The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-19
TIE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

I. An humble acknowledgement to the Supreme
Being who rules the Universe for His protecting
care, vouclsafed to our fathers III their successful
revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to
MS, their descendants, in the preservation Of the lib
critics, the independence and the union Of these States,
IL. The perpetuation of the Federal Union as the
palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the
only sure bulwark Of American independence.
III. americans must RUE lnsGrica; and to this end
nctire born citizens should be selected for all State,
Federal and Municipal Offices or Government EN-
ployment, in preference to naturalized citizens ncc-
eytheless.
". Persons born of American parents residing
temporarily abroad should be entitled TO all the rights
of native born citizens; but
V. No person should he selected for political sta
ton, whether Of native or foreign Dirth,) who recog-
nizcs any Allegiance OF obligation Of any description
to any foreign prince, pottntate or power, or VINO
refuses to recognize the Federal and State C~onstitll-
tons leach within its splere) as paramount to all
other laws Us rules of political action.
vi. The unqualified recognition and maintenance
of the reserved rights of the several States, and the
cultivation Of harmony and fraternal good will be-
tween the citizens of the several States; and to this
end, non-interference by Congress with questions
appertaining solely to the individual States, and
noi-intervention by each State with the affairs of any
other State.
VII. The recognition of the right of the native
born and naturalized citizens of the United States,
permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to
frame their Constitution and laws, and to regulate
tllclF uOmCSllC lHu SoSlaI dlIla All bIiSi " hhOASJ
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; Provided dt,eays, that
none bat those who are citizens of the United States,
under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who
ht&e q 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.
NssL An enforcement of the principle that no
Stast or Territory can admit others than native born
cith ens to the right Of suffrage, or OF holding pohtl-
cal Gffce. unless such persons shall have been natu-
&fzed according to the Il of the United states.
TX. A change in the laws of naturalization, making
n continued residence of twenty,one years, of all not
heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers,
and persons convicted of crime, from landing upon
our shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners.
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.
ri. Free and thorough investigation into any and
all alleged abuses Of public tunctionaries, and a strict
economy in public expenditures.
XII. The maintenance and enforcement of NIL laws
until said laws shall be repealed. or shall be declared
null and void by competent judicial authority.
&lII. Opposition to the reckless and unWise policy
of the present Administration i'll the general manage
ment Of our national affairs, and more especially as
shown in removing " Americans" (by designatiou)
and conservatives in principle from Office, and placing
foreigners and nltrflst5 III Their places; as SHOWN IN
n trucking subseryieney to the stronger, and an IN
solent and cowardly brayado towards the weaker
powers; as shown i'll reopening sectional agitation,
by the repeal of the Missouri Compromises as shown
n, Granting to unnaturalizcd foreigners the right to
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its
facilitating course on the Kansas and Nehrasks cues
ton; as shown in the removal of Judge Bronson from
the Collectorship of NewYork Upon false and unten-
able grounds; as shown in disgraelns mefitonous
naval officers through prejudice or caprice; anu as
shown in the laundering mismanagement Of our for
eign relations. DE-
XIV. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and pre-
vent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting
thefetrom, we would build up the American Party
upon the principles lereinbetore stated, eschcwing
all sectional questions, and uniting those purely ma
tional, and admitting into said party all American
citizens Preferred to in the third, fourth and fifth
~sectioas) who openly avow the principles and opin-
ions heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe
their names to this platform; Provided, nevertheless,
that Il majority of those mclubers present at any
meeting offs local council, where an applicant applies
for membership in the American Party, may, for any
reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admission to
such applicant.
Nv. A free aud open discussion OF all political
principles embraced in our platform.