The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-06-07
@ FOR PRESIDENT,
WILLARD rr
7-"-af 10 4eo 1-is ~ q. of NewYork.
FoR vIcE-PREs1DENT, 3
ANDREW JACKSON DoNELsoN
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

I. An humble acknowledgements the Supreme
Being who rules the Universe for His protecting
care, vouchsated to our fathers in their successful
revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to
us, their descendants, in the preservation of the lib
critics, the independence and the union of these States
II. The perpetuation of tile Federal Union as the
palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the
only sure bulwark Of American independence.
III. americans must rule America; and to this end
native born citizens should be selected for all State,
Federal and Municipal offices or Government EN-
ployment, in preference to naturalized citizens ner-
ertheless. .1t
". Persons born of American parents residing
temporarily abroad should be entitled to all the rights
of native born citizens; but -
v. No person should be selected for political sta
ton, (whether of native or foreign birth,) who recog
nizes any allegiance or obligation OF any description
to any foreign prince, p~otentate or power, or who
refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitut
tions Coach within its sphere) as paramount to all
other laws rs rules Of political action. .
vi. The unqualified recognition aud maintenance
Of the reserved rights of the several States, and the
cultivation of harmony and %fraternal good will be
tween the citizens of the several States; and to this
end, non-interference by Congress with questions
appertaining solely to the individual States, and
non.intervention by each State with the affairs of any
other State. -'a...
VII. The recognition of the right of the native
born and naturaiized citizens of the United States
permanently residing in any Territory thereof, tc
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 one
Representative in Congress; P,oriaed al,cays. that
none hnt those who are citizens Of the United States
under the Constitution and laws thereof, and who
have a fixed residence in any such Territory, ought
to participate in the formation of the Constitution, OF
in the enactment of laws for said Territory or State
VIII. An enforcement of the principle that III
State or Territory can admit others than native borr
citizens to the right of suffrage, or of holding politi
sol .n.-. ~, ,,n1, 1rr,n.. ,.lo11 tavn hra, n \
rallied according to the laws of the United States.
TX. A change in the laws of naturalization. making
n continued residence of twenty.one years, of all moi
heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all paupers
and persons convicted of crime, from landing npor
our shores; but no interference with the vestct
RI yhts of foreigners.
X. Opposition to any union between Church ant
State; M interference with religious faith or worship
and no test oatlls for office, except those indicated il
til fifth section of this platform.
II. Free and thorough investigation into any at
al 'lleged abuses of public tunctionarics, and a strict
y Jnomy in public expenditures.
/, XII. The maintenance and enforcement OF all laWs
until said laws shall be repealed, or shall he declared
null and void by competent judicial authority.
XIII. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy
Of the present Administration in the general manage
ment Of our national affairs, and more especially as
shown in removing " Americans" (by designation
and conservatives in principle fromofice, and placing
foreigners and ultraists in their places; as shown III
a trucking snbservicncy to the stronger, and an in
soIent and cowardly bravado towards the weaker
powers; as shown in reopening sectional agitation
by the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise; az shown
in granting to unnaturalized foreigners the right tt
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its
vacillating course on the Kansas and Nebrasks qncs
ton; as shown in the removal of Judge Bronson from
the Collcctorship of NewYolk upon false and unten
able grounds; as shown in disgracing meritorious
naval officers through prejudice or caprice; and as
shown in the laundering mismanagemcnt of our for
eign relations.
XIV. Therefore, to remedy existing evils, and pre-
vent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting
tl,erefrom, we would build up the American Party
upon the principles hereinbefore stated, cschewina
all sectional questions, and uniting those purely ma
tional, md admitting into said party all American
citizens Preferred to in the third, fourth and fifth
s%ections) who openly avow the principles and opin
ions heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe
their names to this platform; Provided, nevertheless
that a majority of those members present at any
meeting of a local council, where an applicant applies
for membership in the American Party, may, for any
reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admission tc
such applicant.
Nv. 4 free aud open discussion of all political
principles embraced i'll our platform.