Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-17
PLATFORM OF THE AMERICAN PARTY,
Adopted at the Session Of the National Council,
February 81, 1856

list An humble acknowledgment 10 the Supreme Being, for
his protecting youcaed fathers in their success
ful Revolutionary struggle and hitherto manifested 70 us,
their descendants in the preservation Of the berte the
independence, and the union Of these States.
ID The perpetuaon Of the Federal Union, the paa-
dium Of civil and religious liberties and the only sure
bulwark Of American Independence.
81 Americans rate ABerio0, and to this end Hd
Ueborn citizens should all state Federal and
municipal Offices government employment in preference
to,an Others nevertheless,
4th Persons American parents residing tempora
ry abroad should be entitled all the rights Of natveborn
citizens but,
9th No person should be selected for political station,
wheher foreign birth who recognises any ale
glance obligation Of any description any foreign prince
poenate power who refuses recognise the Federal
State Constitutions leach within its sphere
to all other laws, as rules OF political action.
9th TIE unqualified recognition and maintenance of the
rights Of the several States and the cultivation Of
harmony atena good will between the citizens Of the
several States and this end nonnteerence by Congress
with questions appertainng solely the individual States
and nonnteryenton by each State with the affairs a any
other State.
7h The recognition Of the right OF the nativeborn and
naturazed citizens Of the United States permanently resd
ing any Territory thereof frame their constitution and
laws and regulate domestic and social affairs in their
mode subject only to the proy ions Of the Federal
whenever they have the requisite population for Repre-
sentative in Congress PordeJ 0lcdys, that but
tho citizens Of the United States, under the
stution thereof and who have fixed residence in
any such Territory, ought participate in the formation Of
constitution in the Of laws for said Terri
tory or State.
sh An Of The principle that State Ter
rory ought admit others than citizens Of the United
States to the right suffrage Of holding political Office.
4
tnued twentyone years Of all hereinbeore
provided for indspens requisite for citizenship here
after and excluding all paupers and persons convicted
crime from landing upon shores but interference
with the vested rights Of foreigners.
10Th. Opposition any union between Church and state;
Interference with religious ia or worship, ana no test
oath- for Office.
llh tree and thorough investigation any and a al
lrdged abuses Of public functionae, and sct economy
in public expenditure
l2th The maintenance and enforcement of all laws con
additionally enacted, until said laws shall be repealed,
shall be declared null and void By competent Judicial au
thority.
18Th Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy Of the
present administration the general management %
national al rs and especially shown la removing
Am 1cans y desgnation' ana conservative "a primer
pie, from Office and placing foreigners and ualsts Ia their
place. Trucking subServency 10 the stronger,
and an nsoent and coWady havado towards the weaker
powers, shown in reopenng sectional agitation by the
repeal Of the ssnu- Compromise shown in granting to
unnaturzed foreigners the right Of suffrage IN hn.as and
Nebraska shown in it, yascIatng the Kansas
and hgbraka question: shown In the cnrrupuonS which
pervade the departments Of the Government;
shown in sgracng merorious naval officers through pre-
iudce caprice; and sh in the blunderng misman
agement Of foreign atious
l4t Therefore remedy existing evils and prevent the
disastrous otherwise resulting thrreiom,
would build up the American Party" upon the principles
itreinbefore stated.
18TH That each Council shall have authority 10
their constitutions abolish the several
degrees, aud institute pledge of honor, instead Of other
obligations for e whip and admission into the party
10th free and ope discussion Of all lucal principles
embraced ia platform.