Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-06-01
The Know Nothing Platform.

Nothingism pleases the Council" or
not, we continue our review Of the
platform that has been cobbled up for
Know Noth;ngs to stand on. And. in
doing so. we are but reiterating the
sentiments we frequently advanced,
during the canvass last summer, and
from time to time. before and since.
and we now allude to them more for
the benefit Of our numerous new read
ers. than for any other purpose. Find
ing in the ceremonies Of initiation TO
the hated secret order. some express
sions that we thought inconsistent with
these views. we stopped the grand
pow-wow, for explanation. and we
were assured that the order contempla-
ted nothing more than correction Of
the abuses we have alluded to. and
hence we pitched in" and we are
ready topitch out whenever il changes
It's platform or purposes. We will
never allow any set Of men in secret
or public caucuses, 10 make aplatform
for our adoption--no. never. and we
shall constantly teach all men this alb
horrenco Of parting with personal
rights. But to the platform;
Fiji. We shall maintain the doc.
trine that no one oil tie States has the
right 10 admit 10 tn enjoyment Of free
Suffrage any person OF foreign birth.
VINO has not been frat made citizen
Of the United States. according to the
uniform rule" OF naturalization pre-
scribed by Congress. under the pro.
visions Of the constitution.
That suits US exactly. II is sound
TO the core. We believe that II there
was any way Of appealing the consti-
tuition Of Indiana. II would be found
unconstitutional. Give US a uniform
rule" rigidly enforced. and We do not
think the length Of probation need be
increased. Let US try the rule. at all
events. before frightening the term oil
probation.
SixtA. We shall oppose. now aud
hereafter. any ''tmion Of Church a no
STATE" no matter what class OF reli
gionists shall seek to bring about sucl
union.
BAIL We can't help thinking 1
man Is a fool or a knave who incorpor,
ates such an article in his polilica
creed. He might just as well say h'
Is opposed 10 the adoption Of heridi
tary monarchy. No man but dema
gogue ever uses such q clap traI
phrase. for want Of something sensi
BILE.
Seventh. We shall vigorously main
tain the vested rights Of all persons
ofnatiye or foreign birth. and shall a
all times oppose the slightest interior
ance with such vested rights.
What the man means by vests'
rights we do not know. AS he is get
ting up a creed for the Southern eli
mate. we suppose It means that maj
born in Africa and vested in planta,
ton has no rights. Why don't he sa,
that he will maintain the rights Of ev.
cry man so far as they do not conaic
with the rights Of others?
Eighth. We shall oppose and pro
test against all abridgsmsnf Qfreligio,l
liberty. holding il as a cardinal maxim
that reiigioasta ithis a question betwee
each individual and his God, and owe
which no political government. O
other human power, can rightiully eS
ereisc any supervision or control, a
any time. in any place, or in an
form.
Add. and we shall oppose all pro
scription, on account Of religious faitl
and all counting Of one sest, at h
expense Of another. and you may.ha'
our assent to this article also. w
oppose the prescription Of Catholic
as we would oppose the proscriptic
of any denomip alton. but ut the san
time. while they require certain col
cessions. that others may not ha'
we must oppose them, not becau
they are catholics. but because tn,
are exclusive and unreasonable.
Eintk. We shall oppose all higher la
doctrines. by which the constitution
to be set at nought. violated. or disr
garded, whether by politicians. By ,
hgionists. or by the adherents or folio
ers Of either, or by any other class
persons.
This article Of faith is indispensit
to the latitude Of Washington. but
never can be assented to among fire.
men. Those who are leading in I
true Know Nothing movement in
North, are believers in the "higt
law" doctrine. II is love of Il
higher law that gave the movemt
birth. 1t was to retain the. bible
our schools, that first aroused prot
tant Americanism. When a VIII
party was ready to sacrifice our f
school system, and Danish from il
great charter Of human liberty.
Americans who love their country
their bibles, said they would hen
forth act with,and for Americans.
1t viii be useless for slavery pro
gandists to attempt to sieze upon
present movement to strengthen tb
cause, or weaken the cause Oh III
opponents. In the north we can
lieve in the "higher law" and yet
prove those who would sell US Q