Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-02-21
THE AMERICAN PLATFORM.


formation, but in accordance with the re-
quest of several friends. Our room will
not admit of il this week, but we give two
planks--whch are commonly denominated
the "nigger" and "Catholic" ones, to-wit---
XII. The American party having arisen
upon the ruins, and in spite Of the opposition
Of the Wing and Democratic parties, cannot
be in any manner responsible for the obnox-
ious acts or violated pledges Of either. And
ihe systematic agitation ofthe slavery ques-
tion by those parties, having elevated Sec
tional hostility into a positive element Of
political power, and brought our institutions
into peril; it has therefore, become the i'm
perative duty Of the American party 10 in
terpose for the purpose Of giving peace to
the country and perpetuily 10 the Union
And as experience has shown it impossible
to reconcile opinions so extreme as those
which separate the disputants, and as there
can be no dishonor in submitting to the laws,
the National council has deemed it the best
guarantee Of common justice and Of future
peace, to abide by and maintain the existing
laws upon the subject Of slavery, as final
and conclusive settlement Of the subject, in
spirit and in substance.
And regarding it the highest du'y 10 avow
their opinions upon subject so important,
in distinct and unequivocal terms, it is here
by declared, as the sense of this National
Council, that Congress possesses no power,
under the Constitution, TO legislate upon the
subject Of Slavery in the States where it
does or may exist, or to exclude any State
from admission into the Union because its
Constitution does or does not recognize the
institution Of Slavery as a part OF its social
system; and expressy:preermltting any ex-
preston Of opinion upon the power Of Con-
eress TO establish or prohibit Slavery in any
Territory it is the sense Of the National
Council that Congress ought not 10 legisate
upon the subject OF Slavery within the Ter
ritories of the United States, and that any
interference by Congress with Slavery as it
exists in the District of Columbia, would
be violation Of the spirit and intention OF
the compact by which the State Of Mary
land ceded the District to the United States
and breach Of national faith.
VIII, Resistance TO the aggressive policy
and corrupt tendencies of the Roman Cath
oic Church in our country, by the advance
mcnt 10 all political stations executive, leg
islative judicial or diplomatic OF those only
who do not hold civil allegiance, directly or
indirectly, 10 any foreign power, whether
civil or ecclesiastical, and who are Ameri-
cans by birth, education and training, thus
fulfilling the maxim, "Americans only shall
govern America"
The "nigger" plank is as "sound as o
trout" So sound that it drove the aboli-
tionists out of the Convention, and out of the
party, and they at once proceeded to organ.
ize in Massachusetts, and other places under
the name Of Republican party" Driving
these scamps out gave the American Party
National Position, North and South, which
they still maintain. The Aboitionists north
and the disunionists south, are now work
ing shoulder TO shoulder, trying TO break
down the American Party. Readyou plat
form Americans, particularly Third Degree
members, and prepare to meet them.
The "Catholic plank" is great stumbling
block-a terrible bug bear. 1t proscribes O
man on account of his religion, says some
thick skulled demagogue; yet that thick
skuled scoundrel knows he lies when he
says so, or he has not got sense enough 10
understand the english language. What
does the platform say? That we will ad
vance TO political sations-otfice--fhose only
who do not hold ciUll allegiance to any for,
eign power, whether ciuiI or eccles taStical.-
Now the costitution forbid any one holding
Office who owes allegiance 10 any foreign
power, and requires ''solemn oath OF re.
nunciation" before they can be regarded a.
citizens Of this country, or be entitled 10 tht
elective franchise.
The whoie-spirit Of our constitution and
laws is against the union of Church anc
State. Roman Catholicism holds the State
inferior to the Church, and the Church un.
der the Absolute control ofthe Pope, not on
! ly in spiritual but in a temporal sense
American Catholics do not admit the tempo
raj supremacy of the Pope. They hold al
legiance to their country superior to that o
the Pope. Roman Catholics obey the Pope''
bulls, even should they demand violation
of the constitution and laws Of the country
1t is this porer that the Americans oppose
and will ever oppose, whether it be asser
ted by Roman Catholics, Presbyterians
Methodists, or any other religious denomi
nation. Religion has nothing TO do with it
it is the temporal power under religious
cloak, that we war against, and will eve
war. We opposed it before we ever hearc
of the American Party, as did all good cti
zens--we, and they, continue to oppose it
Here is what the platform says about reli-
gion:-
The protection of all citizens in the lega
and proper exercise of their civil and reli
rr;ous :.l,s and nriyiIaoac. ho ,a,o,of, il,