Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-12
At regular Meeting Of the National Council, Of
thsAmerican Party, begun and held at Philadel-

.
Al regular meeting of the National Council, Of
thsAnerican Party, begun and held at Philadel-
ahja, on the 9TH of June, A. d., 1855, the fol-
lo,oirg ,oGs adopted as The Platform and Prin-
ciplss of the Organization.
1.-The acknowledgment of that Almighty Be-
Ing, who rules over the Universe, who presides
over the councils of nations, who conducts the
affairs of men, and who in every step by which
wo have advanced to the character of an indepen-
dent nation, has distinguished us by some token OF
Proyidental agency.
1.-THE cultivation and development of a SEN
timent of profoundly intense American feeling of
passionate attachment to country, its history
and its institutions of admiration for the purer
days of our nat onal existence; of veneraton, for
the heroisn that precipitated our Revolution and
of emulation of the virtue, wisdom, and patriotism
that framed our constitution and first successfully
applied its provisions.
IU-The maintenance of the union of these
United States as the paramount political good OF,
TO use the language of Washington, g the primary
Ch,ect of patriotic desire" And hence
Ist Opposition to all attempts to weaken or
subvcrt it.
Cd Uncompromising antagonism TO every prin-
ciple OF policy that endangers it.
Sd. The advocacy of an equitable adjustment Of
oil political differences which threaten its integrity
or perpetuity.
cal division, founded on geographical discrimi-
nations or on the belief that there is real differ
ence of interests and views" between the various
sections Of the Union.
9th. The full recognition of the rights of the
several States, as expressed and reserved in the
Constitution and a careful avoidance by the
General Government, of all interference with their
rights by legislative or executive action.
1V.--Obedience to the Constitution of these Uni
ted States, the supreme law of the land sacred
ly obligatory upon all its parts and members and
steadast resistance to the spirit of innovation upon
its principles, however spacious the pretexts.
Avowing that in all doubtful,r disputed points it
may only be LEGALLY ascertaiaed and expounded by
the judicial power of the United States.
And as a corollary to the above:
l. A habit of reverental obedience to the law
whether National, State, or Municipal, until they
are either repealed declared unconstitutional by
the proper authority
2. A tender and sacred regard for those acts Of
craftsmanship, which are to be contradistinguished
from acts OF ordinary legislation, by the fact of
their being of the nature of compaets and agree
mcnts; and 80, to be considered fixed and settled
national policy.
VA radical revision and MODIFICATION Of the
laws regulating immigration and the settlement Of
immigrants. Offering to the honest immigrant who,
from love of liberty or hatred of oppression, seeks
an asylum in the United States, friendly recep-
ton and protection. But unquali6edly condemn
ing the transmission to our shores of felons and
paupe,s.
vi. The essential modification of the Natural
izaton Laws. -
The repeal by the Legislatures of the respective
States, of all State laws allowing foreigners not
naturalized to vote.
The repeal, without retroactive operation of all
acts of Congress making grants of land to unnatu-
rallied foreigners, and allowing them to vote in
the Territories.
VH.-Hostility to the corrupt means by which
the leaders of party have hitherto forced upon us
our rulers and our political creeds.
Implacable enmity against the prevalent demoral-
izing system of rewards for political subservency,
and Of punishments for political independence.
Diagust for the wild hunt after Office which char
acterizes the age. st ~
These on the one hand. On the other -
Imitation Of the practice of the purer days Of
tho Republic and admiration of the maxim that
"ofice should seek the man, and not man the Of
fee" and of the rule that the just mode of ascer
tanning fitness for Office is the capsbty, the faith
fulness, and the honesty of the incumbent can
didate.
VIII,-Resistance to the aggressive policy and
cc-Tupting tendencies of the Roman Catholic
Church in our country by the advancement to all
political stations xecutive, Legislative judicial
diplomatic---of those only who do not hold civil
allegiance, direcuy or 1nulreCtiy, 10 any IOrelgn
power whether civil or ecclesiastical, and who are
Americans by birth, education and training-thus
fulfilling the maxim: AMERICANS ONLY SHALL
GOVERN AaERICA" aut
Tho protection of all citizens in the legal and
proper exercise Of their civil and religious rights
iapi privileges; the maintenance Of the right of
every man to the full unrestrained and peaceful on
jcyReld OF his own religious opinions and worship,
and jealous resistance of all attempts by any sect
denomination or church, to obtain an ascendency
over any other in the State, by means of any
special privileges or exemption, by any political
combination OF its members, or by division OF
their civil allegiance with any foreign power po-
tentate, or ecclesiastic.
IX.-The reformation of the character Of our
National Legislature by eevsting TO that dignified
and responsible position men of higher quaIifica
tioas, purer morals, and more unseish patriotism
X-Ths restriction Of executive patronage, es-
pecally IN the matter of appointments to Office, so
far a. it may be permitted by the Constitution, and
consistent with the public good.
Mr--The education of the youth Of our country
10 schools provided by tho State which scbools
shall be common 10 all, without distinctG9J cree'