Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-04
Basis Principles Of the American
Party.

DASl6 IIEHCEytGS "a sAAO hCdtsh
Party.
The Convention of the American Part,
of Virginia, which met at Winchester, OF
Tuesday the 18th Of March, appointed TIM
undersigned committee, to make publica
ton, over their names, of the following:
Determined to preserve our political in
stitutions in their original purity and vigor
and to keep them unadulterated and unim
paired by foreign influence, either civil o
religious, as we'll as by home faction ant
home denagogue;sm and believing that az
American policy, religious, political ant
commercial, is necessary for the attainmen
of these ends, we shall observe and carry
out in practice, the following principles:
/. That the suffrages of the American
people for political Offices, should not be
given to any other than those born on oul
soil and reared and matured under the in.
Auence of our institutions.
Q. That no foreigner ought to be allowed
to exercise the electi44 franchise, till he
shall have resided within the United State:
sufficient length Of time to enable him te
become acquainted with the principles and
imbued with the spirit Of our institutions,
and until he shall have become thoroughly
identified with the great interest OF onl
country.
8. That whilst no obstacle should be in
terposed to the immigration of all foreign
ers of honest and industrious habits, and
all privileges and immunities enjoyed by
any native born citizens Of our country
should be extended to all such immigrants,
except that of participating in any OF our
political administrations yet all legal
4 means should be adopted to obstruct and
| prevent the immigration OF the VICIOUS ana
worthless the criminal and pauper.
4. That the american doctrine OF rehg-
| ious toleration, and entire absence ei 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
tains that any foreign power, religious or
nolitical, has the right to control the con-
science or diiect the conduct of freeman
occupies position which is totally at war
with,4he principle Of freedom OF opinion.
and which is mischieyous in its tendency
and which principle, if carried into prac-
tice, would prove wholly destructive OF our
religious and civil liberty.
s. That the Bible in the hands of every
free citizen, is the only permanent basis OF
all true liberty and genuine equality
! 6. That the intelligence CT the people Is
necessary to the right use and The contin-
uance of our liberties, civil and religious
hence the proprety and importance OF the
promotion and fostering Of all means OF
moral and intellectual culture, BY some ad-
eduats and permanent provision Tor gene
raj education.
r. That the doctrine of availability, now
so prevalent and controlling, in the noml'
natien of candidates for office, in total dis
regard of all principles Of right, OF truth,
and of Justice, is essentially wrong ano
should be by all good men condemned.
8. That as a general rele, the sarae re.
strictions should be prescribed to the sxer'
else of the power OF removal from Office, as
are made necessary to be observed in the
power of appointment thereto and that ex
ecutive influence and patronage, should be
| scrupuously conferred AID jealousy guard
ed.
9. That the sovereignty Of the State:
should be supreme in the exercise OF al
movers net expressly delegated to The Fed
eral Government, and which may not be
necessary and proper to carry out the pow
ers 50 delegated, and that this prlnclp!.e
should be observed and held sacred IN al
organizations of the American party. .
10. That all sectarian intermeddling witt
politics or political institutions, coming iron
whatever source it may, should be prompt
ly resisted by all such means as seem to os
necessary and proper for this end.
IL. That whilst the perpetuity OF the
present form Of the Fedora Government o
! the United States, is actually necessary fo'
the proper development of all the resources
of this country, yet the principle OF non-ln
teryention, both on the part OF the Fedora
Government and of the several States O
the Union, in the municipal affairs OF eacf
other, is essential to the peace and prosperity
of our country and TO the well-being anc
permanence of our institutions, and at the
same time, the only reliable bond OF bro
therhood and union.
10. That Red Republicanism and licen'
tious indulgence in the enjoyment OF cIVl
privileges, are as much to be feared ano
deprecated, by all friends to well regulated
government and true liberty, as any OF the
forms of monarchy and desPotism.
IS. That the true interest and welfare o
this country, the honor Of this nation, the
individual and private rights of its citizens
conspire 10 demand that all other questions
arising from party organizations, or from
any other source, Should be held, subordl,
nate TO and in practice made oyield to the
great principles herein promulgated.
ANDREW E. KENNEDY, OF Jeffersonj
GEORGE d. GRAY, of Culpeper,
JOSIAH DABDs, Of Halifax.