The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-03-07
THE AMERICAN PLATFORM.

""" '"o ioiioWiUg IN bne phpers, US Jne
Platform adopted by the American National
Council at Philadelphia, in lieu Of the one
adopted in June last:
LIST. An humble acknowledgment to the
supreme Being who rules the universe for
HIS protecting care vouchsafed to our fathers
IN their successful Revolutionary struggle,
and hitherto manifested to us, their descend.
ants, In the preservation Of the liberties, the
independence, and the union Of these States.
"a. The perpetuation Of the Federal Union,
as the palladium Of our civil and religious
liberties, and the only sure bulwark Of Amer
lean Independence.
3D. americans must rule America, and to
this end, native born citizens should be select.
ed for oil State, Federal and municipal offices
or government employment, in preference to
naturallEed citizens; neperfhelsss,
4th. Persons born OF American parents re-
siding temporarily abroad, should be entitled
TO aii the rights Of native.born citizens; but
| 9th. No person should be selected for pc.
iitical station, whether Of native or foreign
BIRTH who recognizes any allegiance or obl:.
CATION OF any description to any foreign
prince, potentate or power, or wno refuses to
recognize the Federal and State constitutions
leach within its sphere) as paramount to all
other laws as rules Of political action.
|
tenance OF the unreserved rights of the sew
eral states, and the cultivation Of harmony
and fraternal good will, between the citizens
OF the several States, and to this end non.
interference by Congress with questions ap.
| pertaining solely to the individual States,
and non Intervention by each State with the
affairs Of any other State.
18th. The recognition of the right Of the
native.born and n'tnralized citizens of the
United States permanently residing in any
Territory thereof, to 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 Constitution,
with the right of admission into the Union
whenever they have the REQUISITE population
for one Representative in Congress. Pro.
yided, dtrdys. That none but those who are
citizens Of the United States, under the con.
stitutiOn and laws thereof, and who have q
fixed residence in any such Territory. ought
to participate in the formation of the consti.
tuition, or in the enactment of laws for said
Territory or State.
Sth. An enforcement Of the principle that
no State or Territory can admit other than
native-born citizens to the right Of suffrage,
or of holding political Office, unless such per.
son shall have been naturalized according to
the laws of the United States.
| n CHuHSe III lnt lHWs OF nntuTuIlZn-
ton, making continued residence of twenty.
one years, of all not heretofore provided for
indispensably requisite for citizenship hereaf
ter, and excluding all paupers, and persons
convicted of crime, from landing upon our
shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners.
| 10th. Opposition to my union between
Church and State, no interference with re-
ligious faith or worship, and no test oaths fol
office, except those indicated IN the 9th see
ton Of this platform.
nth. Free and thorough Investigation into
any and oil alleged abuses Of public func
tionaries, and strict economy in public ex
penditure.
18th. The maintenance and enforce inent
OF all laws until raid laws shall be repealed
or shall be declared null and void by eompe
tent judicial authority.
| 18TH Opposition to the reckless and I'M
wise policy of the present administration in
the general management Of our national Of
fairs, and more especially as shown in remov
ing "Americans" (by Gesignation) and con
servatives in principle, from office, and placing
foreigners and ultraists in their places: Of
shown in q trucking subserviency to the
stronger, and on insolent and cowardly bra
vado towards the weaker powers; as shown
in re.opening sectional agitation, by the re.
vo"s " e"o "'sso"i compromise, rs shown
in granting TO unnatufalized foreigners the
right Of suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; rs
shown in its vacilatiny course on the Kansas
and Nebraska question; as shown in the re.
moval of Judge Bronson from the Collector
ship Of New York upon false and untenable
grounds; rs shown in the corruptions which
pervade some of the departments Of the gov.
erment: as shown in disgrncing meritorfous
naval officers through prejudice or caprice;
and as shown in the laundering mismanage.
ment Of our foreign relations.
18th. Therefore, to remedy existing evils.
and to prevent disastrous consequences 9TH
erwise resulting therefrom, we would build
up the american party" upon the principle.
herein before stated, esche wing all sectional
questions, and uniting upon those purely
national, and admitting into said party ali
American citizens, Preferred to in the Sd, 4th
and 9Th section,) who openly avow the prin.
ciples and opinions heretofore expressed, and
who will subscribe their names to this Mat.
form. Provided, nevertheless, that a MAORI.
ty OF those members present At any meeting
OF local Council where on applicant APPLIES
for membership. the American party NAV. 70,
any reason by them deemed sufficient, dsny
admission to such applicant.
18th. A free and open discussion Of all no.
liticsl principles embraced in our platform.