The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-01-24
:. - -VgTYT-- ----T--- N1UET-|-g-T--9
TIE AMERICAN NATIONAL PLATFORM.

I. An humble Acknowledgement to the Supreme
Being who rules the Universe for His protecting
care. vonchsafed to our fathers in their successful
revolutionary struggle, and hitherto manifested to
Us, their descendants, iii the preservation Of the lib
critics, the independence and the union Of these States
| II. The perpetuation of the Federal Union az the
palladium of our civil and religious liberties, and the
only sure bulwarko of American Independence.
HI. Amsricans must rule America; and to this end
natiue born citizens should be selected TOR ill State
Federal and Municipal offices or Government en-.
ploy1ment, in preference to naturalized citizens nee
eytAciess. s
~. Persons born Of American parents residing
temporarily abroad should be entitled to all the rights
of native born citizens; bnt
". No person. should be selected for political sta
ton, (whether of native or foreign birth, j who recog.
nizes any allegiance or obligation Of any description
TO any foreign prince, potentate or power, or who
refuses to recognize the Federal and State Constitu-
lions leach within its sphers) as paramount to all
other laws Us rules Of political action.
vi. The unqualified recognition and maintenance
of the reserved rights of the several States, and the
cultivation Of harmony and ~fraternal good will be.
tween the citizens Of the several States; and to this
end, non-intcrfcrence by Congress with questions
appertaining solely to the Individual Suites. and
non-intervcntion by each State with the affairs Of any
other State. !.
VII. The recognition Of. the right of the native
born and naturalized citizens Of the United states.
permanently residing in any Territory thereof, to
ua.'e lieit CONSTIPATION anu laws, ana TO regulate
their domestic and social affairs, in their own mode.
suhlectonly to the. provisions Of the Federal Consti.
tuition. with the right of admission into the Union
whenever they have the requisite population for one
Repfesentatlve II Congress; lsrcvided aiicays, that
none but those who are citizens Of the United States.
under the Consultation and laws thereof. and who
have a fixed residence In any such Terrjtory. onrht
to participate in the formation of the Constitution. or
IN the enactment Of laws for said Territory or State.
VIII. An enforcement of the principle that mo
State or Tprritorv cnu admit o}lar. &icrAr =, go -
citizens to the right Of suffrage, or Of holding politi.
cal Office. unless such persons shall have been uaf,-
ralizcd according to the laws of the United States.
TX. A change in the laws of naturalization making
q continued residence Of twenty-one years, Of ali not
heretofore provided for, an indispensable rennisjte
for citizenship hereafter, mud excluding all nalne,s
and persons convicted Of crime, from landing rDon
our shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners - .s5G5 1.N'
x. Opposition to any union between Church and
and no test oaths for Office, except those indicated X
the fifth section OF this platform.
ri. Free and thorough investigation into any and
all alleged abuses of public tunctionaries, and q strict
economy in public expenditures.
-. AL ~ uhe maintenance and enforcement Of nil laws
until SAID laws shall be repealed, or shall be declared
null and void by competent judicial authority.
AlH. Opposition to the reckless and unwise pol;cv
OF the present Administration In the general nanaye
MEM o. our national affairs, and more especially as
shown IN removing !" Americans {by desirnatfonS
and conservatives in principle from Office, and DI :
foreigners and nltraists in their places: ~ shsovyn Is
. trucking subservieney to the stronger. ana an in
solens ana eowardiy brayado towards the weaker
hy the repeal of the Missouri Compromise: Al shosr
IN granting to annatuialized foreigners the y;rbt -
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; az shorn III a.
2 course on the Kansas and Nebrasks quess
Coilectorship Of Newly fork upon faIse AMI nrtsn.
able grounds; as shown in disgracinv mar;tn,sc,,s