The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-23

RE NEW Platsosm Of the American Party
whats The PrssRsct Hswt
The new national platform adopted by the
late American Special National Council ia
quite an improved alfair in some respects upon
he Phiiadelphia platform Of June last II
Aslds however, teaaciously to these fixed prin-
ciples:--
1. The monopoly of all the oaRees and all the
public plVnder ~ native born American citi-
zena
2. The exclusion of all Roman Catholics,
native .sr foreign born, from public Office, who
believe in the temporal or spiritual supremacy
Of the Pope.
3. A twenty. one years naturalization law
The improvements we haze spoken OF art
I. The maintenance and enforcement of oil
laws consttutionslly enacted, until said laws
she'll be repealed, or shall be declared null
and void by competent Judicial authority.
2. The authority to each State Council TO an
null their several constitutions, 60 as to abolish
the several degrees, including " the third de-
gree" and to substitute pledge OF honor in
stead Of other obligations, for fellowship and
admission into the party.
The first of these two acquisitions, prima
tacc, would seem to exact obedience to the
Fugitive Slave law, and, therefore, if thus
honestly adopted as principle Of the Know
NCthings of ME Northern States, it will be
great Improvement upon their recent affnities
and affiliations with free sellers and aboli-
tionists. The second, in granting autho
rity to the State Councils to abolish their
dark lanterns midnight conclaves and hard
swearing, is certainly step towards posi-
tive and wholesome reform. Proved that the
dark lantern and proscriptipe oath-bound
organization of this party, as originally estao-
lished, is not the thing, it is about time that a
more rational and American system OF tactics
were adopted.
In exchange, however for the Reputation Of
the &" twelfth section" of the old Philadelphia
platform, the new one gives rs three new
planks on the everlasting "nigger question:"
to wit
/. Non-intervention.
2. Adhesion to the constitutional doctrine
of squatter sovereignty and the Kansas-Ne-
braska bill, excepting always that clause OF it
granting certain unusual privileges of suffrage
to alien squatrers in the Territories, which is
repudiated.
8. An enforcement Of the principle that no
State or Territory ought to admit others
(other s9uatters) than OF the United States
to the right Oh suffrage or Of holding politi-
cal Office.
This is much better than we had any right
to expect, though we confess that, from first to
last, we have little faith in these humbugging
caucus or convention platforms OF this or any
other party. They have become more and
more the instrumentalibies Of double dealing,
tnimble-rigging and equiyocating politicians
Tor cheating the people. For example, We
dare say that this Danenhoyer platform
smooth, plain and plausible as it may appear
upon the niger question-wil be found easily
susceptible OF two distinct interpretations,
constitutionally as different in substance and
complexion as Humphrey Marshall and Fred
Douglass.
After all, then, the last hope for the nation
cleus of powerful and homogeneous ma
tional, conservative and practical party, in OPP
position to the democratic party, is in pro-
per candidate for the Presidency. A man is
wanted whose character, history, antecedents,
principles and associations are known, fixed
and universally popular-a man who will in
spire confidence and win support, with or with
out platforms sensible, matter Of fact con-
servative practical go-ahead man. The Con-
vention at Philadelphia have this important
problem now before them; and they have to
determine first, shall we make a nomination
now or defer it to some future day? Secondly,
who shall be the man?
They may possibly postpone the nomination
to May or June or July next, in which event
the party will probably be FILTERED away be-
fore they make their selection; or they may
make nomination and choose some old
broken down politician-in which case they
will be sure to find out their mistake before
November. Satisfied that whether this, that
or any other party rises or falls to pieces the
country is safe under the guardianship of the
sensible, solid constitutional masses Of the
American people, native and adopted we await
the final delivery Of this Philadelphia Council
with perfect complacency.