Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-26
Platform Of the American Party OF the
state Of Mississippi.


Platform Of the American Party Of the
state Of Mississippi.
The following appears officially in the columns
of the Natchez (Miss.) Courier
| We advocate such modification Of the natu-
ralizaton laws as win remedy the existing evils
growing out of the same or, In case the purity Of
the elective franchise cannot otherwise be pre-
served, then we advocate their total repeal.
We advocate the passage OF stringent law, by
the proper authorities, to prevent the immigration
hither of foreigners who are either paupers or
criminals.
We shall vigorously maintain and defend the
vested rights Of all persons whether they be native
or foreign born.
We believe America should be governed by
Americans, effecting the same through the ballot
box alone, the great and legitimate instrument Of
all political reform in our country.
We oppose and protest against all abridgment Of
religious liberty, holding 1t as . cardinal maxim,
that religious faith Is question between each In
dividual and his Cod and that the Bible Is the great
fountain and depository of the true religious doc
trines Of this country.
We will maintain and defend the Constitution of
the United States as II ia, the Union as 1t was in
tended by our fathers, and the rights Of the States
without diminution; insisting upon and demanding
faithful performance by the General Government,
Of all the duties enjoined upon It by that Con-
sttution.
We war with no party as such, but oppose all
who oppose US In these great American doctrines
The principles which we advocate are paramount
to any local question of State policy, and as the
American party we will make no attempt to re-
vive the question of the payment Of the Union or
Planters Bank bonds.
"The Kirwan Letters to the Right Rev. John
Hughes, Bishop of New York" are to be issued in
new edition, at an early day, and with an intro
ductory letter from their able author. From the
advance proof sheets we copy the following, which
is a part Of the Introductory letter:
The controversy with this politicospiritual power
has hitherto been too much confined to its dog
matic side, and to ministers and the pulpit It's
doctrines have been discussed and confuted, until,
If Scripture, learning, reason, could do anything,
not shred Of them is left. But what did the
priests care about that their people never read?
Presenting on the apathy Of the country as to
forms Of faith, and on the strength of old party
ties, which were supposed to be made Of wrought
iron, and on the corruption of politicians and
placeseekers, who, it was thought, would yield
anything to secure their election, and on their
power to sway the votes OF their own followers,
which induced the belief that they could make
them over to the party which would yield most to
their demands, the bishops and priests became
bold and imperious, and strongly political. The
foreign vote ruled the election, and in New York
it was put up by Bishop Hughes to the highest
bidderi Each year the price was raised. The
Bible must be put out of our schools. Then the
Romish schools must be supported from the pub
lie funds; then foreigners must share the political
Offices; then Papists must be In the cabinet, and
cur ministers to foreign courts and then bishops
must be consulted about laws before passed to a
third reading, to see If they would suit And
the question was aaked to what all this would grow
and the result Is, that party lines have given way
and that, rather than be thus t-azed, and fretted
and goaded on from year to year by these foreign
priests to some new surrender Of great principles,
all parties are fused into great American party,
determined to stand by the Constitution and the
Bible. And now the controversy has passed over
f om the priest and preacher TO the politicians
from the pulpit and the tabernacle to tho legsla-
tive halls of Washington and of nearly every State
| in the Union-from the religious to the secular
press; and from the few ardent opposers Of the
system into the hands Of the people; and the lam
guage of the country to the priests and the people
Of Rome is, You shall be protected In your rights
you are welcome TO our immunities all the ways
of business are open to you, as to our own chill
dren; viii clothe you II naked, feed you IL hun.
| cry, take care Of you II sick; we win educate your
children as our own; but we viii make our own
laws, appoint our own magistrates and rulers, and,
without any interference from you or your master,
we will govern ourselves and educate our children
| The religion which you would bring US We now
understand. Il has shed the blood Of our fathers
It is nimica TO all ourinstitutions rule or ruin Is
| its motto; il has been the ferocious enemy Of the
race--H u not tie ysiigion for America
"Thou mayest hold serpent by the tongue,
A Gagged lion by the mortal paw,
A fasting tiger safer by the tooth,
Than keep In peace with Rome.n