The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-03-08
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

Ian hulnhle acknowledgement tosthe Supreme
Bpsng Who rn51k the Universe for Hin prosscting
care ~xodachsai1 sstc onf fathers in Their saece ND
rss 'tssir' dssss kf sssg9 ls ssS5es mesefsa.i %an os ssSs # !,
critics, the independence and the union ofthes4 4f23
III. The peff8@tuationof the FederalsU nionH
palladium Of onr civil and religious liberties, and thtI
only sure bulwark Of American independence sSAASa
iii. 1fnenjcnup assst fli4a 1rnerica; md totiisend
ndtipe born Citizens should be selected for all State,
Federal and Municipal Offices or5 SoyeInmen em-
[ployIsnt, in preference TO naturalized citizens nea-
~. Persons born IL American parents residing
| temporarily abroad should be entitled to oil the rights
Of native b0tlSitizensS butt
v. No person Should be selected for poiitical sta
ton, {whethefnf native or foreign birth, d Who recog-
nizess my iaileigiaanee or obligation of' any description
to any foreign prince, potentate Of power, or who
refuses ID recogEixethe Federal and State Constitli.5
tons 9each within IT, s I.a!s , y paramount " y ~
Vi The unqualified recognition -saintenancel
cultivation 81 hanshloNy ana irafersl1a. wil bes
tween the citizens Of the several Stdsf S.dnd TO tins
arpertaining solely to the individnfFsstates, and
non.interyshtion by each statewithtg sof any
other State ~
born and nataralized citizens u fIss States,
permanently residing in any Territory bsefesf 70
frame their Constitution and laws, and to leguiate
their domestic and social affairs, in their own mode,
II SuUJcCL Only VI but pEuVislpus VI VIZ COhHNA
tuition, with tie right Of admission into the Union
Whenever they have the requisite population for one
Representative in Congress; Prorided elt'ays, That
none but those who are citizens OF the United states,
under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who
have o fixed residence in any such Territory, ought
TO participate in the formation of the Constitution or
in the enactment Of laws for said Territory or State.
VIII. An enforcement OF the principle that no
State or Territory can admit Others than native born
i~eitjzens TO the right Of snfffage or Of holding petit
cal Office unless such persons shall have been naha-
ralized according to the laws Of the United States.
IX. a change III the laws Of naturalization, making
acontinned residence Of twenty-one years, Of oil MOI
heretofore, provided for, an indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paafefs
and persons convicted of crime, from landing npoI
our shores fabut no interference with the Svestet
X. Opposition to any union between Church ane
State; no interference with religious faith or worship
and no test oathss for office, except those indicated ii
the fifth section of this platform. FsG ss
XI. Free and thorough investigation into any AM
all alleged abuses ofspublic tunctionaiies, and o stric
economy in public expenditures
XII. The maintenance and enforcement of oil law.
until said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared
null and void by competent Judicial authority.
KILL. ODpositionto the reckless and unwise polio,
of the present Administration i'll the general manage
nieft of our national affairs, and more especially o
shown in removing i" Americans 7 (by designation
land conservatives in principle from Office, and placint
foreigners and ~ultraists in their places; as shown II
a trucking subseryicncy to the stronger, and mn in
solent and cowardly brayado towards the wcake
powers; as shown fl reopening sectional agitation
by the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise; as show
in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right t
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in it
Facilitating course on the Kansas and Nebrasks ques
tion; as shown in the removal of Judge Bronson troI
the Cellectorship Of NewYork upon false and i.nten
able grounds; as shown in disgracing m~eritoriou
naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and a
shown in the blundeiing acknowledgement Of our fol
eign relations.
KY. Therefore. to remedy existing evils, and pre-
vent the disastrous Consequences otherwise resIs'-'
therefrom, we would build up the Ameri~
upon the principles hereinbefere stated
all sectional questions, and uniting tbs
tional, and admitting into said party
citizens (refcYred to in the third, fom
s~ections) who openly avow the principle
ions heretofore expressed, and who viii
their names to this platform; Provided, nesa
that a majority Of those members presen
meeting of q local council, where an applicant
for membership in the American Party, may.
reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admiss
such applicant. ~ "a
XIV. A free and open discussion of all poll
s principles embraced in our platform.
~