The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-12-13
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

4. An humble acknowledgment to the Supreme
Being who rules the Universe for His protecting
care, vouchsaied to our fathers in their successful
revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested TO
MS, their descendants, in the preservation of the lib
critics, the independence and the union of these States
i. The perpetuation of the Federal Union as the
palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the
only sure bulwark Of American independence.
III. Amaricans must rude America: and to this end
natioe born citizens should be selected for all State,
Federal and Municipal offices or Government EN-.
pioyment, in preference to natrraliZed citizens nee.
egthcless.
Nv. Persons born of American parents residing
temporarily abroad should be entitledto all the rights
OF native born citizens; but
V. No person should be selected for political sta.
ton, ~(whetlier of native or foreign birth who recog
nizes any allegiance OF obligation of any description
TO any foreign prince, potentate or power, or who
refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitl
tions (each within its sphere) as paramount TO ali
other laws as rules Of political action.
vi. The unqualified recognition and maintenance
OF the reserved rights of the several States, and the
cultivation Of harmony and %traternal good will be
tween the citizens of the several States; and to thiE
end, non-intcrferehcc by Congress with questions
appertaining solely to the individual States. and
nop-lnteryention by each State with the affairs Of an,
other State.
VII. The recognition of the right of the native.
born and naturalized citizens of the United States
permanently residing i'll any Territory thereof, TIC
frame their Constitution and laws, and to regulate
their domestic and social affairs, in their own mode
subject only to the provisions of the Federal Consti
tuition, with the right of admission into the Union
whenever they have the requisite population for onr
representative in Congress; Provided uiaruys, that
none put those who are citizens of the United States
under the Constitution and laws thereof. and wl1
have q liked residence in any such Territory, ought
to participate in the formation of the Constitution. q,
in the enactment Of laws for said Territory or State
VIII. An enforcement of the principle that ma
Statc Or territory can admit others than native horn
citizens to the right of suffrage. or of holding no1iti
cal Office, unless such PERSONS shall have been natu.
ralized according to the a W of the United States.
TX. A change in the laws of naturalization making
a continued residence of twenty-one years, Of all moi
heretofore provided for, an Indispensable reouisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers,
ana persons convicted OF crime, from landing upon
oir shores; but no interference with the vested
rights OF foreigners. ~
X. Opposition to any union between Church and
State; no interference with religious faith or worship
and no test oaths for Office, except those Indicated IN
the ilith section of this platform.
:, ~; free ana thorough investigation into any and
all aIIeSea ahnses OF public tnnctionaries, and n strict
economy in public expenditures.
NJ. Inc maintenance and enforcement of all laws
uni,l said laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared
n'l Yi ana void y competent judicial authority.
MI. Opposition to the reckless and mwise poicv
oil the present Administration in the general ,nanane
Iieht OF our national affairs, and more esuecialIy ms
shown in removing q Americans y (hy dersisnation",9
snd conservatives in principle from office, aud placing
a trucking snbserviency to the stronger and an i M
so.ent and cSowardly bravado towards the weaker
powers; as shown in rcopening sectional agitation,
ny Inc repeal OF the Missouri Compromise; as shown
IN granting to pnnaturalized foreigners the right to
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in it's tts
Taci.iaalns course on the Kansas and Nebrasks CUES
no. Ia aS shown IN the removal of Judge Bronson rom
an ooieelorshlp OF Newiolk upon false and untcn-
naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as
eign relations. VI II ior-
NY. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and n,e.
vent the disastrous consequences otherwise r a@u t,e,
uhereirom, We would build up the American Part1
up upon inc principles hereinbefore stated, eschewinss
t tn seGt n'nG questions, and uniting those purely ma,
.ionai, and admitting into said party all American
citizens (referred to in the third. fourth and HIT !
s~ecto,s) who openly avow the principles and min,
ions heretofore expressed, and who viii subscrrihe