Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-30
The Chicago Platform or Civil War.

Sucn Is the alternative now presented to the
country The Republican leaders and Republi-
can journals, with one or two exceptions insist
upon upholding the Chicago platform-the whole
platform, and nothing but the platform-no mat
ter what may be the consequences to the party,
to the country or to the human race: They seem
to regard the Chicago platform with a sort of re-
ligous alteration bordering on idolatry as it were
something more sacred than the Constitution OF
the existence of the Government established by
the sages and patriots of the first Revolution
more inviolate than even the decalogue and the
holy evangelists. They declare they will main
tain it to the bitter en, though civil war should
be the consequence, as it undoubtedly will be-
and though this fair land of plenty and all its in
habitants should be reduced to sscarcasses and
ashes, which was once the fate of Ireland as
described by the British historian, after a long
and bloody civil in that unhappy county
But 1t becomes grave question for both the
lenders and the rank and file of the Republican
party, rs well as for the rest of the Northern
population whether the Chicago platform is worth
such a sacrifice, and whether they will insticate
or even permit the preparation of such folly as
might make the angels weep. What is the Chi
cago plattormT Its essential principle is the as
sertion of "higher lava law before and
above the Constitution Ii is. i'm fact. an impu-
dent and outrageous attempt by a sectional party
bounded by a geographical line, to abolish the
Constitution, which was not made for the North
nor for the South but for the whole country. en-
bracing and protecting alike the rights and the
interests of both sections. The Constitution
guarantees equal rights to all the States. The
Chicago platform goes behind that instrument
and denies its right, or the right of any Cousttu-
ton to protect the Southern States in the exer-
else of their guaranteed right of property in
negro slaves.
The equality of all the States in the Union is
one of its fundamental principles. The Chicago
Platform procaims inequality as the basis of the
Republican creed. 1t proclaims that Northern
men have right to take their horses, their mules
and other property into the common territory, and
settle there, under the egis OF the Constitution
but that Southern men have not the same right
to migrate to the Territories with their property
consisting of negro slaves, and enjoy equal pro
lection, though the Constitution has recognized
property in the service of slaves as on the same
basis with any other kind of property. Upon
this issue in the Presidential election, by an acc
dental technical majority of the votes of the e,ec
toral colleges, the Republican party, though in
small minority of the whole population, hav,
been elevated to the control of the Federal Gov
ernment, the possession of the public purse, the
army and navy and the Federal courts; and the
chiefs, in the very face of the e lrful consequence
staring them in the face, declare their intention
of carrying out every title of the Chicago plat
form. If they have thus proclaimed their resolv,
to overthrow the Constitution in its gre It essen
tial features, can it be wondered that the South
the section to be assailed, is preparing for resist
ance
The Chicago platform is declaration of wal
against the social nstitons of fifteen States o
the Union, and naturally rouses those States into
an attitude of defense. Secession is as unconsti
tional as the Chicago platform or the nulltcatioi
liberty bills of the North, and the designs of th'
seeding States can not be carried out under tn,
constitution any more than the designs of tn,
Republican leaders; but those States have, out
side of the Constitution, the right of revolution
the last reserved right of every oppressed people
, 1t is upon this great right the Declaration of In
dependence is based, and it lies, therefore, at tn
very foundation of our Government Contrar,
to the letter and spirit of the political compac
between the States, the Chicago platform inter
feres with the slave Institution. To interfere witt
and denounce sin the social Institutions o
any State is just cause for hostities and to tn
aggrieved State it is not only question of pru
dence and expedency how far it may exercise it
right of war. That the people of the Southern
States are preparing to exercise that right ther
is only too much reason to apprehend.
If, therefore, the Chicago platform is not aban
doned there is every probability that there will b
civil war, and that not merely at the South, bu
also at the North. 1t is high time, therefore, 70
Mr.. Lincoln and the other Republican leaders L
pause at the edge of the abyss into which they hav
proposed to plunge themselves and the country
, and consider whether it is not better for them c
retrace their steps before it is too late. There
? not a moment to be lost if they desire to rescu
! the Government from utter wreck and ruin. Tn
1 whole issue resolves itself into the question
whether the Union or the Chicago Platform is +
, be devoted to destruction? To save both is i'm
E possible-Ner York Herald.