Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-18
From the Lynchburg yrginian.
The PRESIDENTIAL Platforms and Candi-
dates for lS56.-NO. 4,

From the Lynchburg viroinian.
The PRESIDENTIAL Platforms and Candi-
dates for IS56.-No. L,
Not since the memorable canvass Of 1900 has there
occurred more important political contest than the
present The unusual spectacle is presented Of three
PRESIDENTIAL candidates in the field leading three
great parues OF the country propose TO consider
briefly their character and claims and 10 analyze the
platforms on which they respectively stand The
present contest is not merely scufe for the dstri-
button OF patronage, not merely attempt 10 settle
tue Ordinary issues OF party but IS actual war be-
who desire to preserve the Federal Constitution in
It's purity, as II came from Washington and from
Madison, and those who pervert il and who seek il
essential alteration or destruction.
We have at last that which Washington SO much
deprecated, great geographical party. The Adolf
ton party which voted for Birney in 1914 was small
one, and did not cause much apprehension. In lS48
when Il supported Van Buren,, standing the Bufa-
10 platform, 1t had much increased, and during the
present administration it. stimulated by liberal par
ucipation IN public patronage and by the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, has so strengthened as TO
WELD a fearful power
Under the name of the Republican party (called
more properly at the South Black Republican it has
Frustrated the Democratic party in nearly every
Northern State; 1t has, especially in the last few
months, been drawing to its ranks so many leading
Democrats that to the only safe and polite
course is to raise the barrier of Amercansm against
this hideous sectional party, and for all who hold
national and constitutional views TO unite Fillmore
not merely by words but by glorious Deeds done in
the face OF the country The American party is of re-
cent origin is scarcely than two years old but
IN that period It has grown with giants growth.
The rapid ty with which, like fire over prairie it
spread over the country is of the marvels of the
times. Houston, Clemens, Foote Borland, and Don
eson, with many other distinguished and undistin-
pushed Democrats, saw in the new party means of
restoring the government to its original purity end
accomplishing actual reforms. They wisely prefer
red aiming at practical good to senseless lowering
over questions like that of the currency and high
protective tariff, which had been settled authorize
lively by the people,-aye which were dead and
buried.
No rejecting person, acquainted with the foreign
element of the country can deny that at the time of
the organization of the American party, there was
need OF reform In the naturalization laws, and in
their administration; that there need Of reform
in those States especially, which foolshly granted
the foreigner suffrage before he had become citizen
of the United States. The old parties were each
or retain the ascendency. Offices, in undue propor-
ton were given to foreigners, brides for the for
eign vote II is not strange that foreigners, coming
as they ana from countries where their privileges
were few or none, and placed as many of them were
soon after their arrival, over the sons of the SOIL
should become turbulent and insolent. When it was
found that half million of aliens had been cast
upon our shores In one year the year 1864 and that
three millions had arrived in the ten years previous
that nearly all of them ignorant of our language
and institutions that many were paupers, many
criminals fresh from the prisons of the Old World,
1T was felt by many that something must be done to
remove or diminish the evil. The old parties had
not the moral courage to do it. 1t was necessary,
therefore to form new party for this and other
forms.
The founders of the American party also perceived
that the Catholics, as sect acting in the poll
tics OF this country 1t did not escape notice that
John Hughes the head of their Church in this coun-
try, and subject only to the Pope trading poll
tican soing his robes in the dusty arena of party
L lip Of app
ork moved as unit, and whenever his party came
into power he was enabled with liberal hand to dole
out to his compliant subjects official patronage The
Catholic Church, it is true is divided into Galcans
and Ultra Monanes the latter constituting the large
majority, who hold that the Pope has temporal su-
premacy overriding all other allegances and author
tiles. Brownsons Review, endorsed by all nearly
all the Catholic Bishops in the United States and
Freeman's Journal the organ of Hughes, (both pub
lished in this country advocated the UlraMontane
doctrine. The American party did wisely therefore,
in condemning in all their platforms this higherlaw
doctrine and in resolving to support one for Office
who held it. The 9Th section Of the National Ameri-
can platform says:
"No person should be selected for political station
whether of native foreign BIRTH who recognises
any allegiance obligation of any description to any
foreign prince, potenate, or power, or who refuses
to recognise the Federal and State constitutions leach
within its sphere) as paramount to all other laws, as
rules of political action"
Thus 1t appears our party wars against higher-law
doctrines of every knd-the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, when fairly interpreted, is doctrine high
enough and good enough for u.s. We wage uncom-
promising war against Sewardtes and against those
who look to Rome and not to Washington for their
temporal ruler and for their expounders of law
The hacknied falsehood that the American party are
opposed to religious freedom is scarcely worthy of
serious refntaon. The 10th section of its national
platform OF this year proclaims the principle that
there must be emo interference with religious faith,
or worship, and no tests of Office" Our party bit
tery denounces and opposes everything in the least
approaching union of Church and State, being UNI
willing that religion should rise and fall with the
changes of party, or be subjected to the corruptng
influences of such alliance Ii will protect not
interfere, with any Catholic in his worship, no mat
ter how supersttious but it begs to be excused from
having any part in making rulers of those who look
TO an authority beyond the which they deem par
amount to the fundamental laws of our land.
The Philadelphia platform of February 21st, 1856,
IS the one which Mr. Fillmore has accepted. II is
briefer and clearer than party platforms usually are
IL is, by far more consistent with itself than that of
Cincinnati. The platform Justly gives preference
to natives over foreigners with respect to Office In
the 9th section Of the platform it is declared that
there shall be no interference with the vested rights
OF foreigners An intention to interfere was never
fairly inferabe from any proceeding of party but
this cypress disclaimer is given TO prevent il possible
Democratic mis- statement in this respect Twenty
one years residence for foreigners before being al
lowed suffrage is proposed as an amendment to our
laws. That period is selected because
natives have to wait that long. The foreigners who
Cohe 70 US are IN aWorse state tnan polltca infancy.
They have not only to acquire neo political ideas but
unlearn old Generally of the least desirable
class, they come seeking not freedom but bread EN-
igrant vessels have often seemed to my eyes floating
pauper houses. Surely raw foreigners furnish not
the material for intelligent voters still less for Amer
lean rulers If they will come and we oppose the
coming of none but convicted criminals and actual
! aupers they should be made to keep their proper
places; let them be learners before they become
teachers.
The foreigner has natural right to vote, or to
hold Office. IL he had, our present naturalization
laws would be in breach Of the former and our Fed
era and State Constitutions in breach of the latter
What degree of rolitical, power he shall have is