The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-07-03
.a!isrellallanl1a Rrms.
Platform and Principles Of the
Know Nothing Organisations. !


ducts the affairs of men, and who. in every
step byswhieh &e have advanced to the: cha.
racter Of HI indefendaut nation. has: dlst'n-
,guishcd US BY some token Of pioyidentia' agen'
cy.I:. -,
1.-THE cultivation and development "f a
sentiment of profoundly intense American
feeling; ef passionate attachment to our conn:
,rs:its history and its institutions; Of adnira
ton for the purer days Of our national exist
ence; of yeneraliun for the herosm that pre-
cipita,ed our revolution; aud OF emulation,
ofthe virtue, wi,dom and patriotism that framed
our, CONSTITUTION, and first successfully applied
its pro. isions.. -
Hr-The maintenance Of the union of lhcse
United States as the paramount p"litca! good !;
or, to use the language. Of Washington, 1.-THE
l;;Sshahafy., object of patriotic de'ire:. Aud
kency y:-,v:r -.s:>. -. ai:: '.....-.,...'
vi. Opposition 10 all attempts TO weaken OF:
suhyert:it. 49,.
9: Uueompromising antasonism TO every
principle of policy that endangers it.
3. The. advocacy of an equitable adjust,
meat of :aIl political differences which threat
en:its, integrity or perpetui',y. :. '%' =.
a. The suppression Of: all tendencies to Po'
.litical division, founded on geographical dis
riimiuaiions, or on the belief that there is real
difference OF interests and views" between the
various sections Of the Union.
s.. 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.eObedi.nce to the Constitution of these
United States, as the supreme law oil the land,
sacred obligatory upon all its parts and mem
bers; and steadtast resistance to the spirit of
Innovation upon its principles, however speciouS
the pretsxts.; Avowing that in all doubtful or
disputed points it may only be legally ascer.
tained and expounded by the judicial power of
the. .up,ted States.
And as a corollary to the above:-
/. A habit of"reverential obedience to the
laws, whether National, State, or Municipal,
until they are either repealed or declared un
constitutional by the proper authority.
2. A tend = and sacredregard for those acts
Of craftsmanship which are to be contra dis
tinguished from acts Of ordinary legislation, by
the fact of their being of the nature of COM
pacts aud agreements: and so to be considered
a fixed and settled national policy.
5.-A radical revision and modification Of
the laws regulating immigration, aud the set.
Element of Immigrants. Offering to the hon
est immigrant who, from love Of liberty or
hatred of oppression, seeks an asylum III the
United States, friendly reception and protec-
ton !; but unqualifedly condenning the trans
mission to our shores Of felons and paupers.
vI.-The essential modification of the natu-
ralization laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures Of the re-.
spcctive States of all State laws allowing Cor
eigners not i.aturalizcd tn vote.
The repeal. without retro active operation, Of
NIL acts of Congress making grants Of land to
uunaturalized foreigners. and allowing them to
vote in the Territorie9
Hostility tosthe corrupt means by
which the leaders Of party have hitherto forced
upon US our rulers and our political creeds.
Implacable enuity against this prevalent
demoralizirg system of rewards for political
subserviency, and pf puuishnents for political
independence.
Disgust for the wild hunt after office which
charac,erizes the age.
These On the one hand. On the other:
Imitation Of the practice of the purer days
of the Republic, and admiration for the max
i'm that Office should seek the man, and not
man the Office = and Of the rule, that the best
mnde!of ascertaining fitness for office is the
capabity, the faithfulness, and the honesty OF
the incuthhent or candidate.
VlII.-Resistance to the aggressive policy
aud corrupt tendencies Of the Roman Catholic
Church i4 our country BY the advancement to
all political stations ns-executive, Legislative. ju-
dicial or di diplonatic--of those only who do not
hold civil allegiance, directly or indirectly, to
any foreign power whether civil or ecclesiasti
cal, and who are Americans by birth, education
and training thus fulfilling the maxim, "Ameri-
cans only shall govern America
The prstection Of all citizens in the legal ard,
proper exercise Of their civil and religious rights
and privileges; tho maintenance of tho right
Of every man to the full, unrestrained and
peaceful enjoyment Of his own religious opin-
ions and worship; aud q jealous resistance Of
all attempts by any sect, denomination or
church to obtain All asceudency over any other
in the Suite, by means of any special privi-
lsges or exemption, BY any political combina-
ton of its members, or by division of their
civil allegiance with any foreign power, poten-
tate or ccclesiastic.
K.-The reformation Of the character of
our national Legislature. by eevating TO that
dignihcd and responsible position men of high
or qualifications, purer morals, and more unset
FISH patriotism.
X--The restriction Of executive patronage
especially in tho matter Of appointments to
oGice-so far US it may be permitted by the
constitution, aud consistent with the public