The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-07-07
Know Nothing Platform.

The Editors of the "American Patriot have pub
lshed with quite a flourish the platform, which n
fragment of the Know Nothing Convention, recently
assembled at Philadelphia, adopted and sent forth to
the country, as the principles of the Party.
There are many things in that platform not obec-
tionable, and the principles held in common with
every party, which has any claims to the respect
confidence of the people. But there is an attempt to
mix up religion and politics, church and state, run
ming through the whole series.
Prescription of Catholics and naturalized citizens
from an equal participation, in the privileges, and
emoluments which the Constitution and laws confer,
are among the principal features in the platform.
While we have our senses, we can never subscribe
to any political creed that makes distinction be-
tween the equality of citizens under the govern
ment. All must stand alike, native or adopted, jew
GENTLE christian or indel in respect to the rights
of citizenship and the privileges it confers. Where
the Constitution has made no distinction we should
make none. If we are to believe the Northern pa
pers the platform is nothing but cheat and binds
no one
The New York Express, one of the most conserya-
tive of the Northern Know Nothing Journals, says,
every is left free to resist the admission of
Kansas, into the Union that there is nothingn the
platform which compels northern man to endorse
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise! There is
no reason why every northern man should not go on
with his organization just as ever" The New York
Herald, the leading Know Nothing paper of the
Union, declares. that the bulk Of the Northern States
having repudlated the platform, the party of the
north are free in each state to conduct the business
upon the practical and local issues of the day"
The New York Mirror speaking of the platform
says "There is ground for hoping that the nortl
will deliberately ratify the outrage"
| The New York Courier and Enquirer, says, Sou
worst fears have been realized, the Convention ha
split upon the rock of slavery. The rent is complete
and the whole concern as q national organization
has gone to the bottom. To all human appearance,
ii renders it certain that the next Presidential Cam
paign will be purely sectional struggle, the yer,
consummation most to be deprecated by every maj
having an American feeling.
"That the Northern States will not assent to tn
outrage involved in the deliberate violation of goo'
faith, thousand times less will they solemnly rat
lily by taking such pledges as are now thrust upo
; them by the southern members of the Convention
Every Know Nothing paper in New Jersey is on
against the platform, and some of the Pennsylvania
papers declare that Western Pennsylvania will spi
upon and repudate it and refuse to sustain the nom
inees who may stand upon it.
For the especial benefit of the Editors of tn
American Patriot we will let one of their own organs
the New York Herald characterize the platform
which they have pledged themselves through life t.
sustain. Zone half of the platform is mere bader
dash and stuff Fit il nsccesssry 10 use such twsd