Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-15
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY,
Adopted at the Session Of the National Council
February 81, 1856.

st An humble Acknowledgement the Supreme Being for
his protecting Touchsaed fathers in their success
full Revolutionary struggle and hitherto manifested to u.s.
their descendants the preservation Of the liberties the
independence, and the union Of these States
Cd The perpetuaton OF the Federal Union as the pas
dium Of our civil and religious liberties and the only
bulwark Of American Independence.
"a Am7Icans NUT rVie Ameriod, and to this end, ma
reborn citizens should be selected for all State Federal and
municipal oces government employment In preference
10 all others: nevertheless,
4th Persons born of American parents residing Temporal
rv abroad should entitled all the rights Of nativeborn
citizens; but,
5h No person should selected for political station,
(whee Of native or foreign birth who recognises ae
glance obligation Of any description TO any foreign prince
poenate or power who refuses recognise the Federal
Gni State leach within ts sphere as paramount
70 all other laws as rules Of political action.
9th TIE unqualified recognition and maintenance Of the
reserved rights Of States, and the cultivation
harmony good viii between the citizens Of the
several states this end non-nterence by Congress
with questions apperaining solely the individual States,
and non-inervenon by each State with the affairs any
other state. . -.
eth The recognition Of right Of the nave-born and
naturalze citizens the United States permanently resd-
ing in any Territory thereof frame their constitution and
laws and regulate their domestic and social affairs in their
own mode subject only the provisions Of the Federal
Constitution the privilege Of admission into the Union
whenever they have requisite population for Repre-
sentative in Congress PyOcied 1l'oGy that but
tho who Of the United States under the con-
stuon and laws thereof and who have fixed residence in
any Territory ought participate in the formation OF
the constitution the enactment Of laws for said Terri
tory State.
sh An enforcement principle that State or Ter
rtory ought TO admit others than citizens Of the United
States to the right suffrage Of holding political office
9Th change laws 0f naturalization, making &C n
tnued residence twenyone Of all not herenbefore
provided for an indispensable requisite for citizenship here
after and excluding paupers and persons convicted
crime from landing upon shores; but no interference
with the vested rights Of foreigners.
10th. Opposition TO any union between Church and stst
interference with religious faith worship, and no test
oaths for office.
l1h and thorough investigation into any and 'u al
ledged public functionaes and str CT economy
in public expenditures
1eth The maintenance and enforcement of all
stituonay enacted said shall be rrp"aled,
shall be declared null and void BY competent judicial au
thority
18Th Opposition to the reckless and policy Of the
present administration in the general management Of our
nation Il aairs and more espes fy shoSn removing
Am cansn (by designation and conservatives in prnc-
pie from office placing foreigners and utrasts in their
places Ia trucking TO the stronger
and cowardy brsyado towards the weaker
powers IS shown in reopenng sectional agitation, by the
repeal Of Compromise; shown in granting 70
unnaturaEed foreigners the right Of suffrage in Kansas and
Nebraska; as shown in its vasciatng the Kansas
QUESTION; shown the corruptions which
pervade the departments Of the Government a.
shown in dgracing nertorous naval officers through
judice caprice and shown in the bunderng nsman-
agement of foreign ations.
l4h Therefore remedy existing evils and prevent the
disastrous consequences otherwise resulting herefon
would build up the American Party" upon the principles
herenbefore stated.
18th That each State Oouucl shall have authority to
amend their several constitutions abolish the several
degrees institute pledge of honor, instead of other
obligations fell wshp and admission into the party.
10th free and opea discussion Of all ltca principles
embraced ia platform.