that executive influence and patronage should
be sorupulously conferred and jealously guarded.
Q. That the sovereignty Of tho States should be
supreme In the exercise OF all powers not express
iy delegated 70 the federal government, and which
mar 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
tho American party. s.
10. That all sectsrisn intermeddlng with politics
or political institutions, coming from whatever
source II may, should be promptly resisted by all
suoh means as seem 10 be necessary and proper for
this end. ElI
IL. That whilst the pcrpetuity Of the present
form Of the federal government Of the United
States Ia actually necessary for the proper develop
ment Of all the resources OF this country yet The
princple OF fnon-intervention, 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 70 peace and prosperity of our country,
and 10 the weIlbeing and perrnsnence Of our insti
tutions, and at the same time the only reliable
bond Of brotherhood and union.
IL. The red repubhcanism and liccntious ndul-
genoe in the enjoyment Of civil privileges are AZ
much 70 be feared and deprecated by all friends
TO wellregulated government and true liberty, as
any OF the forms of monarchy and despotism.
ID. That the true interests and welfare Of this
e2untry, the hosor Of this nation, the individual
add private rights ofits citizens oonspire to de-
mapd that all other questions arising from party
organizations, or from any other sonrce, should be
held subordinate TO and in practice made 10 weld
10 the great principles herein promulgated.
15en ANDREW y. KENNEDY, OF Jefferson.
a GEORGE ID. GRAY, Of Culpeper,
JOSIAH DABBA of Halifax.