Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-26

| o'ti Wv "ui""h vi AMERICAN lnucpcttrtce
81, americans must ruie dnafrica and TO this end
| native born citizens should be selected for all State,
| federal ana municipal Offices or government en-
! ncrertkclr$S
| Ath Persons born Of American parents residing
temporarily abroad should be entitled to all the rights
| OF native born citizens: but
9th. No person should be selected for political sta
tnn, whether Of native ar foreign BIRTH who recuy-
n'ses any nIIes ance obligation of any description
10 any foreign prince, p0entatc power or who 70.
fuses to recognise tbs Federal and State constitutions
leach within its spherel paramount to all other
laws, as rules of political action.
9th. The unqualified recognition and maintenance
OF the reserved rights of tho several States and tie
cultivation nf harmony and fraternal GOOD will be-
tween the citizens OF tho several States and 70 this
end non:lnererence by Congress with questions
apperalning solely 10 tho individual States and non.
Intervention by each State with the affairs o! any
other Stale.
7th. The recognition Of the right OF the native.
born and naturszed citizens Of tie United States,
permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to
frame their constitution and laws, and to regulate
their domestic and social affairs in thoir own mode,
subject only 10 the provisions OF the Federal CUnst
| tuition, with tho right of admission u;u tho Union
whenever they have .hc requisite population for one
representative in Congress; Pror,Gtd 0iaray', that
none but those who are Citizens Of the Lui;e ates,
| under the Consultation and laws thereof, and vino
have fixed residence in any such Territory, ought
TO participate in ;ho formation OF the constitution,
in Tho enactment, oiaws for said Territory State.
Sth. An enforcement Of the principle that State
| or Territory admit others liun nail, bern Ciii-
5ens 10 the right oi suffrage Of holding political
office unless SUCH pG:sGns shall a-o been natGra!lzed
according 20 the lgw. Of tas Uni;od States.
9th. change IL tho laws Of a,uraiiz ization MAX
ing continued residence of renty years OF all
not here oOlc provided Cor all Indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, ana excluding all pGurers
| and persons convicted uf crime from landing upon
shores; bu, No interference vita the vested rights
Of t1rcGiers.
| lD;h. Opposition to any Union between Church and
State no Interference will: religious fait! or worship,
aud test pGhs Tor otico, except those indicated in
the 5il! sec.ip,: o THE platform.
llih. Free and thorough investigation into any ard
all alleged abuses OF pEbiio functoGaries AID str;c
ecuO"my in pubic expenditures.
loin. the maintenance and enforcement of eli laws
until said laws Snll BIZ repealed shall be dec.ar
ed null and void by coMreeI: judicial authority.
18th. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy
Of the preseut administration in The general manage
ment of our national afare, and more especially as
shown in removing "Amurcans," iby dcsignat!"n)
and conservatives in principle, from Office and placing
foregners and u.rafts in their places; shown in
trucking sabsefvencv to the stronger, aud inso-
len; aud cowarI!y bravadn towards the weaker pow
ers; shown in reorulng sectional agitation by the
| REPEAL Of the Missouri Compromise; us shown III
granting uunauraiizcd foreigners the right TO sut
! irags in Kansas and Ncbrassa; Is shown III its
vaclla,ing course the K1Lsas and Nebraska 9ues.
tcu; cs shown in the removal OF Judge Bronson from
the Cvllectorshp New York upon false and pnenab.
grounds; shown i'll the carrc ptionS which perv Gde
some Of the departments q! The governments Hs
shown in disgracing merorous naval oii GERS through
prejudice caprice; aad shown in lie t.uudeT!!S
! n,ls:nanGSrm.nt of orr foreign relations.
litli. Therefore, 10 REMEDY existing evils, anu pre-
vent the disHstr"u- consequences otherwise resulting
| therefro.n, would build up the "Amercan party"
upon the principles heren before stated wing oil
sectional questions. and uniting upon these purely
tona!, aud admitting into s,!d purity all American
citizens, lretorred TO in the 3d. 4n Ani 5th sec,!ons
who openly avow tho principles and opinions hereto
fore expressed md who will subscribe their names
this platform. Provided, nevertheless, that :yo..
~ .; those 'ncnhers prc.en a. any meeting al 10
ca! counci. where Hu applicant applies Tor member
ship IN the American party may, 81. any reaspa ~
them deemed sufficient, deny admission 10 sach ai-
plicant.
! 18th. a free and open discussion Of all political
principles embraced in our platform.
