The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-05
American Convention.

court house in the town of Mansfield, on Mon
day the goth day of August, for the purpose
of nominating candidate for the senatorial
district composed Of Caddo, De Soto, Sabine,
and Natchitoches. DR.. A. R. Rembert was
called to the chair, and George II. Sutherlin,
appointed secretary.
The chairman briefly stated the object of the
meeting, whereupon w. F. T. Bennett esq
offered the following resolutions which were
unanimously adopted amid loud hearty cheers
Resolved, That we adopt the Louisiana plat
form of the American party as true and cor
rect exponent of our principles.
Resolved, That we heartily approve of the
state ticket nominated by the American party
in Louisiana, also of the nomination of VIM. B
Lewis, as candidate for congress to represent
the fourth congressional district; and that we
will use all honorable means to secure theil
election.
Resolved, That we deplore the division Of the
native born citizens of the United States into
opposing and conflicting parties, thereby exclt-
ing prejudice and opposition among themselves,
and destroying that harmony and unity which
the present emergencies of the country render
necessary to exist among the great body of the
American people; and that we will exert the
utmost diligence in our power to unite our fel-
low citizens in the support of their constitution
al rights, resistance to all encroachments upon
their civil Institutions and opposition to the in
sidous wies of foreign influence.
Resolved, That while we resist all encroach-
ments of spiritual power upon our political
rights, we discam the calumnious charge o1
our own opponents that we require religious
test to qualify native born citizens to hold office
or enjoy the full rights of citizenship; and that
we give our free support to all native born cit
izens for office, without distinction in religious
creeds.
Resolved, That it is not our object to form a
party in order to secure or monopollze office; but
to carry out those great principles OF American
policy, upon the success of which, we believe,
the happiness and welfare Of our common
country depend and in veal or in woe, in vic
tory or defeat, we will stand united in the de-
fense of our country's cause, and ever true to
the duties and res possibilities devolved upon
us in the great inheritance received from ou1
forefathers we will rally under the last re.
naming star that gtters on our nations flag tc
guard against all attacks from internal or ex-
ternal foes. ~. -. .....
On motion of Levi Pressly the thirds
rule was adopted in the balloting for candidates
fer the senate. t @s.'. {.
The representation of the different parishes
of the district was apportioned as follows
Caddo was allowed four votes and the remain
ing parishes, three votes each.
Peter Shearer esq.,, and G. G. Preston, esq,
put in nominated as candidates before the con-
vention.
On the first ballot the vote stood as follows:
Shearer, 3; Preston, TO- Mr.. Preston was then
unanimously declared by reclamation as the
choice of the convention. Being informed of
his nomination, he accepted it IN brief and ap-
proprate remarks.
Messrs. Bennett and Gatlin, being called on
by the meeting, responded in happy terms on
the great subject of national policy now before
the American people.
On motion, Resolved that these proceedings
be published in the Mansfield Times, Caddo
Gazette, and Shreveport South Western.
On motion adjourned. . a..- ....
A. J. REMBERT, pres't.
GEO. H. SurHERL1N sec'y.
The curse of the old party organisations has
been, that instead of re0rganising naturalised
citizens as an integral part of homogeneous
body polite, and permitting them to vote as
they Just pleased and for whom they pleased,
they 1.-THE old parties strove constantly to ar
ray the naturalised citizens as distinct ma
tonality; to prevent, in lieu of acceerating
that process of complete fusion by which alone
they can become thoroughly American; to
appeal to them, not as Americans, but as Ger
mans, 1rshmen, spanlards or Italians, and in
short to indnce them to believe that their sal
vation and their prosperity, their personal safe
ty and their political rights could only be main
tanned hv flris ahomin 4 hIa and danneroug svs-