The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-11-19
Platform of the American Party o, Alabama.


The following platform Of the American
party Of Alabama was adopted by the State
Council of the American party of Alabama,
at an extra session of tie Council, held in the
city of Montgomery, on the 18th day of No
vember, 1855:
Resoluel. That we regard the Philadelphia Plat
form political compact entered into, by the
North and the South with the hope Of giving peace
and stability to the Union. But the spirit of that
compact having been violated by the passage of
Resolutions treuching on our rights and equality,
by several OF the State Councils of the North, we
do now, therefore, declare, that we deem it neces-
sary and proper clearly and fully to define the po-
sitiOn Of the American party Of Alabama repudi.
ating every construction of the duties and oblIga-
tons imposed by the constitution and rules of any
portion of the National Organization F" vioative
Of, or conflicting with, the principles hereinafter
avOwed. And that all the pass words secrets signs
and ceremOnials which may heretofore have been
observed, are hereby abolished Discarding, there.
fore, non essentials, will but the more seadfastly
adhere to our organization, and the holding and
maintaining of the following more fully expressed
Cardinal principles of the great American party.
FIRST. A strict construction Of the Constitution
Of the United States.
SECOND. Stern and answering devotion to the
Union under the Constitution as above construed +:
and unceasHg resistance to all lactous and section
al attempts, emanate whence they may, to weaken
its bonds
THIRD. Congress has no power TO legslate upon
the question of slavery in the States where it ex-
lists, exclude any State from admission into the
Union because its Constitution does or does not.
recognize the institution OF slavery or to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia The Fugitive
Slave law should be maintained and vigorously en-
forced. No law regulation shall be attempted
by Congress touching the question OF slavery in the
Territories; but that it shall cease TO agitate the
question of slavery in any form. We regard
strict adherence to the principles and views of this
section absolutely essential to the peace and perpe
tuty Of the Union; and We 90 pledge ourselves
one to the other, that we viii affiliate with 10 par
ty, nor support any for office, under the gov
eminent of the State, or Of the United States who
does not publicly aud unequvocay ayow the prin.
ciples OF this section, without change or abate-
ment
FOURTH. All foreigners who have come TO this
cOunry, under the guarantees of our laws and have
been properly and legally naturalized according to
existing forms, fully and legally entitled to all
the civil and religious privileges conferred by our
constitution and laws and shall be fully and effect
ually protected in them.
FIFTH. A radical change in the Naturalization
laws is required by the exigencies of the country
so as to affect all foreigners coming into the coun
try, after its enactment, and to prevent the trans
portston and immigration OF paupers and criminals
of other countries.
SIXTH. Americans should give laws to America
SEVENTH. Entire religious liberty-hOlding that
all men have right to worship God according to
their own cUnsciences we will maintain strict sep
aratiOn of Church and State, and oppose all higher
tanO men, whether papal protestant; and that all
men who hold or acknowledge right to violate the
Constitution under any preence of civil privileges
or religious belief or whose allegiance to the Con.
stitution is subject TO be sbsoved by any foreign
power on earth, are wholly unfit to hold Office in
this republican country.
EIGHTH. Practical economy in the administration
of public affairs, State and Federal.
NINTH Opposition to old party hacks and dem
agogues, and the promotion to Office of men honest
and capable.
TENTH Purity Of the ballot box and peace at
elections; the right of each citizen his political
opinions being inalienable.
ELEVENTH. No step backward from the Georgia
platform.