Washington telegraph., 1856-03-19
The Platform.

Weplace before our readers to-day, the
new Platform adopted by the National
American Council, and ask them to give
it careful and attentive perusal. The
proposition to substitute the present plat
form for the one adopted in june last.
elected warm and protracted discussion,
but it was finally adopted by vote OF
l0S yeas to ~ nays. Of the Southern
votes, 80 were for it, to wit from Dela-
ware 2, Maryland 5. Florida 1, Louisiana
2, Arkansas 1, Tennessee 9. Kentucky
I Z, Missouri 3, and District of Columbia
2. Against it, 22-as follows: Maryland
4, Virginia 6, Louisiana l, Arkansas l,
Tennessee 8, Kentucky 5, and Missouri
L. The Northern vote on the new plat
form stood, 76 for, to 40 against it
Neither Maine. Vermont. South Carolina,
Georgia. Alabama. Mississippi or Texas
were represented when the platform was
adopted. r3 -E1 .lsss
The new platform adopted by the Con-
yention, while it differs in no material
point from the former one, is less liable
to the objections urged against it by the
opposition, on account of its phraseology
nothing is "pre.ermitted :" and as the
word Catholic is not mentioned, the reli-
gious persecution, which. by forced con-
struction, they applied to the 9Th article
of the old platform. is obviated. although
the section referring to foreign allegiance
is in effect the same The section upon
this subject reads as follows =
18th. No person should be selected for
political station, whether of native or for
eign birth. who recognizes any allegiance
or obligation Of any description TO any
foreign prince. potentate or po,cer. or acho
refuses to recognise the Federal and State
constitutions leach within it's sphere) as
paramount to all other ia,oS, as rules of
political action"
In addition to the subject of foreign
allegiance, this section embraces another
important principle, and that is, the re-
cognition of the Federal and State Con-
stitutions, each in their sphere, as supreme,
and that no person should be selected for
Office who does not recognize this principle
The sixth section relates to the "re-
served rights of the States" 1t emphat-
ically declares the principle of non-inter-
vention by Congress with the affairs of
the States, and non-interfereuce of one
State with the rights of another
The seventh section recognizes the ex-
elusive right of the permanent and natu-
rallied citizens of the territories, to form
their constitutions and laws, and to regu-
late their domestic and social affairs in
their own mode. subject only to the pro-
visions of the Federal Constitution-an
having complied with those provisions, the
right of admission into lite Union when.
ever they have the requisite population.
Does not this section yield all the South
has ever asked-a joint participation in the
territories of the Union 1t certainly re-
cognizes and endorses this principle
The next section contains another high
ly important principle. and is in these
words =
18Th. An enforcement of the principle
that no State or Territory ought to admit
others than citizens of the United States to
the right of suffrage. or of holding political
Office
Both this and the previous section strike
an effective blow at the mischievous anti
republican and dangerous doctrine of squat
ter sovereignty. which appears to be rap
idly obtaining favor in the Northern and
Western States. The enforcement of the
principle embraced in this section is of
paramount importance
The ninth section excludes all paupers
and criminals from landing upon our shores,
looks to change in the naturalization laws,
making continued residence of twenty
one years an Indispensable requisite for
citizenship hereafter, but discountenances
any interference with the vested rights of
foreigners.
The tenth section opposes any union be-
tween Church and State-avers non-inter-
ference with religious faith or worship, and
requires no tests for Office except those
mentioned in the 9TH section.
As a whole. We regard the platform as
eminently national, patriotic and conserva-
tive Emanating as it does from men |
representing all portions of our widely
extended domain. its tone and spirit is un-
exceptionable A portion of the tenth ar
ticle we regard as unimportant. and think
1t might as we'll have been left out
The best evidence of the soundness of the
principles it embraces is to be found in the |
fact that it is repudiated and contemned by
every Free-Soil and Abolition journal we
have seen, for proof of which we refer our |
readers 70 the views of tho N " Y~-k