Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-25
shelby County Democratic COnven-


Pursuant to notice, the Democracy of Shelby
county assembled at Shelbyville on Saturday, the
I4tt day of September, 1861.
James Harrison, ESQ.,, was called to the chair,
and r. Spier was appointed Secretary.
The Chairman, on calling the meeting to or
der, stated its object in few eloquent and peril
nent remarks.
On motion, committee of one from each
township was appointed by the Chair to present
resolutions to the meeting for its consideration.
The large crowd assembled was eloquently and
patriotically addressed by Hons. T. A. Hendricks
and NJ. NJ. Ray
The committee on resolutions, through Judge
s eeth, its chairman. reported to the meeting the
following, which on motion by NJ. M. Ray, were
unanimously adopted:
Resolced, l. That the civil war in which our
country is at present involved is the natural and
approximate result of reckless and misguided Sec
tionalism engeudered by fanatics and Abolition
lists North, as well as FIRE eaters and rebels South
resulting in the formation of geographical and
sectional parties, which have rendered alien to
each other those who ought to be bound together
being in no wav responsible for this terrible ca
lamity, thus resulting from departure from its
doctrines and disregard of its timely warnings
and advice and repeated propositions of honora-
bic adjustment. Yet we are in favor of sustain
ing the Government in vigorous prosecution of
the within the constitutional powers and
limits to preserve the Government and uphold
the Union. Being ready at all times to entertain
such liberal propositions of peace and adjustment
hak I1o fbo 1<,xo ,,,A
reasonable and right alike to the North and the
South, thereby seeking at the earliest possible
day cessation Of hostilities and restoration of
the Union.
g That in this dark hour of our country's
peril, we the Democracy, entertaining no feelings
of passion resentment, and recollecting only
our duty to the country take the position that
this war should not be waged for conquest or sub
jugation, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or
interfering with the rights or established institu-
tons of the States; but. to defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution, and to pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity, equality and
rights of the several States unimpaired, and that
as soon as these objects are accomplished the war
ought TO cease. ta
g. That the Democracy stand to-day where
they have ever Stood the firm supporters and de-
tenders cf the Constitution, the Union and the
laws. That it has always been a national and
ever been fair, just and equal to all sections of
the country, in the early adoption of which, as
the true policy of the country, she has exhibited
to the world degree of prosperity unparalleled
in the annals of history. That in this lamentabe
struggle for our national existence we can con-
ceive of no good reason why we should now. as
we are asked to do, surrender party and
principles into the hands and control of the Re-
publicans, by fusng and uniting with them under
the name or cloak of Union men, by serving in
the ranks of sectional party which has alwys
been engaged in a warfare against the South and
her institutions. That we now regard ourselves
the best Union party in the country, and that
invite all good national men everywhere, to join
and cooperate with US in saving the country aud
preserving the Union
A. That the freedom of speech, the liberty of
Press, the right of trial by jury. and the privi-
lege of the writ of habeds corpus, are the great
bulwark of American liberty, that no citizen can
be legally deprived of the benefit of the writ OF
habeas corpus, except by Congress, and then only
in case of rebellion or invasion when the public
safety may require it; that we regard free
speech. and he right to fully, freely and temper
ateIy investigate and discuss all the acts of the
Government, as well as the public acts of public
men, as among the inalienable and most sacred
rights of American citizens, a right which we ex
pect, being responsible for the abuse thereof, to
exercise and enjoy, a right whichno good citizens
would seek to destroy or withhold: and that it
behooves every citizen to that it is not destroy
ed. either through the forms oflaw or BY attemp
ted violence
S. That the General Government has no pow
ers except those specified in the Federal Constitu
tion that all other powers are reserved and belong
to the States respectively, or to the people; that
the preservation of this Government, whether in
sunshine or storm, depends greatly on strict OBJ
servance and adherence to the powers OF the one
and an entire aud total non-iutervention with the
rights of the other that every department and
every agent of the General Government should
always act within and never outside OF the pow
ers thus delegated.
6. That while we believe it is our duty to sus-
tain and aid the present Administration in vig-
orous prosecution of the war tor the protection OF
the Government and the Union, and that upon
this question there should be no division OF sen
timent or action among the American people; yet
let It be understood that in doing this we do not
think il necessary TO abandon our party organiza+
ton and principles, nor justify the causes which
led 10 the war, indorse the odious doctrines and