The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22
WASHINGTON, d. c..
POLITICS IN INDIANA.
CENTREvLLE, ND, May 10, Is

10 The EdltOT 81 ne N0IS0fidt Era:
You are aware that have steadily and very
decidedly opposed the policy which the great
body of our friends IN this State have seen fit
10 pursue during the past two years. have
not thought it wise for us to Join the Know
Nothing Order. or to form any coalition with
IT, | have not believed that the true method
OF establishing our doctrines in the minds of the
people was to abandon those doctrines our
selves, nor have | been 50 weary in well-doing,
or SO eager for present success, as to embark
on the uncertain sea of political expediency.
In the face of many discouragements, and
much opposition from all quarters, / have
stesdfastly insisted that fidelity to principle is
the true policy, and the only sure means of
any genuine success. Other counsels pre-
vailed. and i am sorry TO say that my worst
approximations as to the result have been fully
verified. The Anti-Slavery men of Indiana
have tried the philosophy OF trimming, tempo
rizing, diluting, and surrendering, patiently
and thoroughly, and the browning fruit of their
policy WAS brought forth ia the State Conven-
ton OF the peoples party" on the first of May.
] give the platform entire, and / think your
readers will agree with me in branding it as
the climax of political regeneration, almost
every line Of which is stamped with cowardice
aud studied purpose to deceive:
PLATFORM
The people of Indiana, consisting of all who
are opposed to the policy of the present Fed
eral Administration, assembled in Convention
at the Capitol of the State, now submit to the
people the following platform of principles
Res0ioed, That we are uncompromisingly OPP
posed to the extension Of Slavery, and that we
utterly repudiate the platform of principles
adopted by the selfstyled Democratic Conven-
ton of this State, endorsing and approving the
Kansas Nebraska iniquity.
ResolDed, That we viii resist, by all proper
means, the admission OF any slave State into
this Union formed out of the Territories secur-
ed 10 Freedom by the Missouri Compromise, or
otherwise.
ResolUed, That are ia favor of the imme
date admission of Kansas Is a free State.
ResolUed, That we are in favor of the natural
ization laws of Congress with the FIVE years
probation, and that the right of suffrage should
accompany and not precede naturalization.
Resoioed, That We believe the General As
sembly Of the State have the power to prohibit
the sale of Intoxicating liquors as beverage,
and that We are in favor OF q constitutional law
which will effectually suppress TIE evils Of in
temperance.
The first resolution means practically moth
ing. The great body of the people of the free
States, of all parties, are ready to say, We
are uncompromisingly opposed to the extension
of Slavery Ii the managers of our Conven-
lion had been honest, they would have taken
ground squarely in favor Of the prohibition
of Slavery by act OF Congress in all Federal
territory. This would have rendered definite
and specific issue.
The second resolution ID as mean a dodge as
the first. What territory have we that has been
"secured To Freedom by the Missouri Com
:.
danger of being overrun 10y Slavery, except
Kansas; and yet the intention of those who
inserted the words cor otherwise" doubtless
was 10 convey the idea that the admission of
slave States is TO be resisted, from whatever
quarter; whereas, the resolution in fact impli-
eddy agrees 10 the admission of slave States
from Utah, New Mexico, Texas, and any terri
tory hereafter to be acquired
The third resolution is well enough, as far as
1t goes. 1t is the only positive and unequivo-
cal one on the list, but says nothing about the
peoples Constitution OF Kansas, or their strug-
gle with the border rufiians.
There Is a wretched attempt TO cheat coiled
mp in the fourth resolution. At first sight, il
would seem TO commit the Convention to our
naturalization laws, and against any extension
of "the FIVE years probation" This is not So
Read il carefully, and you will see that our
Know Nothings who VIGOROUSLY controlled the
whole AFFAIR." only committed themselves " in
favor of the five years probation" which they
could very consistently do and yet hold on to
their favorlte dogma OF probation of twenty
one years for the foreigner Can the people
be deceived by so transparent a subterfugeY
The last resolution is decidedly the most
slippery and dishonest Of the whole series. IL
sets out with general statement that "ihe
General Assembly have the power to prohibit
the sale OF intoxicating liquors as a beverage"
This rs very well, as an abstract proposition,
and as a preface to some practical thing TO be
done but instead of this, it concludes that
we are IN favor of q constitutional law which
Will efectually suppress the eciis Of iittemper.
dmoe." There il not an Old Line Democrat
In the State who is not in favor of this last
declaration. Everybody is in favor of a con
stitufi6nat law that will suppress the erls o.
intemperance. If our present temperance law
made by these fusionists, ernbodying the prin
ciple Of search, seizure, aud confiscation, i,
constitutional, why not say so, and make TIA,
direct and specific issue before the people Oh
the question of turning out the present Suprem,
Judges2 The discrediiable truth is, that thu
lust for office among our politicians disposes 0
every principle with view to success, an,
tempts them to propitiate, if possible every ex
listing class of voters. Such political prostitu
tion is iutoerable
A word IN this connection about the pream
bic 10 these resolutions. This Convention O
the !" Peoples Party" was composed of " al
who are opposed to the policy Of the presen
Federal Administration" This of course in
eluded the svowed Fillmore men, who forme
large part of the Convention and accord
ingly, Fillmore men, as well as anti Fimor
men, were made electors for the State, an
sent rs delegates to the Peoples National Cor
yention." One Fillmore man, at least, wa
nominated also on the State ticket, whilst wit
one exception, L cannot find on the entire lis
of candidates, electors and delegates, a singl
man who has been heretofore known in tn
politics of The State as an Anti. Slavery mar
or whose antecedents present commiltal
furnish any certain guaranty of future fidelity
So much for " fnsionism in Indiana.
Oar cause is insuied, hawked about in III
political market by mere plaeeh hunters; on
friends, who murmur against it, are made ID
litical outcasts and the grand struggle seen
10 be, whether the hungry politicians who haS
the Peoples party in their keeping sha
hold the Offices Of the State, or whether Ii
Old Liners shall retain them.
Bat what is the duty Of our friends, who cal
not support the Peoples Ticket? | answer, Il
them do everything in their power, by homo
able means, to overwhelm it with an ingloriot
defeat. We owe this much TO the politician
who have so long trihed with the Anti SLAYER
sentiment of the State, and made it ali artic
of merchandise; and we owe IL likewise
those of our brethren who have placed poll,
before principle. We may be few in number
but we shall not be powerless. We can gath
mp the fragments of once healthy and vigo
GUS party, and make new one we can esta
hsh an independent central press, which v
have not had for two wears. We can select