The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-05-17

I. Al humble acknowledgement TO the Supreme
Ring Who rules the Universe for His projecting
~, vsehssitd y Gar fsshs sss,, IN sn man saceeSsl "
- e ilscendants in the preservation. Of the lib
erfags he Independtnce and the union 81 these STATES
II. Fhe rcrpetusAon 81 the Federal Union az the
palladium of car Owl and religious liberties, ana t1e
only sure balwask Of American Independence;
Ill AmeicsHs nsst rule Aasesica; and 70 this end
xnt;va Nm citizens should be selected for all State,
FederaI snd Municipal Offices or Government en-
plcyment. 10 preference to natnralizcd cls'Sens "s0'
9ytkeiess.
Nv. Parsons horn of American parents residing
Temporarily abroad should be entitledto all the rights
Of native born citizens; but
". NJ person shoald be selected for political sta
ton, whether Of native Or foreign biftn9 xno ieeog,
to any foreign prince, potentat1e or power, or VINO
refuses Is recognize tie Federal and State Constit9.
tons (eech within It's sphere) "a paramount to all
other laws - rules q political action.
of the reserved rights Of the several States. and the
cultivation az harmony and .~fraternal good will be-
tween the citizens Of the several States; and to this
end, non.inter1erence by Congress with questions
appertaininS solely to the individual States, and
naon.intervention by each State with the affairs Of any
VII, The recognition Of the right Of the native
born and naturalixed citizens Of the United States,
pe,manently residing in any Territory thereof, 70
their domsstic and social %afairs, in their own mode,
subject only to the provisions Of the Federal Constr
tuition, with the right Of admission INTO the Union
whenever they have the requisite population for one
Representative in Congress; P'ovided al.cays. that
none but those who are citizens Of the United States,
under the Constitution and q thereof, and who
have . 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.
WIN. An enforcement Of the principle that no
State or Territory can admit others than native born
citizens to the right Of suffrage, or Of holding poiiti-
cal ONCE, unless such persons shall have been natu-
rslised according to the laws Of the United States.
TX. A change In the laws Of naturalization making
. continued residence Of twenty-one years, OF all not
heretafore provided for, an indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers,
ind persons convicted Of crime, from landing upon
our shores bnt no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners. ~ @ !.
4 x. Opposition to any union between Church and
State; no interference with religious faith or worship,
and no test oaths for Office, except those indicated in
the fifth section Of this platform.
XXI. Free and thorough investigation into any and
all alleged abuses Of public fncti0naries, and o strict
economy in public expenditures.
XII. The maintenance and enforcement Of all laws
until said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared
null and VOID by competent judicial authority.
AZ XIII. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy
of the present Administration in the general manage
ment Of our national affairs, and more especially as
shown in removing " Americans " Iby designation)
foreigners and ~ultraists in their places; as shown in
q truckling snbserviency TO the stronger, and an in
solent and cowardly bravado towards the weaker
powers; O. shown in reopening sectional agitation,
by the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise; as shown
ia granting to unnatufalized foreigners the right to
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its
Mcillsting course on the Kansas and Nsbrasks CUES.
ton; ~ shown In the removal Of Judge Bronson from
the 0oilectorship Of NewYork upon false and unten.
able grounds; as shown in disgracing meritorious
naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as
shown in the laundering Encouragement Of our for
eign relations.
4 XIV. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and pre-
vent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting
therefrom, vi would build up the American Party
upon the principles hereinbefore stated, eschewing
MI sectional questions, and uniting those purely ma
tional, and admitting into said party all American
citizens (rfcrred 70 in the third, fourth and mt
sections) who openly avow the principles and opin
ions heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe
their names to this platform; Provided, nevertheless
that . majority Of those members present at any
meeting Of . local council, where an applicant appliel
for membership In the American Party, may, for any
reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admission Il
such applicant.
XIV. A free and open discussion Of all politica
principles embraced in our platform.