Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-04
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY,
Adopted at the Session Of the National Council,
February 81 1856

LIST An humble acknowledgement the Supreme Being for
his protecting voucaed fathers in their
ful Revolutionary struggle and hitherto manifested to
their descendants in the preservation Of the beries the
independence, and the union Of these States.
ID The perpetuation Of the Federal Union the paa
dum Of civil and religious liberties, and the only
bulwark Of American Independence
Sd Americans must rls ADlericd and to this end, ald
rebon citizens should be selected for all State Federal and
municipal Offices government employment, in preference
10 all others nevertheless,
4th Persons born of American parents residing Temporal
ry abroad should be entitled to all the rights Of native born
citizens but,
9Th No person shoud be selected for political station
(heher Of native foreign brh who recognises any
glance obligation Of any description any foreign prince
potenate power who refuses recognise the Federal
and Constitutions (each within pher paramount
to all other laws, as rules Of political action
9th The unqualified recognition and maintenance Of the
reserved rights Of the several States, and the cultivation Of
harmony and aternal good will between the citizens Of the
several States and to this end nonneeence by Congress
with questions appertaning solely the individual States
and nonntervenon by each State with the Affairs Of any
other State
7h. The recognition Of the right Of the natvebom and
nRturazed citizens Of the United States permanently resd
ing any Territory thereof frame their constitution and
laws regulate their domestic and social affairs in their
mode subject only the provisions Of the Federal
Constitution with the privilege Of admission into the Union
whenever they have the requisite population for Repre-
sentative Congress Prori6ed 0l,rds that but
Soe who are citizens the United States under the
stution and laws thereof fixed residence
any such Territory ought participate in the formation Of
constitution the Of laws for said Terri
tory State.
Sh An enforcement Of the principle that State Ter
riorv ought 10 admit others than citizens United
States the right Of suffrage Of holding political Office
9Th change in the laws Of naturalization, making
nued residence twenyone years. Of all not hereinbeore
provided for indispensable requisite for citizenship here
after and excluding all paupers and persons convicted
crime from landing upon shores; but interference
with the vested rights Of foreigners.
10th Opposition any union between Church and state;
interference with religious faith or worship and no test
oaths for office.
l1th Free and thorough investigation into any and all
edged abuses Of public upctonares and strct economy
in public expenditures.
18TH The maintenance and enforcement Of all laws
situtonaly enacted, until said laws shall be repealed or
shall be declared null and void by competent Judicial
thority. o.
18Th Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy Of the
present administration in the general management Of
nat0nu affairs, and especially shown IN removing
American" (v designation and conservatives princi
pie from office and placing foreigners and uasts IN their
paces shown trucking subserency 30 the stronger,
and aB nsoeut and towards the weaker
powers shown in reopening sectional agitation by the
unnatrazrI freigpers the right of Suffrage in nsss and
Nebraska; shown in its vascilatng on the Kansas
and Nebraska question; shown in the brruptons which
pcrvade Of the departments Of the Government
shown dsgracing mertorous naval officers through pre-
judce caprice and shown in the blunderng mismaR
arement of our foreign atons.
14h. Therefore remedy existing evils and prevent the
disastrous consequences otherwise resulting thereom
would build the American Party" upon the principles
hefeinbeforc stated
10Th. That each Council shall have authority to
amend their several constitutions abolish the several
degrees aud institute pledge OF honor instead Of other
obligations Tor fell wshp and admission into the party.
10th free and open discussion Of all political principles
embraced 10 platform.