The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-02-16
1)olitifal.
Platform and Principles Of the
American Organization.

| 1.-The acknowledgment of that Almighty
Being who rules over the Universe, who
prcsdes over the councils OF nations, who
conducts the affairs of men, and who, in every
step by which we have advancedto the char
acter of an independent nation, has distin-
ghished us by some token Of Providcncial
agency.
U.-The cultivation and development of
sentiment Of profoundly intense American
feeling of passionate attachment to our
country, it's history and its institutions: Of
admiration for the purer days Of our natl onal
existence: of veneration fol- the hcrosm that
precpitatcd our Revolution: and Of emulation
Of the virtue, wisdom, and patriotism that
framed our Constitution, and first success
fully applied it's provisions.
| II[.-The maintenance Of the Union Of
these United States as the paramount poiti-
cal good or, to use the language of WASH
ington, "the primary object of patriotic de-
sire" And hence,
lst.-Opposition to all attempts to weaken
or subveIt it.
2d.-Uncompromsing antagonism to every
principle of policy that endangers it.
| 3.-The advocacy of an equitable adjust
ment of all political differences which threaten
its integrity or perpetuity.
|
political division. founded on Geographical
determinations or on the belief that there is
a real difference of interests and views be-
tween the various sections of the Union.
5th.-Thc full recognition of the rights of
the several States. as expressed and reserved
in the Constitution and a careful avoidance,
by the General Government, of all interfer-
encc with their rights, by legislative or ex-
| ecutive action.
IV.-Obedicnce to the Constitution of these
United States, as the supreme law of the
land, sacrcdly obligatory upon all its parts
and members: and steadfast resistance to the
spirit of innovation and it's principles. how
ever specious the prctexts. Avowlng that III
all doubtful or disputed points it may be only
legally ascertained and expounded by the
judicial power of the United States.
AnAs corollary to the above:
| IA habit of reyerential obedience to the
laws, whether National, State, or Municipal,
until they are either repealed or declared un-
constitutional by the proper authority.
"a tender and sacred regard for those
acts of craftsmanship which are to be con-
tradistingushed from the acts of ordinary
legislation, by the fact of their being of the
nature of conpacts 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 liber-
ty or hatred of oppression. seeks an asylum
in the United States, a friendly reception and
protection. But unqualificdly condenning
the transmission to our shores of felons and
| paupers.
| Nl.-The essential modification of the
Naturalization laws.
The repeal by the Legislatures of the res
pcctve States, ofall State laws allowing for
cigners not naturaliZcd to vote.
The repeal, without retroactive operation,
of all acts of Congress making grants of land
| to unnaturallZed foreigners, and allowing
them to vote in the Territories.
| VI[.-IIostility to the corrupt means by
which the leaders of party have hitherto
forced upon us, our rulers ard our political
crccds.
Implacablc cnmity against the prevalent
dcnorallzing system of rewards for political
subvcrviency, and of punishlnents for politi-
cal undergraduates.
Disgust for the wild hunt after office which
charactcrzcs 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 ''oilicc should seek the man, and not
the man the Office" and of the rule that the
lust mode or ascertaining fitness for office is
the capabillty, the faithfulncss. and the
honesty of the incumbent or candidate.
| VII.-Rcsstancc to the aggressive policy
and corrupting tendencies Of the Roman
Catholic Church in our country, by the add
vancemcnt to all political stations--exccutivc
legislative, judicial, or diplomatic of those
only who do not hold civil allegiance directly
OF indirectly, to any foreign power, whether
civil or ecclesiastical, and who are Americans
by birth. education and training-thus full
filling the maxim: "AAERlCANs 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. unrestraincd.
and peaceful enjoyment Of his own religious
lopinions and worship, and jealous resis-
lance of all attempts by any sect, denomina-
ton or church, to obtain an ascendency 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, protentate or ccclcSiastic.
| lA.-lne reformation OF Lne character Oi
our National Legislature, by elcvating to that
dgnifed 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.
XT.-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 tho people o
} America. is considered an element of OH
political system; and as the Holy Bible is a
once the source of Christianity, and the de
l pository and fountain of all civil and religious
! freedom, we oppose every attempt TO exclud
it from the schools thus established in tn
State.
Z 1.-The American party having arisel
! upon the ruins. and in despite Of the opposi
ton of the Wing and Democratic parties
! cannot be in any manner responsible for thu
obnoxious acts or violated pledges of either
s And the systematic agitation of the SLAYER.