Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-11
THE AMERICAN PARTY OF MAS
SACHUSETTs.


A majority of the delegates were prepared for
fusion with all who may agree with them In
principle, as is evinced by the last of the fol-
lowing series of resolutions -
PLATFORM
''ln view of the imminent peril of Freedom,
both from internal and external foes, the Amer
lean Party of Massachusetts adopt for their
government the following constitution and plat
form Of principles;
|. An essential modification OF the natural-
zation laws, so that the immigrant shall not be
permitted to exercise the elective franchise I'M
Vi, he shall have acquitted knowledge of Ian
guage, our laws and Institutions, by residence
in this country of at least 81 years.
2. Stringent penalties against the fraudu lent
transfer of naturalization papers, and such a
description Of the pecularities Of tho person
applying for naturalization as shall render such
transfer impossible.
g. Opposition to all attempts to establish
foreign military or political organizations to
perpeiuaie old national prejndices but encour-
agement of such policy as shall lend to as
simulate the foreign population, in sentiment and
feeling, with the mass of American citizens.
A. Efficient laws 10 prevent the deportation
of criminals and paupers, by foreign au,hori-
ties, to our shores but hospitable reception
To the prosecuted and oppressed Of every cline
o. The Withholding Of grave diplomatic and
political trusts from persons of foreign birth.
9. The right to worship God according to
the dictates of ones conscience to be preserved
Ia.
cal hierarchy, which, through its agents, be they
pope, bishops or priests, who attempt to invade
this right, or acquire political power. Hence,
we rebuke all attempts 10 appropropria,e the
public funds TO the establishment of sectaran
schools, all attempts to exclude the Bible as
text book therefrom, and all attempts to wrest
from the aiy and give 10. the priesthood the
control of church property. We also, rebuke
IN indignant terms such sentiments as these, put
forth by the representatives of the papal Pow
er; That Professionalism has no rights in the
presence of Catholicism" that "Religous lib
erty Is only to be endured until the opposite
can he esiahii-Ied vim SAFETY to the Catholic
world" aud that 1.-THE Catholics Of America
are bound to abide by the Interpretation put up
on the constitution of the United States, by the
Pope Of Rome"
Rcsofred Tha, the Bible, as the source and
fountain OF all true and rational liberty, should
he made the basis Of all popular education and
should be open to, and in the hands of, every
woman and child. And the man or men who
may attempt directly or Indirectly to shut il
out OF our schools, or to keep it from the hands
and hearts ofour people or any portion ofihem,
should be deemed guilty of crime against So
clety and of treason against liberty itself.
Whereas the aggressive policy which has
been uniformly pursued by the slave power from
the commencement of our national existence
down to the abroga,ion of the Missouri com
pact, evinces determination to ''crush OUT
the spirit as well as the forms of liberty from
among us, and 10. subject the free states to
relentless despotism and whereas the success
Of the southern delegates to the national coun-
ell recently held in Philadelphia, in making
abJect and accomplishing submission TO pro-
slavery Legislation fundamental article 10 the
creed of the National American parly,-ren- |
ders it imperative upon US to express our views
upon the great question of the country and the
age: Therefore we declare
I. That the action Of the legislative, execu-
tive aud judicial departments of the government
ought to be controlled by the principle, taught
by the trainers and priest interpreters Of the
consiitption,-that freedom is national and
slavery sectional"
= That repose for the country and stability
10 the Union must be sought by relieving the |
general goyernment,-so far as its jurisdiction |
cxtends,-of all connection with, and accoun.
liability for, American slavery.
3. That the independence and sovereignty of
The stale in its legislation and judiciary should
be maintained inviolale.
A. hat the great barrier to slavery, ruth
lessly broken down by the repeal of the Mis-
sour Prohibition, ought 10 be speedily restored
aud that in any event, no state erected from any
part OF the territory, covered by that comrro- !
mise, ought ever TO be admitted 10 the Union rs !
Il slave state.
8. That The rights Of actual settlers in the
territories to the free and undis,urbed exercise
81 their elective franchise, granted 10 them BY |
the laws under which they organized, should !
he promtly protected by the national executive
whenever violated or threatened
Resolued, That the position of the present
national administration is one of open, undis- |
euised hostility 90 all the principles we profess |
and therefore we believe that the exigences of
The times demand that all men who agree in
these principles should be united in their polit.
zeal action and we will cheeriuly cooperate
with all the opponents Of our common enemy.
RESOLVED, That committee of two members
from each county be appointed who. 10 cpnnec-
fion with any similar committees already an
pointed, or to be appointed, who may agree in
these principles, shall, at some suitable time.
call convention 10 he composed of delegates
elected by the people of Massachusetts in pri-
mary meetings assembled, for the purpose of
nominating candidates to be supported BY this
party ia the coming election"
In the evening The council acted upon the
proposed notifications of The constitution ofthe
party The proposal to change the reqaire-
inent Of membership of the party from ma.
live born citizens TO citizens of Massachusetts,
ia'led, but the other changes proposed by the
committee were generally adopted. These