Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-21
Our Principles.


Our Principles.
First. We shall advocate repeal of the
laws of naturalization, or If that cannot be ac-
complished, then such modification Of those
laws, as win prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short of a residence Of
twenty-one years, after taking the oath Of ale
glance to the United States, and Of a6juration
Of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
Second. We shall advocate the passage of
stringent law by Congress to prevent the inn
migration hither of foreigners, who are either
paupors or criminals, and to send back to the
countries from which they come, all such for
eigners 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, inne-
diate and ample satistaction for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof s
Third. We shall oppose the election or APP
pointment Of any Joreign- born 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 soar;; maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the aatipe-born 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.
Fb1rth. We shall advocate and urge the
adoption Of such an amended form Of an oath
70 support the Constitution of the 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 efectually exclude from such
offices all persons, who shall not directly and
erptscitty 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 first
Isnade citizen Of the United States, according
10 the uniform rule" Of naturalization pre-
eribed by Congress, under the provisions of
tho constitution.
SiDth. We shall oppose, now and hereafter,
any "union Of Church and State," no matter
what class of religionists shall seek to bring
about such union.
Sspenh We shall vigorously maintain the
rested rights Of all persons, Of natye or foreign
birth, and shall at all times oppose tho slightest
interference with such vested rights
Eighth. We shall oppose and protest against
all a6ridgmsnt Of religious liberty, holding
1t as = cardinal maxim, that religious faith Is
question between each individual and his God,
and over whichn no political government brother
hupan power, can rightfully exercise any su-
pervision or coRtrol, 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 disregardcd, whether by
politicians, by religionists, or by the adherents
or followers Of either, or by any other class Of
persona
Tenth. We shall maintain and defend the
constitution as il stands, the Union as it ex-
lists, and the rights of the States, without di-
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.
Eyerenth We shall oppose no man, and sus-
tain no man, on the ground of his opposition
TO, or his support Of Democratic measures, or
WAig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines.
noelfth. And lastly, we shall use our utmost
exertions to build up an "Ameriodn party"
whose maxim shall be:
AxsRIcANs SHALL RULE THEIR CoUSTRri
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom, passed
In the Assembly of Virginia in the beginning of
the year 1855:
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts TO influence It by tenn
poral punshments or burdens or by civil incapa-
citations, tend only to beget habits Of hypocrisy
and meanness, and are 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 coercions either, in his almighty
power TO do; that the impious presumption of leg
isatures and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical,
| who, being themselves but hllble and uninspircd
| men, nave assumed common over the fHfth OF
Others setting up their own opinions and modes of
thinking the only true and infaliblc and as 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 to furnish contributions Of
money for the propagation Of opinions which he
disbelievcs is sinful and tyrannicd; that even the
forcing him TO support this or that teacher OF his
own religious persuasion is depriving him Of the
comfortable liberty of giving his contributions
TO the particular pastor whose morals he would
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most
persuasive to righteousness and Is Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro-
ceeding from appreciation Of their personal con-
duct, are an additional incitcment to earnest and
unremtting labors for the instruction Of mankind;
that our civil rights have no dependence on our re-
ligious opinions more than our opinions in physics
or geometry; that, therefore, the prescribing of
| any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by
laying upon him an incapacity of being called 10
the Offices of trust and emolument, unless he pro-
fess or renounce this or that religious opinion is