The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-02-14
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATF0pT

7. An humble Acknowledgement to the Snn,-
Being who rules the Universe for His proteri.S
care, vouchsafed to our fathers in their sucrss1S
revolutionary struggle, aud hitherto manifesteSZa
us, their descendants, in the preservation 81 {M@
critics, the independence and the union Of these Ss.lEs
II. The perpetuation of the Federal Union :. NJ
palladium of our civil and religious liberties. ana N
only sure bulwark of American Independence. -
III. americans mist ruie America; and to TIL 81
natipe bornscitizens should be sslected for Ill SssH
1eral and Municipal Offices OF 4doyeefrnhMssnst - vi
ployment e;T preference to naturalized al tfTs IL VA
eftheies@s if N' tFs " &@ sSN
". Persons born of American parents residi.
temporarily abroad should be entitledt to all the mn
ofnative born citizens; but 81
". No person should he selected for politici8
ton, (whetier of native or foreign birth y who reeS
nizes any allegiance or obligation of any descfip1s
to any foreign prince, potentate OF. power, OF n
refuses to recognize the. Federal and State Cous{aiG
tions (eacl within its spherey rs paramount a N
other laws as rules Of political action.
vi. The unqualified recognition and mainttnss
of H.. d rights Of the several States, and n
cultivation of harmony and traternal good will 4
tween the citizens of the several States; and TO NJ
| end, non-intcrference by Congress with questio
appertaining solely to the individual States N
non-inteyvcntion by each State with the affairs ofUII
other State. 5
born and naturalizcd citizens of the United Etsfs
gsr4snehtly residing in any Territory Thereof. n
franc Their Constitution ard laws, and to regtlA
their domestic and social affairs, in their own mob
subject only to the provisions Of the Federal Como
tuition, with the right of admission into the UNI
wherever they have the requisite population for III
| Representative in Congress; P,orided altrdgs, ta[
none but those who are citizens of the United Stat14
under the Constitution and laws thereof, and NM
have n fixed residence in any such Territory, 0uah3
to participate in the. formation Of the Constitution
in ne enactment Of laws for said Territory or StkE
VIZ enforcement Of the principle that NJ
State or tory can admit others than native boMI
citizens to tin light of suffrage, or of holding pdE5
| cal office unlea- such persons shall have been mia
| rallied accordip to the laws of the United Statess
TX. A ciunetin the laws of naturalization makint7
a continued residence of twenty-one years, Of all hS
heretofore provided for, an indispensable requixA3
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all panpka.
and persons convicted Of crime, from landing npQs
or shores; but no interference with the yesks
hts of foreigners. s
X. Opposition to-any union between Church atA
State; NJ intert~rcne~3sith religious faith or worship
and no test oaths for Office, except those iRdicatedi8
the fifth section Of this platform.
ri. Free and thorough investigation into any a4
all alleged abuses IF public iinctiunarics, and a stIH2
economy in public expenditures.
XII. The maintenance nd enforcement Of all lasa
until said iJws shall be repealed, or shall be declaN4
nall and void hy competent judicial authority. !
Mi. Opposition to the reckless and unwise p0Ia&
of the present administration in the general rlanarls
L III VI wv AithiN aAAAsiiF bfA iiiNiS St1s iUl T.
shown IN removing " Americans :" (hy designati@SH
ard conservatives in principle fromofice, and plaehas
foreigners and rltraistS in their places; as shownHS
a trucking sufseryiency to the stronger, and an hS
solent and cowardly hravadn towards te ysat@a
powers; as shown in teopeuing sectional agitataa
by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; as show
in granting to unnaturalizcd foreigners the right4S
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska: as shown I'M
vacillating course on tie Kansas and Nchrasks quNS
tion; rs shown in the removal of Judge BRONSON hi
the Called lfship OF NcwYork upon false and until
able grounds; as gown in disgracing meritoriaS
naval officers tlroHsf, prejudice or caprice; and
shown in the laundering rrfsmanagement Of 0urf1
}aign relations. VII
NXiF. Therefore, to remedy existing tais, and nj
vent tie disastrous consequences otherwise resulths
therc!roEn, We would build up the American riN
upon the principles hereinbc!cre stated, ~cschewh3
allseeticnsl questions, ard uniting those purelynH
tional. and admitting into said party all America
citizens (referred to in the thru fourth and fa5
sections who openly ayow the u lciples and oIabI
ions heretofore expressed, and MAO Will srlhstlasa
their names to this Platform; Provided nevertheless
that Il majority of those meinlers present at ~
meeting Of 4 Local council where an applicant applls
for membership III The American Party, may, fora 81
reason ty them deemed sufficient, deny admission
such applicant. III
XIV. A free and open discussion Of all polite
principles embraced in our platform. LII