The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-03-07
THE AMERICAN PLATFORM.

We md the following in the papers, as the
Platform adopted by the American National
Council at Philadelphia, in lieu of the one
adopted in June last:
LIST. An humble acknowledgement to the
Supreme Being who rules the universe Tor
His protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers
in their successful Revolutionary struggle,
and hitherto manifested to us, their descend
ants, in the preservation of the liberties, the
independence, and the union of these States.
%. The perpetuation of the Federal Union,
as the palladium Of our civil and religious
liberties, and the only sure bulwark OF Amer
lean Independence.
Sd AmericaHs must rule Aiaeried, and to
this end, nGtige born citizens should be select
ed for all State, Federal and municipal Offices
or government employment, in preference to
naturallzed citizens; nevertheless,
4th. Persons born of American parents re-
siding temporarily abroad, should be entitled
to all the rights of native-born citizens; but
9Th. No person should be selected for po-
litical station, whether Of native or foreign
birth who recognizes any allegiance or obl:-
CATION of any description to any foreign
prince, potentate or power, or VINO refuses to
recognize the Federal and state constitutions
leach within its sphere) as paramount to all
other laws as rules Of political action.
9th. The unqualified recognition and main
tenanee of the reserved rights of the sew
eral States, and the cultivation OF harmony
and fraternal good will, between the citizens
of the several States, and to this end nom
interference by Congress with questions APP
pertaining solely to the individual States,
and non intervention by each State with the
affairs of any other State
18th. The recognition of the right Of the
native. born and n,turalized citizens of the
United States permanently residing in any
Territory thereof, to frame their constitution
and laws; and to regulate their domestic and
social affairs in their own mode, subject only
to the provisions of the Federal Constitution,
with the right of admission into the Union
whenever they have the REQUISITE population
for one Representative in Congress. Pro
Uided, dLlcdyS, That none but those who are
citizens of the United States under the con
stitution and laws thereof and who have a
fixed residence in any such Territory. ought
to participate in Che formation of the consti-
tuition or in the enactment Of laws for said
Territory or State.
Sth. An enforcement of the principle that
no State or Territory can admit other than
native-born citizens to the right of suffrage,
or of holding political office, unless such per-
son shall have been naturalized according to
the laws of the United States.
9th. A change in the laws Of naturalza-
ton, making a continued residence of twenty
one years, of all not heretofore provided for
indispensably requisite for citizenship hereaf.
ter, and excluding all paupers, and persons
convicted Of crime, from landing upon our
shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners.
| 10Th 0nnoqitinn m INV uninn hot yyaan
Church and State, no interference with re.
ligious faith or worship, and no test oaths for
office, except those indicated in the 9th sec
ton of this platform.
18th. Free and thorough investigation into
any and all alleged abuses of public func.
tionaries, and strict economy in public ex-
penditure.
18th. The maintenance and enforcement
of all laws until said laws shall be repealed
or shall be declared null and void by compe.
tent judicial authority.
18th. Opposition to the reckless and un.
wise policy of the present administration in
the general management of our national af.
fairs, and more especially as shown in remov.
ing "Americans" (by Gesignation) and con
servatives in principle, from Office, and placing
foreigners and ultraists in their places; as
shown in trucking subserviency to the
stronger, and an insolent and cowardly bra
vado towards the weaker powers; as shown
in reopenng sectional agitation, by the re-
peal OF the Missouri Compromise, as shown
in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the
right Of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as
shown in its Facilitating course on the Kansas
and Nebraska question; as shown in the re-
mova of Judge Bronson from the Collector
ship of New York upon false and untenable
| rrnnpIs. oh in ba Obi oh
pervade some of the departments Of the gov.
erment: as shown in disgracing meritorious
naval officers through prejudice or caprice;
and as shown in the laundering mismanage-
ment Of our foreign relations.
14th. Therefore, to remedy existing evils,
and to prevent disastrous consequences 9th
erwise resulting therefrom, we would build
up the american party" upon the principles
herein before stated eschewing all sectional
questions, and uniting upon those purely
national, and admitting into said party all
American citizens, (referred to in the Sd, 4th
and 9TH sectlon,) who openly avow the prn.
cipes and opinions heretofore expressed aud
who will subscribe their names to this plat
form. Provided. nevertheless, that a MAORI
ty of those members present at any meeting
of local Council where an applicant applies
for membership. the American party may, for
any reason by them deemed sufficient, deny
admission to such applicant.
18TH free and open discussion of all po-
litical principles embraced in our platform.
r1Y- The Georgia Citizen declines for the
present to go for the nominees OF the PhiIa-
delpha Convention. The editor says Fillmore
will do, but Donelson wont. Our philoso-
phic friend of the Chattanooga Gazette says,
'if the head goes right, the tail must follow
The conclusion here indicated had not, per-
haps, presented itself to the mind Of our
Georgia contemporary, who concludes his ar