The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-02-09
Political.
Platform and Principles Of the
American Organization.

Being who rules over the Universe, who
prcsidcs over the councils of nations,-who
conducts the affairs of men, and who, in every
step by which we have advanced to the char
acter of an independent nation, has distin.
guished US by some token Of Providencial
agency.
H.-Thc cultivation and Development of a
sentiment of profoundly intense American
feeling; of passionate attachment to our
country, its history and its institutions: OF
admiration for the purer days of our national
existence; of vencraton for the hcroism that
precipitatcd our Revolution; and of emuat ton
of the virtue, wisdom, and patriotism that
framed our Constitution, and first success
fully applied its provisions.
lli.-Thc maintenance of the Union Of
these United States as the paramount roliti-
cal good or, to use the language of Wash
ington, 'thc primary object Of patriotic de-
sire" AMI hence,
| lst.-Opposition to all attempts to weaken
or subvcrt it.
| 2d,--Uncompromising antagonsln to every
principle of policy that ondangers it.
| 3.-The advocacy of an equitable adjust
,n,nt of all political differences which threaten
its integrity Or pcrpetuity.
4th The suppression of all tendencies to
political division. founded on geographical
determinations, or on the belief that there is
Il real difference of interests and views" be-
tween the various sections of the Union.
5th.-The full recognition of the rights Of
the several States. as expressed and reserved
in the Constitution and careful avoidance,
by the General Government, Of all interfer-
cnce with their rights, by legislative or ex-
ecutive action.
N.-Obc,licnce to the Constitution of these
United States, as the supreme law of the
| land, sacreClly obligatory upon all its parts
and members: and stcadrast resistance to the
spirit of innovation and its principles. how
ever specious the prctcxts. Avowing that in
all doubtful or disputed points itmay be only
legally asccrtainel and cxpoundcd by the
judicial power of the United States.
And rs corolarv to the above:
IA habit of rcvercntial obedience to the
laws, whether National, State, or Municipal,
until they are either repealed or declared I'M
constitutional by the proper authority.
"A tender and sacred regard for those
acts of craftsmanship whch are to be con.
tradistinguisled from the acts of ordinary
legislation, by the fact Of their bcing.of the
nature Of compacts and agreements and so
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 the love Of libcr
ty or hatred of oppression, seeks an asylum
in the United States, friendly reception and
protection. But unquaiiicdly condcnning
the transmission to our shores Of fulons and
paupcrs.
NI.-The essential modification of the
Naturalization laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures of the res
pective States, all State laws allowing for
cigncrs not naturalzcd to vote.
The repeal, without retroactive operation.
Of all. acts ofCongress making grants Of land
to unnaturalized foreigners, and allowing
them to vote in the Territories.
VII.-lIostilty to the corrupt means by
which the leaders Of party have hitherto
forced upon US, our rulers ard our political
crecdS.
lmplacable cnmity against the prevalent
dcmorallzing system of rewards for political
subvcrvicncv, and Of punishmcnts for polit-
cal undergraduates.
Disgust for the wild hunt after office which
characterlzcs the age.
These on the one hand On the other:
Imitation of the practice of the purer days
of the Republic, and admiration of the max
i'm that "oicc should seek the man, and not
the man the office, and of the rule. that the
inst mode or ascertaining fitness for Office is
the capabillty, the faithfulncss and the
honesty of the incumbent or candidate.
VlI.-Rcsstance to the aggressive policy
and corrupting tendencies of the Roman
f'nt 1,,1, n, in, 1,,t AL
vancemcnt to all political stations--cxccutivc
only who do not hold civil allegiance, directly
OIL indirectly, to any foreign power, whether
civil or ecclesiastical, and who are Americans
by birth. education and training-thus full
filling the maxim: "AMERICANs ONLY SHALL
GOVERN AMERICA"
The protection of all citizens in the legal
and proper exercise of their civil and religious
rights and privileges the maintenance of the
right of every man to the full, unrcstrained.
and peaceful enjoyment of his own religious
opinions and worship, and jealous resis-
lance Of all attempts by any sect, dcnomina-
ton or church, to obtain an asccndcncy over
any other in the State by means of any spe-
cial privileges or exemption, by any political
combination of its members, or by division
Of their civil allegiance with any foreign
power, protcntate or ecclcsiastic.
IX.-The reformation of the character of
our National Legislature, by elcvating to that
dignified and responsible position men Of
higher qualifications, purer morals. and more
unselfish patriotism.
X.-Thc restriction of executive patronage
especially in the matter of appointments to
Office, so far as it may be permitted by the
Constitution, and consistent with the public
good, .......
XI.-The education of the youth Of our
country in schools provided by the State !;
which schools shall be common to all, with
out distinction of creed or party, and free
from any influence or direction of denoml-
national or partisan character.
And inasmuch as Christianity, by the Con-
stitutions of nearly all the States by the de-
cisions of the most eminent judicial authori-
ties; and by the consent of the people of
America, is considered an element Of our
political system; and as the Holy Bible is at
once the source of Christianity, and the de-
poSitory and fountain of all civil and religious
freedom, we oppose every attempt TO exclude
it from the schools thus established in the
State.
XII, The American party having arisen
upon the ruins. and in despite Of the opposi-