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on, TRUE AMERICANS’ MANUAL. 59
PRINCIPLES QF THE NATIVE AMERICAN PARTY,
We hold that, with few exceptions, no
man, educated under one system of govern-
ment, can ever become thoroughly imbued
with the essence and spirit of another sys-
tem, essentially different in character,
hat no inan can eradicate, entirely, the
prejudices and attachments associated with
the land of his birth, so as to become a
perfectly safe depository for political trust,
in any other country.
That the obligation of an oath of fealty
to a foreign nation has been decided by
every civilized nation but our own to be of
secondary power, when brought in collision
with the natural fealty due to the native
land, And although we have, as yet, no
decision of this question in our own Supreme
Court, all precedents bearing on the subject
lead us to anticipate a similar conclusion
there.
And, therefore, that the elective franchise,
Which is the primary and fundamental ele-
ment of popular sovereignty, can only be
entirely secure when held exclusively in the
hands of natives of the soil.
But, in consideration of the present and
previous policy of our government, we are
Willing, at present, to extend, as a boon, to
pe peaceful and well-disposed strangers
lereafter settling among us, not only every
feourity enjoyed by the native, in the pro-
ection of person, property, and the legal
pursuit of happiness, but also the right of
sullrage, upon the same terms as those ime
posed upon the natives, namely, a legally
authenticated residence of at least twenty-
one years within the limits of the country.
6 We advocate such an amendment to the
pomstitution of the United States as may be
not lend to preclude the votes of persons
tt egally citizens of the United States, in
dat choice of national representatives or
elegates from the several States and Ter-
ritories
con ¢ stand pledged, in the exercise of our
did ‘ itutional right, of selecting those can-
on ab for office whom. we esteem most
. Le le and best informed, to confine our
political nominations to the American-born
for ens of the United States, including such
bes en born citizens only, as may have
ti n parties to the Federal Constitution at
1e time of its adoption.
mas solemnly protest against all inter-
yeling of national policy with the local
Poly, of particular States, on questions in-
wee the reserved rights of those States.
dion: hold, that all minor questions of expe-
pieeten in legislating upon subjects uncon-
the with the fundantental. structure of
h _fovernment—such as fiscal and com-
verekal regulations, the management of the
m lic domain, and the proceeds therefrom,
“ etonss by right, to the representatives
Stat 1e people, and those of their several
{ ‘tes, Lo be by them discussed and decided,
rom time to time, after mature argument,
vnder the constitutional responsibility of
those public agents—each to his own proper
constituency and to the country; and that
the adoption of any previous test or deter-
mination upon such questions, by any na-
tional party, degrades it into a fuction, and
by Jeading to final decision before argument,
obstructs the course of rational legislation,
If it be asked what measures of public im-
port we most favor, as a party, we answer,
all that stand high as American measures,
in contradistinction to foreign. Native agri-
culture we cherish first—native industry,
first and last, in every branch of trade—
art, ingenuity, mechanics, and invention.
We aim at the independence of our country,
in all -things—moral, intellectual, physical,
and political—in works of the hand, as well
as works of the head—in manual labor and
in mental sagacity. We desire to muke our
government what our fathers designed it
should be, and witness native statesmen in
power — native industry triumphant over
foreign labor—and native hearts announce
ing America emancipated from all the
world. : _
We advocate such an amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, as shalt
reconcile its letter with its spirit, on the
subject of executive appointments, render
ing all officers commissioned by and with
the consent of the Senate, incapable of re-
moval except by and with the same con-
sent.
We recommend to the native Americans
of the several States,-a prompt resistance
to all sectarian intermeddling with politics
or political institutions, come from what
source soever it may: the absolute freedom
of religious opinion being the corner-stone
of American civilization.
We also recommend to the Native Amert-
cans of the several States the careful foster+ -
ing and improvement of Jocal institutions
for public instruction, to be supported at
the public expense, without which a govern:
ment of the people must specdily become &
government of ignorance and probable,
depravity.
We also recommend to the Native Ameri-
cans of the several States, in their systems
of education, a full recognition of the Bible,»
as Divine authority for the rights of man, as
well as for the separation of Church and
State, on which depends so essentially the
pursuit of happiness and freedom of conscl-
ence. To the Bible we are indebted jor the
wand that broke the sceptre of tyrants, and
crumbled to atoms the Church and State
despotisms of those potentates who ussoct-
ate religion with their political systems—
who degrade the people ia order to rule
them, and interdict education and know-
ledge among the masses, lest intelligence
should inform them of their rights, instruct
them how to break asunder. their bonds,
aud rise to the true dignity of God-created
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