Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-05
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY,
Adopted at the Session of the National Council,
Februtry q. 1855

An humble acknowledgement the Supreme Being for
his protecting vouchsaed fathers in their
fu Revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to us,
their descendants in the preservation Of the liberties the
Independence and the union Of these States.
ID The perpeuaon Of the Federal Union, the paa-
dum civil and religious liberties and the only
bulwark Of American Independence.
Sd Americans nlD rue A1aerica, and to this end nd
Ueborn should be selected for all State Federal and
municipal offices government employment in preference
to all others nevertheless,
4h born OF American parents residing tempora
ry abroad should be entitled all the rights Of natiyeborn
Citizens; but,
5t No person should be selected for political station
(wheter Of native foreign birth who recognises any ale
glance obligation Of any description to any foreign prince
potentae power who refuses recognise the Federal
an state Constitutions leach within It's sphere paramount
20 ali other laws, rules Of political action.
9th TIE unqualified recognition and maintenance Of the
reserved rights the States and the cultivation q
harmony fraerna good win between the citizens Of the
States this end non-ineeence by Congress
with questions appertaning solely the individual States
and non-nteryenon by each State with the affairs u any
other State.
eth The recognition Of the right Of the navebom and
naturae4 citizens Of the Uned States permanently resd
ing any Territory thereof frame their constitution and
laws to regulate their domestic and social affairs in their
own mode subject only the provisions Of the Federal
whenever they have the requisite population for Repre-
tentative in Congress P,Orided dl,cdys that but
thoe citizens Of the United States under the
sttuon 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
st An enforcement Of he principle that no State or
rtoy ought to admit others than citizens Of the United
States to the right Of suffrage Of holding political Office
A change in t'e Of naturalization, a
tnued residence Of twentyone years. Of all not hereinbeore
provided for dspens bic requisite for citizenship here
after and excluding an paupers and persons convicted
crime landing upon shores but interference
with the vested rights Of foreigners.
10th. Opposition any union between Church and State;
Interference with religious faith worship and test
oaths for office.
11th Free and thorough investigation into any al al
ledged abuses public functOngries, and ct economy
in public expenditures.
10Th The maintenance and enforcement Of all laws
stituonsly enacted until said laws shall be repealed
shall he declared null and void by competent Judicial au
thority
18th Opposition reckless and unwse policy Of the
present administration in the general management Of our
natinn affairs and especially shown in removing
Am rcans" (by designation aud conservatives IN prnci-
pie, fom Office and placing foreigners and ultras in their
places shown in trucking suhservency to the stronger
and Tsolent and cowady bayado towards the weaker
powers; shown in reopenng sectional agitation, by the
repeal Of the ssoui Compromise shown in granting to
unnauzed foreigners the right OF suffrage IN Kansas ana
Nebraska; shown in its vascatng te Kansas
and Nebraska question shown m the cnrruIons Wilch
pervade Of the departments Of the Government
shown in disgacng merorious naval officers through
judice caprice; and IN wn in the bunderng misman-
agement of our foreign re ations.
l4h Therefore remedy existing evils and prevent the
disastrous otherwise resulting thererom,
would build up the American Party" upon the principles
hereinbefore stated.
18th That Council shall have authority 10
amend their several constitutions to abolish the several
degrees and institute pledge Of honor, instead OF other
Obgat for fell wshp and admission into the party
10th free open discussion Of all cal principles
embraced in platform.