The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-03-03
The American Platform

First: An humble Acknowledgement 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 descendants,
in the preservation of the liberties, the in le-
pendence, and the union of these States.
Second: The perpetuation of the Federal
Union, as the palladium Of our civil and reli-
gous liberties, and the only sure bulwark OF
American Independence.
Third: americans must rule america, and
to this end, natiUe born citizens should be Sc
lected for all State Federal and municipal Of
fees or government employment in preference
to naturaliZed citizens, nevertheless;
Fourth: Persons born of American parents
residing temporarily abroad, should be emit
tied to all the rights Of native-born citizens;
but
Fifth: No person should be selected for po-
litical station whether native or of foreign
birth, who recognizes any allegiance or obi
CATION of any description to any foreign prince,
potentate, or Power, or who refuses to recog-
nize the Federal and State Constitution each
within its sphere] as paramount to all other
laws, as rules of political action.
Si1h: The unqualified recognition and
maintenance of the reserved rights of the sew
eral States, and the cultivation of harmony
and fraternal goodwill between the citizens of
the several States, and, to this end, noninter-
ference by Congress with questions appertain-
ing solely to the individual States and non
intervention by each State with the affairs of
any other State.
Seventh: The recognition Of the right of the
native born and naturalized 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. Provided
always, that none but those who are citizens
of the United States, under the Constitution
and laws thereof, and who have fixed resi-
dence in any such Territory, ought to partici-
pate in the formation of the Constitution, or
in the enactment oflaws for said Territory or
State.
Eighth: An enforcement of the principle
that no State or Territory can admit others
than native-born citizens to the right of suff-
rage, or of holding political office. unless such
persons shall have been naturalized according
to the laws of the United States.
Ninth: A change in the laws of naturaliza-
ton, making continued residence OF twenty
Que years, of all not heretofore provided for,
an Indispensable requisite for citizenship here
after, and excluding all paupers, and persons
convicted of crime, from landing upon our
shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners.
Tenth: Opposition to any union between
Church and State; no interference with reli-
gious faith or worship, and no test oaths for
office except those indicated in the 9Th section
of this platform.
Eleventh.: Free and thorough investigation
into any and all alleged abuses Of public func-
tionaries, and strict economy in public ex-
perditures.
IsOeltth: The maintenance and enforcement
of all laws until said laws shall be repealed, or
shall be declared null and void by competent
judicial authority.
Thirteenth: Opposition to the reckless and
unwise policy of the present Administration
the general management of our national af-
airs and more especially as shown in remov-
ng Americans by designation and con-
servatives in principle, from office, and placing
foreigners and ultraists in their places; as
shown in trucking subserviency to the
stronger, and an insolent and cowardly bravo
do toward the weaker powers; as shown in re-
opening sectional agitation, by the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise; as shown in granting
unnaturalized foreigners the right to stuff
rage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its
vascillating course on the Kansas and Nebras-
ka question; as shown in the removal of Judge
Bronson from the Collectorship of New York
upon false and untenable grounds; as shown
in the corruDtionS which Deryade some of the