Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-06-20
THE PLATFORM.
And Principles Of the American

! 1893, the following Platform was adopted
! 1.-The acknowledgment of that Almighty Be-
| ing, who rules over the Universe-who presides
! over the Councils of Nations,-who conducts the
affairs of men, and who. in every step by which
we have advanced to the character of an indepen-
dent nation, has distinguished us by some token of
Providential agency
III. The cultivation and Development of senti-
| ment of profoundly intense American feeling
of passionate attachment TO country its history
and its institutions; of admiration for the purer
days of National existence; of yeneration for
the heroism that precipitated our Revolution; and
OF emulation OF the virtue, wisdom, and patriot
ism that framed Constitution and first success
! fully applied its provisions
1I-The maintenance of the union Of these
United States as the paramount political good or
TO use the language of Washington, = the primary
object of patriotic desire. And hence =
lst Opposition to all attempts to weaken sub
vert it
I'd. Uncompromising antagonism to every pYin-
ciple of policy that endangers il.
Sd. The advocacy Of an equitable adjustment Of
all political differences which threaten its integri-
4th The suppression of all tendencies to poiti-
cal division, founded on geographical discrmi-
nations or on the belief that there is real difr-
ence of interests and views" between the various
sections of tho Union
9TH The full recognition of the rights of the
several States, as expressed and reserved in the
Constitution; and careful avoidance, by the
General Government, of all interference with their
rights by Legislative or executive action.
fN.-Obedience TO the Constitution of these Uni
ted States the supreme law of the land, sacred
ly obligatory upon all its parts and members and
steadfast resistance to the spirit of innovation
upon its principles however specious the preteXts
Avowing that in all doubtful or disputed points |
itmay only be legally ascertained and expounded |
by the judicial power of the United States
And. as a coToilary 10 the above
l. A habit Of reverential obedience to the laws.
whether National State Municipal until they I
are either repealed declared unconstitutional |
by the proper authority
2. A tender and sacred regard for those acts of
craftsmanship which TO be contra-distinguish-
ed from of ordinary legislation, by the fact of
their being of the nature OF compacts and agree
ments; and to be considered fixed and set !
tied national 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 asylum in the United States friendly /
reception and protection. But uuquaiGedly con- /
demnng the transmission to our shores, OF felOns |
and paupers- st
vf.-fhe essential modification of the NaturaIi-
zatiOn Laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures of the respeetiva
States, of all State laws allowing foreigners not
naturalized to vote
The repeal, without retroactive operation, of all
acts of Congress making grants of land 70 unnatu-
rallied foreigners, and allowing them to vote in
the Territories
VII-Hostility to the corrupt means by which
the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon Us
our rulers and our political creeds.
Implacable enmity against the prevalent demo-
raizing system of rewards for political subservi-
ency, and of punishments for political .indepen-
dence.
Disgust for the wild hunt after Office which
eharacterizes the age.
These on the one hand Cn the other =
Imitation of the practice of the purer days of
the Republic; and admiration of the maxim that
- Office should seek the man, and not man the
Office and of the rule that. the just mode of as
certaining fitness for Office is the capabiity. the
and the honesty of the incumbent or
candidate.
VIII-Resistance to the aggressive policy and
inc tend ROmaQ
Church in our country by the advancement TO all
political statiOns-eXecuive, legislative, Judicial
or diplomatie-Of those only who do not hold civil
allegiance. directly indirectly, to any foreign
power whether civil ecclesiastical and who are
Americans by birth, education and training :
thus fulfilling the maxim, e AMERICANS ONLY
SHALL GOVERN AMERICA. :
The protection of all citizens in the legal and
proper exetcise Of their civil and religious rights
every man to the full unrestrained and peaceful
enjoyment of his own religious opinions and wor-
ship. and jealous resistance of all attempts by
any sect, denomination or church to obtain an as
tendency any other in the State. by means Of
any special privileges or exemption, by any po-
itica com binaton OF its members, or by 2 "t'i- :
sion of their civil allegiance with any iofelSh
power. potentate, ecclesiasttc
IX.-iThe reform alton Of the character of our Ma
tionai Legislature, by eleTatng to that dIgnlhed
and responsible position men O. higher quauhcl- !
tons purer morals and more unsclfsh patriotism.
X-The restriction of executive patronage .
especially in the matter Of appointments to Office.
"a y |
ton and consistent with the public good.
XI.-The education of the youth Of our country
in schools provided by the State; which schools
Shall be common all without distinction of creed
or party, and free from any influence or direction
of denominational or paTtizan character $
And nasmuch Christianity by the Consttu-
tions of nearly all the States by the decisions of
the IN ost eminent judicial authorities and by the
consent Of the people OF America, is considered an
element of our political system and the Holy
Bible is at once the of Christianity, and the
and fountain of al civil and religious
ON, VIC oppose every attempt TO cxclude It
from the schools thus established in the States
XII-The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite OF the. opposition OF the
Whig and Democratic parties, cannot DO held IN
any manner responsible for the obnoxious acts or
violated pledges Of either. And the systematic
citation OF the Slavery question by those parties
having elevated sectional hostility into positive
element of political power and brought insti-
tutions into peril ii has therefore become the i'm
peratiye duty OF the American party to iGterposc,
for the purpose Of giving peace to the country and
perpetuity to the Union And as experience has
shown it impossible 10 reconcile opinions ex-
treme as those which separate the disputants and
as there can be dish0nor in submitting to the {
laws the National Council has deemed it the best
guarantee of common justice and Of future peace,
TO abide by and maintain the existing laws upon
the subject of Slavery, final and conclusive
settlement of that subject IN spirit and in sub
stance. 49,
And regarding II the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon subject important, in distinct
and uaeanivseal terms, it is hereby declared as !
the sense Of 3iis National Council that Congress ,
possesses power under the Constitution, to legis-
late upon the subject of Slavery in the States
where 1t does or may exist to exclude any
State from admission into the Union because its
Constitution does does not recognize the inst-
tuition of Slavery part of its social system
and ex pressly permitting any expression of opin
ion upon the power of Congress to establish or
prohibit Slavery in any Territory 1t is the sense
of the National Council that Congress ought not to
Al, of fi,al