Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-04-12
Platform Of the Natio1al American
Party.

LIST. An humble acknowledgement Of the
Supreme being who rules the universe. for
his protecting care vouchsafed to our father rs
! IN their successful revolutionary struggle. and
hitherto manifested to us, their descendants.
| in the preservation of the liberties, the inde-
pendence and the union Of these States.
"a. lhe perpetua6Dn of the Federal Union.
as the palladium OF our civil and religious
liberties. and the only sure bulwark of Amer
lean independence
| Sd. Americans must rule America: and
to this end native born citizens should be Sc
lected ioz all State, federal and municipal
offices or government employment, in pre-
ference to naturalized citizens nevertheless,
| oath. Persons born of American parents re-
siding temporarily abroad should be entitled
to all the rights OF native born citizen :
| but,
| 5th. No person should be selected for po-
lltlcal station whether of native or foreign
birth) who recognizes any allegiance or obIi-
CATION OF any desc ri pton to any foreign prince.
! potentate or power, or who refuses to recog-
nize the Federal and State Constitutions
leach within its sphere) as paramount to all
other laws, as rules of political faction.
9th. The unqualified recognition and main
| taihance OF the reserved rights Of the several
States, and the cultivation of harmony and fra
| ternal good will between the citizens OF the
several States, and to this end, nom interference
by Congress with questions appartaining solely
to the individual States, and non-inte,vention
by each State with the affairs of any other
State
7th. The recognition of the right Of natu.
rallzed and ative-born citizens Of the United
States. permanently residing in any Territory
thereof. to frame their constitution and laws.
and to regulate their domestic and social af-
fairs in their own mode. subject only to the
provisions of the Federal Constitution. with
the right of admission into the Union when
ever they have the requisite population for one
Representative IN Congress, provided always,
that none but those who are citizens of the Uni
ted States. under the constitution and laws
thereof. and who !have a fixed residence in any
such Territory. ought to participate in the for
nation OF the constitution, or in the enact.
ment of laws for said Territory or State.
sth. 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 poIitica! office, unless such person
shall have been naturalized according to the
laws Of the United States.
9Th. A change in the laws Of naturalization
making continued residence: OF twenty zone
years, OF all not heretofore provided for, an
Indispensable requisite tor 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. Opposition to any union between
Church and State no inteIt renee with reli-
yious faith, or worship, and no test oatlis tor
cffi ind fnt
tion of this platform.
tn. Free and thorough investigation into
any and all alleged abuses of public Junction.
aries: and strict economy in public expend-
lures.
18th. The maintenance and enforcement Of
all laws until said laws shall berepealea. or
shall be declared null and void by competent
judicial authority.
18th Opposition t. the reckless and unwise
policy of the present Administration in the
and more especially as shown in removing
Americans 10y designation and co.'s ,rvative
in principle. from office, and placing torignes |
and uitraists in their places as shown ina
suoserviency to the stronger, aid
an insolent and cowardly bravado towaIs
the weaker powers as shown in re-openng
sectional agitation, by the repeal of the Mis-
sour Compromise; as shown in granting to
foreigners the right to suf;age
in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in the
course on the Kansas and Ne ras-
ka question; as shown in the removd OF
Judge Bronson from the Collectorship of New
York upon false and untenable ground.: as
shown in the corruptions which pervad ekome
of the departments of the Governments as
shown in disgracing meritorious naval officers
through prejudice or caprice; ard as dnown
in the blundering n1ismanagenent of dlz fer
cign relations.
l4th. Therefore, to remedy existing evils,
and prevent the disastrous consequences 9TH
erwise we would build up the "A nerican
party" upon the principles hereinbe'ore STA
ted, eschewing all sectional questions, and
uniting upon those purely national, ard admit
ting into said party all American citizens.
(reterred to in the Sd 4th and 5th sectlons)
who openly avow the PRINCIPLES and opinions
heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe
their names to this platform, Provided, new
ertbeless that a majority of those members
present at any meeting Of a loal council
where an applicant applies for membership
in the American party may for any reason
by them deemed sufficient, deny admission to
such applicant.
18th. A free and open discussion OF all po-
itical principles embraced in our platform,
[oFFIc1AL.l