Washington telegraph., 1855-09-19
The American Platform.

l. The acknowledgment of that Almighty Be-
ing, who rules over the UnIveTses-who presldes
u"S ,a,' .na .5e ITO ne nS.en bv ,rbicE
we have advanced - z " n indeper1-
dent nation has distIp >-Jine token
of PTovIdential agency
II. The cultivation and development of a SEN
timent OF profoundly intense American feeling; OF
passionate attachment to country, its history
and its institutions: of admiration for the purer
days of our National existence OF veneration, for
the heroism that pTecipitated our Revolution; and
formulation of the virtue, wisdom, and patriotism
that framed Constitution and first successfully
applied its provisions.
Ill The maintenance of the union of these
United States the paramount political good;
or. to use the language OF WashInsto. -the priIn-
ary object of patriotic desire" And hence
1st. Opposition to all attempts TO weaken OF
subvert it.
3D. Uncompromising antagcnsm to every
principle Of policy that endansers it.
Sd. The advocacy of an equitable adjustment
OF all political difficulties which threaten Its IN
tegrity or perpetuity-
4th. The suppression OF all tendencies TO politi-
cal division, founded geographical discrimina
ton, the belief that there Is real difference
of interests and views" between the various sec.
tons OF the Union
5th. The full recognition of the rights of the
several States, as expressed and reserved in the
Constitution; and careful avoidance by the Gen
eral Government, of all interference with their
rights by legislative or executive action
". Obedience to the Constitution of these
United States, as the supreme law of the land
sacredly obligatory upon all its parts and MEN,
bers; and steadast resistance TO the spirit of
novation upon its principles, however specios the
pretexts. AvowIng that in all doubtful or disp,I-
ted points it may only be legally ascertained and
expounded by the Judicial power OF the United
States.
All H.
1. a habit of reverential obedience TO the laws
whether National State, Municipal, until they
are either repealed declared unconstitutional
by the proper authority.
9 A tender aud sacred regard for those acts of
craftsmanship which TO be distinguish
ed from acts OF ordinary legislation by the fact of
their being of the nature OF compacts and agree
nents. and so, to be considered fixed aud settled
national policy.
V a radical revision and modification OF the
laws regulating immis ration, and the settlement
of immigrants Offering TO the honest immigrant
who, for love of liberty or hatred of oppression.
seeks an asy urn IN the United States. friendly
reception and protection But unqualifiedly con-
demning the transmission to our shores Of leIons
and paupers-
VI The essential modification of the Natural
ization Laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures of the respect
i've States, of all State laws allowing foreigners
not naturalized to vote
The repeal, without retroactive operation. of all
acts OF Congress making grants of land TO unuat-
mraIzed foreigners, anc allowing them to vote in
the Territories
VII Hostility TO the corrupt means by which
the leaders of patty have hitherto forced upon u,
our rulers and our political creeds-
Impacabe enmity against the prevalent de- /
mOEalZIng system OF rewards for political sub |
serviency. and of punishnents fer political inGe-
pendeRee-
Disgust for The wild hunt after Office which |!
characterizes the age
These on the one hand On the other
Imitation OF the practice of the purer days of /
she Republic; and admiration of the maxim that |
office should seek the man, and not man the Of
fcen and of the rule that, the Just mode Of ascer-
tanning fitness for Office Is the capahility the faith
fulnesS, and the honesty OF the incumbent can
didate.
VIII. Resistance to the aggressive policy and
corrupting tendencies OF the Roman Catholic
Church in country by the advancement to all
political statIOns-executive legislative judicial
OF dlplomatc-Of those only who do not bold civil
allegiance, directly indirectly to any foreign
power whether civil or ecclesiastical, and who
are Americans by birth, education and training
thus fulfilling the maxim, @AMERICANs ONLY
SHALL GOVERN AMERICA
L he projection OF all citizens in the legal and
proper exercise of their civil and religious rights
and privileges. the maintenance of the rIeht of
every man to the full, unTeStTeined and peaceful
enjoyment of mis- own religious opinions and yyor-
ship. and Jealous resistance o. all attempts by
any Sect denomination or chuTch TO obtain an as
tendency over any other in the State, By means
OF any special privileges or exemption By anv
political combination of its members, or by d.
vision OF their civil allegiance with any foreign
power. potentate, or ecclesiastic-
TX The reformation OF the character of our
National Legislature, by elevating to that digui-
ned and responsible position men of higher quail
rIcatIOnS. ynp fish
0tism.
" The restriction of executive patronage-es-
pecIally IN the matter OF appointments to Oificesc
far as it may be permitted by the Constitution,
and consistent with the public good.
XI- The education of the youth OF our country
IN schools provided by the State; which schools
shall be common to all, without distinction of
creed or party, and free from any influence or di-
rectIon OF denominatIOnal or paTtizan ckaTac-
ter
And, inasnuch as Christianity by the Consti
tutions of nearly all the States by the decisions
OF the most eminent judicial authorities and by
the consent OF the people of America, is consid-
cred an element ot our political system: and as
the Holy Bible Is at once the source of Christian
ity, and the depository and fountain of all civil
and religious freedom, We oppose every attempt
TO exclude 1t from the schools thus established in
the States.
XII. The American Party having arisen upon
the ruins. ard IN spite of the opposition, OF the
WhIg and Democratic parties. cannot be held In
any manner responsible for the obnoxious acts or
violated pledges of either, And the systematic
agitation OF the Slavery Question by those parties
having elevated sectional hostility into positive
element of political power, and brought oar insti-
tutIons into peril It has therefore become the i'm
perative duty of the American party to interpose
for the purpose of giving peace TO the country
and perpetuity to the Union And as experience
has shown it impossible to reconcile opinions 50
extreme as those which separate the disputants
and as there can he dIshono- in
the laws, the National Council has deemed II the
best guarantee of common Justice and of future
peace, TO abide by and maintain the existing laws
upon the Subject of Slavery, as final and con-
elusive settlement of that subject in spirit and
III substance.
And regarding it the highest duty to avov
their opinions upon subject so important in dis
tlnct and unequivocal terms, it is hereby declared
as the sense OF this National Council that Con
gFess possesses no power, under the Constitution.