Daily American organ., 1856-02-16
Texas Platform.

Ihe American party OF the State of Texas, in
convention assembled, declare the cardinal prin.
| ciples of its organization:
The elevation to political offices, executive,
legislative, judicial and diplomatic Of those only
who are native Americans, or who being citizens
OF the Republic of Texas at the time of It's annex
alton to the United States, made citizens thereof
| by the act of both governments
| Ii. The preservation and perpetuaton Of the
constitution and the Federal Union as the bulwark
OF our liberties in war--and prime source of ma
tonal greatness and individual happness-and
hence,
| lst. Opposition to all attempts to weaken or de-
stroy it. ,u
| I'd. Opposition to the formation or encourage.
ment Of sectional or geographical partes---at this
time the most threatening adversary to its stability
III. A strict construction Of the Constitution Of
the United States, and the preservation Of all the
rights of the States, secured or reserved in the
constitution; inculcating forbearance and har-
monizing spirit in settling apparent or real con-
hlcts OF jurisdiction and repudiatDg the exercise
of doubtful powers by the Federal Government.
| lV. The extension Of the period for the natu
ralizaton Of foreigners to the term OF twenty-one
years; to be prospective in its operation, and the
repeal by the Legislatures Of the States in which
they exist of all laws confirming the right of suf
| frage on unnaturalized foreigners
v. Liberty OF conscience and liberty of the
| press. The right to worship God according to the
dictates Of conscience being secured by the consti-
tuition and laws, any attempt to impair or abridge
1t would strike at the liberties of the people, and
should be resisted. But this inestimable privilege
isnever to be used as pretext for violations Of
the constitution or laws, or the practice Of prin
ciples creed or system under the guise of religious
belief destructive OF the principles Of free repub-
lican government, or in conflict with the laws, and
| hence: Opposition to all " higker-law" doctrines,
which look to any power, foreign or domestic, civil
4 nlaasaa IL tLz F~u- -..I~
litical action paramount to the constitution and
| laws.
| vi. Congress possesses no power under the Con-
stitution to legisate upon slavery in the States
where II does or may exist, to refuse the admis-
sion Of new State into the Union, because its con-
stitution does or does notecognse slavery as part
Of its social system nor TO legslate upon the sub.
ject Of slavery in the Territories of the United
States; and any interference by Congress with sla
| very in the District Of Columbia would be viola.
| tion of the spirit and intention fthe compact by
which the State of Maryland ceded the District to
the United States, and breach Of the national
faith; nor should Congress repeal the Fugitive
| Slave Law. And while we dsapprove that princi-
pie Of the Kansas Nebraska act which confers the
right Of suffrage upon unnaturaized foreigners and
that which recognises the right of the Territorial
Legislature to establish or exclude slavery, we cor
daily approve the principle Of nonintervention by
Congress, and are opposed to the repeal of the act
and oppose any further agitation of the subject of
slavery in the Halls of Congress.
| VII. The enactment of laws to prevent the
transmission to our shores of felons and paupcrs
| from foreign countries.
| VIII. A constant and efficient protection of the
frontier against the predatory incursions of the In
dans, being an act justice due to the citizens of
the frontier settled thereon and measure of poll
cy necessary to the growth and prosperity Of our
State; it is the duty of the General Government
to provide such protection, and in default thereof
it is the duty Of the State government to provide
the same fully, effectualy, and promptly. slr
1 TX We adhere TO the national organization of
the American party upon the basis of the platform
of principles adopted at the Philadelphia Conven-
ton in june 16b5-recommending the next Ma
tional Convention to modify the 9th article of said
platform by striking out the words Resistance of
10 the aggressive policy and corrupting tendencies
| Of the Roman Catholic Church in our country"
| for the reason, that it has been SO much miscon-
strued as to cast upon US the imputaton of rel-
gious intolerance and desire to abridge the liber
| ty of conscience, which We utterly repudiate. "
/ But while we disclam any intention to abridge
or IMPAIR interfere with the right of any citizen
of whatever faith or denomination to worship God
according to the dictates of his own conscience,
claim the right indispensable to the security of
free institutions, to resist and oppose through the
ballot-box, every principle or policy, whether
claimed or exercised right appertaining to any
church government, or under pretext of any reli-
gous belief hostile to liberty, or liberty of con-
science. or the liberty Of the press, or liberty Of
suffrage, or to any other essential element Of lib
erty under the constitution and laws. r.,
X. 1t is declared that all secrecy, obligations
passwords and signs, are abolished E,.
j On motion, it was p
Resolved, That the electors be requested and au-
thorized to appoint subelecors in their respective
| districts. M
The following resolutions were adopted
Resolved That it is the sense of this Conven-
| ton that the assemblage of the National Conven-
tionof theAmercan party for the nomination of
didates for Presdentand Vice President at so early
period as the 22d of February next, is mpolitic;
and that the Hon. L. ID. Evans, our Representative
in Congress, be requested to represent this State
in said convention, and vote for Adjournment of
the same until some time in June or July next;
and that copy of this resolution be forwarded by
the secretary of this committee to said representa-
/ tive. e sg
| Resoived, further That committee Of five be APP
pointed by the Chair to constitute State Central
committee invested with power to call convention
of this party, conduct its correspondence and in
vested with all other powers usually pertaining to
such committee; and further, that said commit
tee have authority to appoint committee of five
in each county of this State, to conduct aud trans
/ act the business pertaining to said party in the
counties for which they are respectively appointed
The convention, during this meeting, having
called successively to the stand w. II. Henderson,
Esq, of Travis B. +. Fly, Esq, Of Gonzales, and
Hon. J. w. Flanagan, Of Rusk, were entertained
and encouraged by spirited and patriotic address
from each Of these gentlemen.
On motion, the thanks of the convention were
rendered the President and other officers for the
faithful and able manner in which they had dis
charged their respective duties.
| Pending motion Of adjournment sine die the
President rose, and having delivered an appropri-
ate valedctory to the delegates assembled, the
i cOnyention therennon adjourned accordinplv