Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-28
Our Principles.

laws OF naturalization, or If that cannot be ac-
complished, then such modification of those
laws as will prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short of residence Of
twonty-one years, after taking the oath Of ale
glance to the United States, and Of G6juwation
of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
Second We shall advocate the passage of a
stringent law by Congress to prevent the i'm
migration hither Of foreigners, who are either
paupers 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, imme-
aiate and ample satistaction for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof
Third. We shall oppose the election or ap-
pointment Of any yorsign-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 toar; !; maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the natipe-5orn citizens Of
the United States have the right to govern the
land Of their birth; and that all immigrants
from abroad should be content 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
Fourth. We shall advocate and urge the
adoption of such an amended form Of an oath
to 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 effectually exclude from such
offices all persons, who shall not directly and
explicitly recognise the obligations and bind
ing force Of the Constitution of the United
States, as paramount to all Obligations Of adhs-
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 .tfrst
made citizen of the United States according
to the uniform rule" of naturalization pre-
scribcd by Congress, under the provisions Of
the constitution.
Sarh. 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.
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 a6ridsnaent Of religious liberty, holding
it as cardinal maxim, that religious faith is a
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 religionists, or by the adherents
or followers of either, or by any other class Of
persons.
Tenth. We shall maintain and defend the
constitution as II stands, the Union az II ex-
lists, and the rights of the States, without di-
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposing mt
all times, and to the extent of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them.
Elepenth. We shall oppose no man, and sus-
tain no man, on the ground Of his opposition
to, or his support Of Democratic measures, or
Whig measures; but we shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines.
76eLfth And lastly, we shall use our utmost
exertions to build up an american party, "
whose maxim shall be:
AMERICANS SHALL RULE THEIR CoUsTRYi
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
poral punishments or burdens, or by civil incapa-
citations, tend only to bcget 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 on either, as In his almighty
power to do; that the impious presumption of leg
islatures and rulers civil as well as ecclesiastical
who, being themselves but hllible and uninspred
men, have assumed dominion over the faith of
others, setting up their own opinions and modes Of
thinking the only true and infaible, 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
disbeieves, is sinful and tyranncal 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 torighteousness and is 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
unremittng labors for the instruction Of mankind ;
that civil rights have 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 to
the Offices Of trust and enolument, unless he pro-
fess or renounce this or that religious opinion, Is
depriving him injuriously Of those privileges and
advantages TO which, in common with his fellow