Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-03
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY,
Adopted at the Session Of the National Council,
Februsrv 2I 1856

s An humble acknowledgement the Supreme Being for
his protecting vouchsaed fathers in their
fu Revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to
their descendants in the preservation Of the liberties the
Independence and the union OF these States.
%. The perpeuaon Of the Federal Union, the pala
dum Of civil and religious liberties and the only
buIwark Of American Independence
80 AnericdHs NUT rule america, and to this end,
treborn citizens for all State Federal and
municipal Offices government employment in preference
to all others nevertheless,
4h Persons born Of American parents residing Temporal
rily abroad should entitled all the rights Of nativeborn
citizens; but
5th No person should selected for political station
(vhether Of native foreign bh who recognises allie
glance or obligation any description any foreign prince
potentate power who refuses to recognise the Federal
AMI Constitutions leach within is pere paramount
TO all other laws, rules Of political action
9th The unqualified recognition and maintenance Of the
rights Of the several States and the cultivation q
harmony and fraerna good viii between the citizens Of the
several States and to this end nonneence by Congress
with questions appertaning solely the individual States,
non-ntervenon by each State with the affairs d any
other State.
7h The recognition OF the right Of the native and
uaturaIed citizens the United States permanently resd
ing any Territory thereof frame their constitution and
laws and regulate domestic and social affairs in their
own mode subject only to the provisions Of the Federal
whenever they the requisite population for Repre-
sentative In Congress PoUded dltpdys, that but
those who are citizens Of the United States under the
stuton thereof and who have fixed residence in
any Territory ought participate in the formation Of
the constitution the Of laws for said Terri
tory State.
sh An enforcement Of the principle that State Ter
rory ought admit others than citizens Of the United
States 10 right suffrage Of holding political Office
r a1fyuffor
tnued residence wenyone years Of all herenbeore
provided for ndspens ble requisite for citizenship here
after excluding all 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 State
interference with religious faith or Worship and no test
oaths for Office
llth Free and thorough investigation into any and all al
edged abuses Of public funconaries, and strict
in public expenditures.
18th The maintenance and enforcement Of all laws
Stitutonaly enacted said laws shall be repealed
shall be declared null and void by competent judicial
thority.
18th Opposition to the reckless and unwe policy
present administration in the general management Of
nation affairs and more especially as shown IN removing
Americans" (by desgnaton) and conservatives In pnci
pie from Office and placing foreigners and ultras in their
places; shown in trucking subServency TO the stronger
and an nsolent and cowardy bavado towards the weaker
powers shown in reupening sectional agitation, by the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise; shown in granting to
unuaturaEed foreigners the right OF suffrage in Kansas AMI
Nebraska shown in its Vascang the Kansas
and Nebraska question: shown in the corruptons which
pervade Of the departments Of the Government;
shown In dsgracng merorious naval officers through
judice caprice; and shown in the laundering misman
Agement OF our foreign relations.
14th Therefore remedy existing evils and prevent the
disastrous otherwise resulting therefrom,
would build up the American Party" upon the principles
hereinbefore stated.
18TH That State Council shall have authority to
their several constitutions abolish the several
Degrees and institute pledge Of honor instead OF other
obligations fellowship aud admission into the party
10th free and open discussion Of all political principles
embraced 10 platform