Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-20
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 will prevent future immigrants from
becoming citizens, short of . residence of
twsnty-one years, after taking the oath Of allie
glance to the United States, and Of a5j1ration
of all other powers, potentates, and princes.
n Second. We shall advocate the passage Of a
stringent law by Congress to prevent the inn
migration hither Of foreigners, who arc 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, imn,s-
diate and ample satisfaction for such outrage,
and proper indemnity against the repetition
thereof.
Third. We shall oppose the election or ap-
pointment of any Jorsign-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 oar maintaining, as we
do the opinion, that the natios-6oan 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 cnaction, administration, or execution Of
our laws. Bs it' is2l
Fburh. We shall advocate and urge the
adoption Of such an amended form Of an oath
TO support the Consultation 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 gey-
crnments, as viii offectually exclude from such
offices all persons, whe 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 adhe-
sion or allegiance to any foreign prince, power,
Potentate, or authority whatever, under any and
all circumstances ,ftfs. 81
FytA. 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
made a citizen Of the United States, according
10 the " uniform ruls' Of naturalization pre-
scribcd by Congress, under the provisions of
the constitution.
Sirth 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. y, p,.g t,.s N ..s
y, Seventh. We shall vigorously maintain the
oested rights of all persons, Of native or foreign
birth, and shall ut all times oppose the slightest
interference with such vested rights.
Eighth We shall oppose and protest against
all a6,idgmsnt Of religious liberty, holding
1t as cardinal maxim, that religious faith is a
question between each individual and his God,
and over which no political government on rother
human power, can rightfully exercise any su-
pervision or control 1t any time, in any place,
or in any form. 'sAh S
Ninth, We shall oppose all "higher law"
doctrines, by which the constitution is to be set
at nonght violated, or disrcgarded, whether by
politicians, by religionists, or by the adherents
or followers Of either, or BY any other class Of
persons. e
Tenth. We shall maintain and defend the
constitution. as it stands, the Union as II ex-
lists, and the rights Of the States, without di-
minution as guaranteed thereby: opposing at
ell times and TO the extent Of our ability and
influence, all who may assail them, or either Of
them. ~ sy e Tb9
Eleventh. We shall oppose no man, and sus-
tain no man, on the ground Of his opposition
to, or his support Of, Democratic measures, or
Wig measures; but We shall oppose those who
oppose our doctrines, and sustain those who
sustain our doctrines sH ss.og
Hsetfth. And lastly, we shall use our utmost
sxertions TO build up an "Amsrican party"
whose maxim shall be-: .,--...,
AMERICANS sHALL RULE THEIR CoUSTRYf
AN ACT for establishing religious freedom, passed
In The Assembly Of Virginia In The beginning Of
the year 1855: gaig iss' T 81
Well aware that Almighty God hath created the
mind free that all attempts TO influence Il by tenn
porsl punshments or burdens, or By civil incapa-
citations, tend only 10 beget habits OF hypocrisy
and rnesnness, and are q 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
"taeN " NoaS.st'o - "oS ~ htn
power 10 do; that the impious presumption ofleg-
islstures and rulers, civil as wen as ecclesiastical
who, being themselves but fllible and uninspired
men, have assumed dominion over the faith of
others setting up their own opinions and modes Of
thinking the only true and niallibe, and such
endeayoring to impose them upon others, hath es-
tablished and maintained false reBgions over the
greatest part Of the world, and through all trnc
that 10 compel man 10 furnish contributions Of
money for the propagation of opinions which he
disbelieyes Is sinful and tyrannical 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 particulrr pastor whose morals he would
make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most
persuasive 70 rghteousness and is Withdrawing from
the ministry those temporal rewards, which, pro-
ceeding from an appreciation of their personal CON
duct, are an additional incitement 10 earnest and
unremtting labors for the instruction Of mankind;
that our civil rights have dependence on our re-
ligious opinions more than our opinions in physics
OF geometry that, therefore, the prescribing Of
any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by