The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-06-29

,hese United States, as the supreme law Of !
Lhe land, sacredly obligatory upon all its
parts and members; and steadfast resistance
to the spirit Of innovation upon its princi-
Piles, however specious the pretexts. Avow-I
ing that in all doubtful or disputed points it
may only be legally asceraincd and cx-
pounded by the judicial power Of the Uni
ted States.
And, az corollary to the above -
l. A habit Of revercntial obedience to
the laws, whether National, State, or NUM-
cipal, until they arc either repealed Or de-
clared unconstitutional by the proper au-
thority.
2. A tender and sacred regard for those
acts of craftsmanship which are to be con
from acts of ordinary leg
islation, by the fact of their being of the
nature of compacts and agreements; and
so to be considered fixed and settled ma
tional policy.
VA radical revision and modification
Of the laws regulating immigration, and
the settlement Of immigrants. Offering to
the honest immigrant who, from love Of
liberty or hatred Of oppression, seeks an asy-
lum in the United States, a friendly rccep-
tion and protection; but unqualifiedly
con'lemning the transmission to our shores
Of fclons and paupers.
VI.-The essential modification of the
naturalization laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures Of the re-
spective States Of all State laws allowing
foreigners not naturalized to vote.
The repeal, without retroactive opera
tion. Of all acts of Congress making grants
of land to unnaturalized foreigners, and al
lowing them to vote in the Territories.
VlI.-Hostility to the corrupt means by
which the leaders of party have hitherto
forced upon us our rules and our political
crecds. ~
Implacable enmity against this prevalent
d"moraizing system Of rewards for political
subserviency, and Of punishlnents for po,
litical independence.
Disgust for the wild hunt after office
which characterizes the age.
These on the one hand. On the other -
Imitation of the practice of the purer
days OF the republic, and admiration Of the
maxim that "offirc should seek the man, and
not man the Gfficc;" and Of the rule, that
the bes: mode Of ascertaining fitness for
Giilce is the capahility, the faithfulness, and
the honesty Of the incumbent or candidate.
Vlll.-Resistancc to the aggressive pol
icy and corrupt tendencies OF the Roman
Catholic Church in our country by the ad.
vancoment to all political staions-exec,,-
tive, Legislative, judicial or diplomatic
those only who do hot hold civil allegiance,
directly or indirectly, to any foreign power
whether civil or ecclesiastical, and who are
Americans by birth, education and train.
ing-thus fulfilling the maxim, "Americans
only shall govern America
The PrG!sastqq asa, af all al citizens il in the e
religious rights and privileges; the main.
tenance of the right of every man to the
fuli; unrestrained and peaceful enjoymcu,
OF his own religious opinions and worship
aud Jealous resistance of all attempts BY
any sect, denomination or church to obtain
an ascendency over any other in the State
10y means of any special privileges or ex
emption, by any political combination of its
members, or by a division of their civil al.
legiance with any foreign power, potentate
or crclesiastic.
K.-The reformation OF the character
OF our national Legislature, by elevating to
that dignifed and responsible position, men
of higher qualifications, purer morals, and
more unselfsh patriotism.
X.-The restriction of executive patron
age especially in the matter of appoint.
ments to office-so far as it may he permit
ted by the constitution, and consistent with
the public good. -.
!Xf.-Ths ed1eatiou.bf the:youth of our
country in Schools provided tM the. State;
which schools shall be commoff to all, with.
out distinction Of creed or party, and free
from any influence of denoninational or
partisan character.
And, inasmuch as Christianity bv the
constitutions Of nearly all the States, by the
decisions OF the most eminent judicial au-
thorties, and by the consent of the people
OF America, is considered an element of
our political system; and as the Holy Bible
's at once the source of Christianity, and
the depository and fountain of all civil and
religious freedom. we oppose every attempt
to exclude it from the schools thus estab.
ished in the States: s.
xI1AFhe Andef;saa party M having arisen
upon the ruins, and :iu spite Of the oppo-
sition, Of thewhgf ahd democratic parties
cannot be held in. any manner responsible
1or the obnoxious acts or violated pledges
OF either. And the systematic agitation of
the slavery question by those parties having
elevated sectional hostility into positive
element Of politicatpower, and brouehtour
institutions into peril, it has therefore be-
come the imperative duty Of the American
party to interpose for the purpose Of giving