Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-06-30
ssWHAT SHALL BE DONE?"

of Louisiana. One single article Of the Anne
rican Platform adopted in Philadelphia, (pub
lished on the first page,) is sufficient cause TO
this question, and also for the American Part,
10 this State to withdraw from all connection
with the party which creatad that PLATFORM
We stand not alone in this opinion. Mixing vi
religious matters with politics is a poison too
deadly ever to fail in its effects upon the flares
and proudest of representative governments
We always have opposed such a principle, ane
we always shaIl-and how any man can dc
otherwise who has been reared upon American
soil, and trained in the principles of its Gov
ernment, without he is a demagogue and q
traitor, is beyond our conception. Religious
intolerance manifested By a political party, is
the greatest curse that can befaII any country
particularly ope like ours. Here, such a prin'
ciple is at once antagonistical, in letter and spi'
rit, to the constitution, as to the institutions o
the county, and to the teachings Of our good
and wise men who have gone to their graves
before US.
With this unfortunate exception Of the arti.
| Gle alluded to, the platform is such that every
pa triot can subscribe to it.
We therefore, can no longer act with a par
ty which finds it necessary or expedient to mix
religious with political matters, in any form or
upon any plea, as we are convinced, from the
history of the4ast, that it is the most DANCE
rous step which any people can take, both for
their social and, national welfare.
heartily endorse:
The platform of the American Convention
to be found in our columns to-day is perfectly
sound and satisfactory, with one fatal and in
surmountable exception. The religious test
will be repudiated not alone by the Americans
of Louisiana, but by honest and patriotic cit-
liens every, where. who cling to the Consti>
t~utionlof the United States, and will not coun-
~tenance the direct or indirect violation of that
benefcent feature which guarantees liberty of
conscience. The great mass Of the American
party in New Orleans has been and continues
deeply agitated by the news of the triumph
Va idu PiCJuOtCC dhu UiSOtJy Ot6Tf COWs
non sense and constitutional guarantees.
"What shall wedo, and where shall we goa" are
questions we hear propounded at every step.
Rejecting the idea of hasty and precipitate
action, and knowing well that elaboration and
dispassionate counsel are usually productive Of
bound and sensible measures, we subscribe
heartily and unreservediy to the advice tender.
ed by the prudent and patriotic members of the
party, and which. in substance, is as follows:
The State Council of the American party will
assemble in the beginning of July in the city
Of New Orleans, and will have before it the
entire proceedings OF the National Convention.
The State Council, consisting of delegates
from all the subordinate Councils, win there
fore represent every part Of Louisiana, and is
constitutionally empowered to adopt any course
whatever which may be deemed expedient for
the preservation Of theharmony. and the suc-
cess OF the party. To that most respectable
grand body the decision Of the momentous
subjects which have been agitating the public
mind, may be safely entrusted. We have no
doubt that its action will be such as to satisfy
the American party in Louisiana, reunite it in
a consolidated and irresistible phalanx, and
place our noble commonwealth in the front
rank of those who, while demanding the re.
form of the Naturalization laws, proclaim civil
and religious liberty, and denounce and trample
upon the foul spirit of intolerance and fana.
ticism. It has been suggested that the State
Council should adopt and promulgate a plat
form of principles, such as Louisiana will
cheerfully and proudly sustain; that the secrets
OF the order. save 70. executive purposes,
should be abolished; that mass meetings should
be called to ratify the Platform, and that a a !
expressive Of the views and sent;- !
nents Of the American Party of the State !
should be issued. We believe that all this will
be done. The conduct Of the majority Of the
Philadelphia Convention renders It an inpera.
tive duty Of the party here to mark out q die.
tinet. independent and manly course; to disa.
vow every feature in the National programme
which has the slightest tendency to s~ectarisn
intolerance; to stand BY the Constitution; to re.
to the last the invasion of the rights Of
native born Americans, whatever be their re-
ligiohs faith, and to assume an honest. fearless
and just position-not only before the people
Of Louisiana, but before those Of the entire
Onion.
That this will Be- accomplished SIC almost
absolutely certain. Let then the American
party Of Louisiana stand firm, await patiently
he session Of the State Council, avoid disen-
ton and bickeringy and il may rest assured
that such action will be had as will enable /
svefy member Of the party TO- stand upon 4
nm platform, in the proud consciousness
Ehst - an American, his civil rights and relIi
gious tenets are alike protected. All will be
we'll, It the party will agree TO season its i'm
until the State Council shall have
uDon the inanorf.nf fnrsos .,L;.h LII