The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-01-03
THE AaERleN siTlaylL PLATFORM

1. An humble acknowledgement to the Supreme
Being WHO rules the Universe for His protecting
care, yaachsated to our fathers IN their successful
revolutionary struggle, and hitherto maitiies ted to
us, their descendants, in the preservation OF the lib
! critics, the independence and tile union ofthese state
II. The perpetaation OF the Federal Union Is tie
palladium OF our civil aud religious liberties, and the
only sure bulwafk Of Amc,iceH Dependence.
III. Anerirans must faie 4sosfca: and totEiiscld
natirs born citizens Should ee selected far all state,
Federal and Municipal offices or Government Z
ployment, in preference to nataYaliacd eitiGeis hfr-
~ertheiess-
II. Persons DO -., eareGts residing
temporarily abroad stdtrt -1@-lNlG all the right
Of native born citizens; but
V. No person should lie selected for political sta
ton, (whethcr of native or foreign birth,) who recog-
nizes any allegiance OF obligation OF any description
to any foreign prince, po!entatc or power, or who
refuses to recognize the Federal and State Gonstitli.
tions (tach within its spieye) as paramount to all
other laws as rules of political action.
vi. The unqualified recognition and maintenance
of the reserved rights of the several States. and the
cultivation of harmony and ~irAterual good will be
tween the citizens Of the several States; and to this
end, noa-interierence by Congress with questions
entertaining solely to the individual States. and
nSolu.intervention by each State with the affairs of any
other State. @ H .
VII. The recognition of tie right Of the native
born and naturalized citizens of the United States,
permanently residing in any Territory thereof. to
frame tnelt CONSTITUTION ana laws. ana To fe9nlate
their domestic and social affairs, in their own mode,
subject only To the provisions Of the Federal Consti.
tuition, with the right OF admission into the Union
Whenever they have the requisite population for one
Representative in Congress: Prorided ARRAYS, that
none hut those who are citizens of the United States,
under the Constitution aud laws thereof, and who
have 4 fixed residence in any such Territory, ought
to participate in the formation of the Consultation, nt
in the enactment oil laws for said Territory or state.
WIZ. An enforcement Of the principle that ITO
I SANta -- u'.api. 1yp ans II -s- tlt.- 4t.au# ta..
citizens 10 the right Of suffrage, or OF holding politi-
cal Office. unless sucl, persons snail have been natu,
rallied according to the laws Of the United States.
TX. A change in the laws Of naturalization making
a continued residence of tweHty-one years, Of al not
heretofore provided for, an indispensable requisite
for citizenship hereafter, and excluding all patperS,
and persons convicted of crime, from landing upon
our shores; but no interference with the vested
rights of foreigners.
X. Opposition to any union between Church and
State; no interference with religious faith or worship
and no test 0aths for office, except those Indicated il
the fifth section of this platform.
XI. Free aud thorough investigation isto any asd
all alleged abuses Of nbiiclnuetionarie aud a strict
economy in public expenditures. r.
XII. The maintenance aad enforcement of all laws
until said laws shall be repeated, OF shall he declared
null and void by competent judicial authority.
NH. Opposition to the reckless and unwise policy
of the present Administration in the general manage.
ment of our national affairs, and more especially as
Stu'Nh III lClhbNlHG [AiieIitlDs lhN upslynltlDI)
and conservatives in principle from office, and placing
foreigners and u'traists in their places; as shown In
a trucking suhserviency to the stronger, and an in
so|ent aud cowardly brayado towards the weaker
powers; as shown in reOpening sectional agitation.
by the repeal Of the Missouri Compromises; as shown
in granting to unnaturali2ca foreigners the right 10
suffrage in Kansas and Nebraska; as shown in its
yacillating course on the Kansas and Nelrasks o,tes.
ton: as shown in the removal of Judge Bronson from
the Collectorship of NewGolk upon false and unten-
able grounds; as shown in disgracing meritorious
naval officers through prejudice or caprice: and as
showniu the laundering mismanagemclt of our for.
eign relations,
XIV. Therefore sto remedy existing eyils, and pre-.
vent the disastrous consequences otherwise resulting
theretrom, we would build up the American Party
upon the principles hereinbcfore stated, e~scbewine
all sectional questions, and uniting those purely ma
tional, and admitting into said party all American
%citi2ens %(referred 10 in the third, fourth and fifth
%seetionsl who openly avow the principles and opin,
ions heretofore expressed, and who will subscribe
their names to this platform; Provided nevertheless,
that a majority of those members present at any
meeting of a local council where an applicant applies
for membership in The American Party, may. for any
reason by them deemed sufficient, deny admission to
such applicant.
Nv \ free and open discussion of all political
principles embraced in our platform.