The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-03

the purpose VI purifying
eleyating to office the best o.
American citizens, irrespective OF
tinctions. The Constitution of the
States, and the Unien of the States VI
Constitution, form the two great plan
platform of the American party. lit
opposes all "higher law" doctrine, nj,
cism, whether at the North or at the
and every movement having q tender
ALLEVIATE one portion Of the Union again
other. The great, leading object is Unto
der the Constitution and to secure this,
thought wisest and safest to place that Con
tuition under the exclusive charge of the matt
| born citizens of the soil, to whom 1t is moe sd
credly endearol, by the blessings of the pres
emf, the hopes of the future and theassociations
Of the past. The American party recognizes nc
" religious test, u makes B distinction between
Catholic and Protestant, and recognizes the un.
qualified right n every citizen to worship God
! according GO the dictates of his conscience.
These we believe to be some of the leading
features of the American party. They recon-
mend themselves, from their intrinsic merits, to
our favorable consideration and we announce
them i'll accordance with the promise of our
prospectus, to present occasionally an indepen-
dent review Of leading public measures and
events. Wederive our information from sources
accessible to every reader, viz the public press,
the actions OF public men, and the avowed de.
clarations of private individuals.
With these lights before us, we shall hereaf
ter analyze the" American F." or " Known 9TH
ing organization, in its connection with all the
prominent issues Of the day-with Freesoilism,
Religion, Foreign Influence, etc. etc.
The American movement, as we understand
it, meets with the appreciation Of many intel
ligent adopted citizens. They understand full
well that it is aimed not against the respecta-
Bile and intelligent, but against the refuse popu-
lation of Europe, composed chiefly of paupers
and criminals, who, on reaching the United
States, become brawling, %brnggart, and neccsl
rily corrupt politicians. 1t is not intended to
prevent foreigners from settling in our midst to
in the Industrious pursuits of life and ac-
quire competence or wealth but it is the avow-
ed object OF the American party to prevent Eu-
rope from sending her Migrants and beggars to
streets and poor-houses, and her criminals to
prisons and pcnitentiaries. To this our in
teliigent adopted citizens can make no objoc-
ton. America is still presented as the safe re-
fuge for the prosecuted from every land, For
in quest of growing fields of enterprise,
or u more liberal form of Government, are in
vited to pitch their tents in our midst, to bet
ter their fortunes, and educate their children
under republican institutions, TO them is ex-
tended the privilege, accorded by no other ma
ton to alins, serving a few years of probation,
becoming naturalized citizens, and exercising
the right of suffrage. But here the American
interposes and says: Having gone thus
far-haying enjoyed the blessings of our Gov
and the protection of our laws, you
should be contented to let Americans admins
ter their Government, under the Consultation
bequeathed to them by their forefathers.