The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-07
A OUR PRINCIPLES.

&@ 4OOH H1lvGlF41ES SA N4f
Public opinion was to : considerable extent
forestalled BY The assertions, not sustained BY
truth or evidence, Of our enemies, that we were
about establishing a.. Khow-N othing paper.
This opinion seized upon the minds Of many,
and, through the continued efforts Of the same
enemies, who have earnestly wished and zeal
ously labored to keep US down, many persons,
unacquainted with our principles, objects and
aims, have listened and given credit to their
Misrepresentation.
BY such we ask to he heard when we declare
as gentlemen. briefly some Of our principles
touching or connected with the order, Of Know
Nothings. And we begin by saying again that
the establishment of our paper was and is yet
q private enterprise the idea Of its establish
ment originated with us its principles were
laid down by us the money and credit which
BET it in motion were furnished by us, and its
columns uncontrolled by us, and by us alone.
AS to its Know-Nothing principles, we have
only to say that we know nothing Of the
Know-No things, except SO far as they are cons
nected with the American party. We under
stand that their object and aim are to give q
preference politically to, native born citizens
over those Of foreign birth, and to secure IN
amendment to the Naturalization Laws, by
which = longer residence shall be required be
fore they can enjoy the privilege Of the elective
franchise. 'ys4s gys. +
If these are the principal planks in their
platform, we mount upon it, feeling that it is
sufficient to bear us mp triumphantly; and we
shall not be frightened from our position be-
cause it has the reproachful name Of "Know-
Nothing" attached to it.
We disclaim oil intention Of taking any part
whatever in religion, and deny that it is the
object or aim Of the American party. If it
were, then would we dissent emphatically-for
we should be 80 house divided against itself"
as one Of the editors is a Catholic, and another
q Protestant. .s5e13i q ajQ@t}ii s&;
We likewise deny that Abolitionism or Free
soilism is any part of the principles Of the
American party. Should they ever become,
then again would we dissent.
In . word, the American party, rs we have
before said, is purely NATIONAL and is doing
more to destroy sectional p~rejudices, put down
the slavery agitation, and unite the North and
the South, and the HAST and the West, in one
great brotherhood, than all the other means or
plans which human ingenuity can devise. .9
The tendency of these measures being to fur
ther the interests and welfare Of the Union, we
shall steadily and honestly advocate them and
we beg Of such as have lent an ear to those
who have tradueed and misrepresented us that
they investigate thoroughly our principles be-
fore they condemn us upon mere suspicion Or
the representations Of men either dishonest and
unprincipled or blindly ignorant. Our aims
are honorable. To the extent Of cur humble
ability will we advocate the interests Of the
South, and more particularly Of our State and
Parish. We shall constantly labor for the de-
velopment Of our. agricultural resources and
that improvement, intellectually and morally,
which will make this naturally the garden
spot of the South-the most inviting portion
Of the State. II, then, we are not supported,
we may charge ingratitude, if not q want Of
appreciation upon the people.