We publish above the platform adopted by
the National Council, in Philadelphia Thuradny
evening. I; is called tho Washington Platform, be
cause il was originally adopted by the Council Ia
Washington city. Mr.. French s. Evans. o: the lat
ter city, submitted il to the National Council. Pre-.
vious TO its adoption Il became necessary to recon-
slider the action of the previous day sustaining the
call io- the previous question Mr.. Brewster reso
lution strike out tho 18th section of the Phade
phi. platform. This led to q warm debate and much
confusion:
! Mr.. Sheets, of Indiana, opposed to It, a, it
would reopen the whole debate, that the p-eyinu.
question WIS designed 10 cut off, lie then procendcd
to denou;.co tie repeal Of the Missouri Compromises
but dHavoweG extreme free soil sentiments. He ap-
pealed 10 the Suuth TO with ma-narnity, and not
attempt justify repeal Of solemn compromise,
aud then say we desire further agitation o! the
matter 1t was like man who should strike you
blow, and then retiring sayl desire no further as-
tation of this matter" lAppanse.
He would assure the South that the 18th section
must be rot rid OF. He was willing to eccept com
promise, but the section rUB. BE- got r!d ul; ho was
willing 10 accept the Washington platform, for ii
there anything in il, it was go covered up with
vrrbiago that President would bo elected before
the people would find out Whist it was all about. ,Tu-
muOus la1ghter.)
Two Southern S.ates had been carried on the l2tl
section; repeal il, aud will give yoa tie entire
North. tAppIanse.l He appealed 20 th" Cou"cii
take of this ;rammc tia. tho great North and North
west may march 10 triumph. Do this, and place on
| the ticket good Southern mar, AID most Of the
Southern States vii! DO carried with or withont The
| 18th section.
The mo,ion to reconsider finally prevailed. At this
point the disorder became so great that The President
threatened TO leave the chair. Mr.. Brewster resuu-
ton was finally laid upon the table by 80 majority,
and thercupon it was moved to strike oat the Phila
dephia and insert the Washington platform.
! Gen. Zucotier OF Tenn, asked leave 10 address
! the Council which granted. He then proceeded
| TO speak on the Washington platform. He thought
there too much verbiaGe in it, but he hopei tha.
members would consider il closely and vote under
standiugiy, and without prejudice upon it. Gen. Z.
gave way to motion to adjourn until afternoon.
the Philadelphia Times X. \ has the following
| report of the afternoons proceedings
| When the Council met, Gen. Zollico1er concluded
his remarks:
A scene of great confusion then prevailed 10 refcr
ence to the fol owing amendment, read et ih" closc
OF TIE morning aessOn, br. not entertained by .he
chair Uy Mr. Curwin Of Ohio 20 strike out The sixth
| section:
Tho urqueliied recognition ard maintenance Of
the reserved rights of the several States and line cu
tivacn Of harmony a,d fraterns good viii between
the citizen. Of the several States, AMI the preserva
| a ,g..t nnl fo6
TO this end we declare cardinal princpi" OF our
platform that the repeal of the Mls.nuri compromise
was All nraction Of the p'lGhtcd fah ~ the nation:
aud that il shou!! be rGrtoru; and It Efforts u mat
end should fall CongroSs she aid refuse o admit lao
the Union any State toIcrutuc slavery, which shall
he formed out OF any por;!o:: nt the territory lreIa
whic! hat institution excluded by that co.npro.
MISE
Mr. Corwin cou,euded that this wrs tho proper
subject under consideration.
The President decided that the amendment was
not in order. =,
Mr.. Corwiu appealed from tho decision Of tho
Chair.
A motion was made to lay the Gppeai on the table
After considerable trouble, tho Question was put,
and the motion to lay The table ugreed to by vote
of lU7 yeas 10 o3 nays.
MIR. Spouner of Ohio, said that tho Northern mem
bers did not desire to discuss this question, but TO
have test vote al once.
Mr.. Daueuhower-The gentleman snail be accom-
modatcd. ! move the previous question. Laugh
tor und applause.
Several gentlemen rose to their feet aud demanded
to speak on question Of privilege, another scene OF
excitement taking place.
Mr.. Perkins, from Connecticut, got tic floor md
addressed the Council On the relations C! capital to
labor taking strong grounds against slavery, and the
platform proposed. He contended that tho lnitrl
said nothing bat it tacit endorsa oi tho hin'
sns- N.braska act-the pet measure Of the present
national administration.
When be had concluded a delegate from Iowa took
the door, when cries Of "question, question" order,
"ets have voe, came from ii! prrts OF the rooa.
The president then put the question, "ShaIi The mai:
question be nuw put, y wiich was agreed TO, there
i,.;,., J,uf sbnu. half dozen uaya.