The Georgetown news., 1856-05-22
The National American 1atform.

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for his protecting care vouchsafed to our
fathers in their successful Revolutionary
struggle, and hitherto manifested to us,
their descendants, in the preservation of the
liberties, the independence, and the union
of these States.
Second: The perpetuation of the Federal
Union, as the palladium of our civil and re-
hgious liberties, and the only sure bulwark
of American Independence.
Third: americans must rule 44mer,ca, and
to this end, natiUe-born citizens should be
selected for all State, Federal and munich
pal officers of government employment in
preference to naturalized citizens; neverthe-
! less:
Fourth: Persons born of American pa
rents residing temporarily abroad, should
be entitled to all the rights of native-born
citizens; but:
Fifth: No person should be selected for
political station, (whether native or foreign
birth,) who recognizes any allegiance or OBJ
legation, of any description, to any foreign
prince, potentate, or Power, or who refuses
to recognize the Federal and State Consti-
tutions leach within its sphere) as para
mount to all other laws as rules of political
action.
Sirth: The unqualified recognition and
maintenance Of the reserved rights of the
several States, and the cultivation of har-
mony and fraternal good will between the
citizens of the several States, and, to this
end, non-interference by Congress with
| questions appertaining solely to the indiyid-
ual States, and non-intervention by each
State with the affairs of any other State.
SeUenth: The recognition of the right of
the natlye-born and naturaliZed citizens of
the United States, permanently residing in
any Territory thereof, to frame their Con-
stitution and laws, and to regulate their do
| mestic and social affairs in their own mode,
subject only to the provisions of the FEEDER
al Constitution, with the right of admission
into the Union whenever they have the re-
quisite population for one Representative
in Congress. Provided al1cays, That none
but those who are citizens of the United
States, under the Constitution and laws
thereof, and who have fixed residence in
any such Territory, ought to participate in
the formation of the Constitution, or in the
enactmentof laws for said Territory or State.
Eighth: An enforcement of the principle
that no State or Territory can admit others
than natlve-born citizens to the right of
suffrage, or of holding political Office, unless
such persons shall have been naturalized
according to the laws of the United States.
Ninth: A change in the laws of naturali-
zatiOn, making continued residence of
twenty-one years, of all not heretofore pro-
vided for, and indispensably requisite for
citizenship hereafter, and excluding all pau
pers, and persons convicted of crime, from
landing upon our shores; but no interfer-
ence with the vested rights of foreigners.
Tenth: Opposition to any union between
Church and State; no interference with re-
| ligious faith, and no test oathS for Office ex-
cept those indicated in the fifth section OF
this platform.
EIeUenth: Free and thorough investiga-
tion into any and all alleged abuses of pub
| lie functionaries, and strict economy in
public expenditures.
IaceLfth: The maintenance and enforce
ment of all laws until said laws shall be re-
pealed, or shall be declared null and void
by competent judicial authority.
THirteenth: Opposition to the reckless
and unwise policy of the present Admins
tration in the general management of our
national affairs, and more especially as
shown in removing Americans (by desig-
nation) and conservatives in principle, from
Office, and placing foreigners and ultraists
in their places; as shown in trucking sub
serviency to the stronger, and an insolent
and cowardly bravado towards the weaker
powers; as shown in re-opening sectional
agitation, by the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise; as shown in granting to un-
naturalized foreigners the right to suffrage
in Kansas and Nebraska as shown in its
vascillating course on the Kansas and Ne
braSka question; as shown in the removal
of Judge Bronson from the Collectorship of
New York upon false and untenable
grounds; as shown in the corruptions which
pervade some of the Departments of the
Government; as shown in disgracing meri-
torious naval officers through prejudice or
caprice; and as shown in the laundering
mismanagement of our foreign relations
Fourteenth: Therefore, to remedy existing
evils and prevent the disastrous consequen-
ces otherwise resulting therefrom, we would
build up the American party" upon the
principles hereinbefore stated, eschewing all
sectional questions, and uniting upon those
purely national, and admitting into said
party all American citizens (referred to in
the Sd, 4th and 9Th sections,) who openly
avow the principles and opinions heretofore
expressed, and who will subscribe their
names to this platform. Provided, never
theless, that majority of those members
present at any meeting of local council
where an applicant applies for membership
in the American party may, for any reason
by them deemed sufficient, deny admission
to such applicant.
Fifteenth: A free and open discussion of
all political principles embraced in our plat
form.