Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-19

IN.
Wise, engraved by A. b. Walter, of Philadel-
phia. The many admirers of this distinguished
gentleman now have the opportunity of procur-
ing likeness of him for a small sum. The in
domitable energy and brilliant genius that belong
to the Accomac orator shine out In every Inca
ment of his face.
At a regular meeting OF the National
Council OF the American Party, begun
and held at Philadelphia, ON the 9th of
June, 1855, the following was adopted
as the Platform and Principles OF the
Organization.
1.-The acknowledgment of that Almighty
Being who rules the Universe, who presides
over the councils of nations, who conducts the
affairs OF men, and who, in every step by which
we have advanced to the character of an indie
pendent nation, has distinguished us by some
token of Providential agency.
1.-THE cultivation and development of sem
timent OF profoundly intense American feeling;
of passionate attachment to country, its his.
tory, and its institutions; of admiration for the
purer days of our national existence; of venera-
ton for the heroism that precipitated Revolu-
ton; and of emulation of the virtue, wisdom, and
patriotism that framed our Constitution and first
successfully applied its provisions.
lll.--The maintenance of the union of these
or, to use the language of Washington, 'the pri-
mary object of patriotic desire" And hence
lst. Opposition to all attempts to weaken or
subvert it.
I'd. Incorporating antagonism to every prin-
cple of policy that endangers it.
Sd. The advocacy of an equitable adjustment
Of all political differences which threaten its in
tegrity or perpetuity.
4th The suppression of all tendencies to polt
ical division, founded ON geographical dscrimi
nations, or on the belief that there is real differ
ence of interests and views" between the various
sections 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
General Government, of all interference with
their rights by Legislative or Executive action
IV.-Obedience to the Constitution of these
United States as the supreme law of the land,
sacredly obligatory upon all it's parts and mem
bers; and steadfast resistance to the spirit of in
novaton upon its principles, however specious
the pretexts. Avowing that in all doubtful or
disputed points it may only be legally ascertaned
and expounded by the judicial power of the Uni
ted States.
And, as corollary to the above:
/. A habit of reverential obedience to the law,
whether National, State, or Municipal, until they
are either repealed declared unconstitutional
by the proper authority.
2. A tender and sacred regard for those. acts of
craftsmanship which are to be contradstinguished
from acts of ordinary legislation, by the fact of
their being of the nature of compacts and agree
ments and SO, to be considered fixed and set
tied NATIONAL policy.
VA radical revision and modification of the
laws regulating immigration, and the settlement
Of immigrants. Offering to the honest immigrant
who, from love of liberty or hatred of oppression,
seeks an asylum in the United States, friendly
reception and protection. But unqualfedly
condenming the transmission to our shores of
felons and paupers.
VI.-The essential modification of the Natu-
ralization Laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures of the respec-
tive 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 I'M
naturaized foreigners, and allowing them to vote
in the Territories.
VlI.-Hostty to the corrupt means by which
the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon us
our rulers and our political creeds
Implacable emnity against the prevalent de-
moralizing system of rewards for political subser-
viency, and of punishments for political indie
pendence.
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
the Republic; and admiration of the maxim that
''ofice should seek the man, and not man the
office, and of the rule that the just mode of as
certaining fitness for office is the capabty, the
faithfulness, and the honesty of the incumbent
or candidate.
Vlll.-Resistance to the aggressive policy and
corrupting tendencies of the Roman Catholic
Church in our country by the advancement to all
political stations-executive, legislative, judicial,
| or dplomatic-of those only who do not hold
civil allegiance, directly indirectly TO any for
eign power, whether civil or &c clesiastical and
who are Americans by birth, education and train
| ing-thus fulfilling the maxim: "AmERIcANs
ONLY SHALL GOVERN AMERICA"
The protection of all citizens in the legal and
proper exercise of their civil and religious rights
and privileges; the maintenance of the right of
every man to the full, unrestrained and peaceful
enjoyment of his own religious opinions and
worship, and jealous resistance of all attempts
by any sect, denomination or church to obtain an
ascendency over any other in the Statn, by means
OF any special privileges exemption, by any
political combination of its members, or by
division of their civil allegiance with any foreign
power, potentate, or ecclesiastic.
IX.-The reformation Of the character of our
National Legislature, by elavatng TO that dignifi-
ed and responsible position Of higher qualifi-
cations, purer morals, and more unselfsh patriot
ism.
A.-The restriction Of executive patronage, es-
pecially in the matter Of appointments to Office
so far il may be permitted by the Constitution,
and consistent with the public good.
M.-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
direction of denominational or partisan char
acter
And, inasmuch as Christianity, by the Constitu-
tons Of nearly all the States by the decisions of
the most eminent judicial authorities; and by the
consent of the people of America, is considered an
element of our political system; and, as the Holy
Bible is at once the Of Christianity, and the
depository and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom, we oppose every attempt to exclude il
from the schools thus established in the States
xll.-Thc American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite of the opporiton of the
Wing and Democratic parties, cannot be in any
manner responsible for the obnoxious acts Of
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 our in
stitutions into peril, II has therefore become the
imperative duty Of the American party to inter
pose for the purpose of giving peace to the coun-
try and perpetuity TO the Union. And as expe-
rience has shown iu,noco;blo 70 IT,