The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-25
OCTOBER 25, 1856.
Ala ofthe American Parry.

We lake the following from an address
adopted by az American meeting iu PhiIaiel-
phia, at Independence Square. on the 9th of
October, as true vindicaton Of the -Ameri-
can party. and commend careful perusal of
it by not only our readers. but all who have 50
bitterly denounced the American mo cement:
The organization sprung from q conviction
that both the old parties of the country, espe-
. cially the democratic party, In seeking te-se-
quire power, had gwen dangerour influence
in the government TO that class OF voters which
was known to b. controlled bv priesthood.
Against this insidious and portentious element
in our politics. there seemed 10 be a necessity
for avowed and organized resistance. The
movement was accordingly commenced. but
it has never, either in lis origin or in It's pro
gress. contemplated improper interference with
the civil or religious rights OF any portion Of
the people. whether foreign OF native, Catho-
lie or Protestant. For while leaving those
who may choose to make their political priv
lese sub>ervient - the requirements and IL,
terests of church, entirely free 70 act III the
matter asr eably 10 their own pleasure, the
American party merely undertakes to protest
against such q wrong, and 10 render II harm
less by opposing for public office all persons
who will subordinate their conduct and author
ity as CT lzens 10 the service OF hierarchy.
which has ever claimed 10 be supreme in civil
well s> in ecclesiastical affairs. and which.
for the purpose of enforcing that pretension,
imposes it's ministers and subjects al allie
glance superior 10 tha. which they owe 10 the
STATE.
In this the Americans propose to invade no
man's franchise but simply assume The liber-
II to exercise their own III com formly 10 what
they believe TO be a solemn and manifest du-
". They did not In the beginning, nor do
they now, desire TO Introduce rehy ylon ln.o the
OF politics, but on the contrary. % repro
ba.e and resist its Introduction. They mean
to prescribe ppitticaily on account OF
his religious faith and connections. bu: only 10
preserve that separation be ween Church and
) are whien is "A marked peculiarly ant an
elementary su tran ee of American con~titu
tianal freedom. fhey who have a,temp ed ID
destroy that distinction, not they who are seek
ing To maintin il. are stmenabl'- 10 censure.
As respects The afop'ei ci izens of the
country. the American party has no desire,
even if it hai the power. 20 deprive them OF
any Of the privileges they enj4y. nor even 70
exclude them from civil positions IN the gov
ernment. except in So fsr they be obnoxious
To the impu ion OF ownt rei.,n poem
tate fe,.lty incompa ibte with their loyalty 10
the Uni ed Ssa.es.
But while We have purpose Of opposition
to them beyond this we hold that the rights
OF citizenship are too easily acquired. ani that
a odiiica;ion of the naturalization laws /, i'm
pera'ivelv demanded for the preservation of
those liberties and institutions which should
be equally dear to the hearts of all who are
American. either by birth or adoption. Ii Is
not 10 be denied that while large number Of
those who emf crate 10 this country from other
lands are persons Of intelligence and virtue
deSirous only to ENJOY the blessings OF freer
and more benignant system OF government
than any other TO which they have been sub
lect, the United States have. for years past,
been sort OF penal colony for the reception
of the guilt and pauperism of Europe. and
that not few of the very worst'of the out
casts Of the prisons and almshouscs Of the Old
World are clothed here, after five years resi-
dence, with all the responsible prerogatiyes Of
citizens
The evil is real and growing one, OF
which are warned by every days expert
ence. and unless corrected. It must be produc
tive of exceeding fatal consequences to our
social and political welfare. Our compassion
for emigrants, without distinction, is becom-
ing practical curse, thai threatens TO destroy
the very liberties to which II is thought SO
magnanimous to invite every vagabond upon
the earth. withou. considering W w..ether he be
fit or unit to enjoy them Il is time that the
American people had got over this absurd and
pernicious fl of sen;imentality. It is time
they had ceased To convert the lazzaroni and
convicts of the old world into full tiedged den
izen> Of the republic by term of probation
/ too brief to prove whether a man into whose
soul the spirit OF slave has been rooted by
despotc discipline for third or half OF his
+ is ,arahi- af tho tn
which we would elevate him.