The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-10-09
llDllyl DEHOCRlTlG PLATFORM.

I malnfp0anre
the Constitutions and seeing in the present condi-
ton of the country the deplOrabe effects of a
departure from its time honored and conservative
| principles, and the triumph of sectiOnasnl; and
! firmly believing that the Union and the CoEsttu
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party to power. we invite all the Union men
throughout the land to unite with us in sustaining
its organization and carrying out its principles.
| Therefore,
! Rcsolscd. / That we rcafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been nut forth by the National Conventions of
the Democratic party.
? That we are unalterably attached to the
Constitution, by which the Union of these States
was formed and established and that faithful
observance ofits principles alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi-
ness Of the people.
| g. That the present civil war has mainly re-
suited from the long continued. unwisc, and IA
natica agitation IN the North, of the question Of
domestic slavery, the consequent organization OF
a geographica party. guided by the sectional plat
forms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia,
and Chicago, and the DEVELOPMENT thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy, producing Gas had
long been foreseen and predicted by us) its
terpart in tine South of secession, disuniOn. and
| armed resistance to the General Government, and
terminating in a bloody strife between those who
should have been forever bound together by fra
ternal bonds. thus bringing upon the whole coun
try calamity which we are now to meet as loyal
citizens. striving for the adoption of that mode of
settlement best calculated to again restore union
and harmony.
| A. That in rejecting all propositions likely to
result in satisfactory adjustment OF the matters
! in dispute between the North and the South, and
especially those measuI es which wonld have Sc
cured the border slave States to the Union. and
hartv co-operation on their part in all constitution
| al and legal measures to procure n return of the
more Southern States 10 their allegiance, the Re-
publican party assumed fearful responsibility,
and acted in total disregard OF the best interests
of the whole country.
;. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire to settle, by amicable adjustment. our
internal dssensions before hostlitics had actually
commenced, that the Administration has recently
Exhibited to avoid war with our ancient enemy,
| Great Britain, we confidently believe that peace
pnd harmony would now reign throughout all our
borders.
6. That the maintenance of the Union upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object OF all who profess lOva-
tv to the Government-and in Judgment this
purpose can only be accomplished, by the ascen-
dency OF Union party in the Southern States,
which shall. by counter revolution. dsplace those
who control and direct the present rebellion That
no effort 10 create or sustain such party can be
successful which is not based upon definite set
Element Of the questions at issue between the two
sections; and we therefore demand that some such
settlement be made by additional constitutional
guaranty, either initiated by act of Congress or
through the medium of National Convention.
7. That the Republican party has fully demon
stratcd its inability TO conduct the Government
| through its present difficulties.
| 2. That utterly opposed to the twin
heresies, Northern seetionalsm and Southern Sc
cezson, as nimical to the Constitution: and that
frcemen, as they value the boon of civil liberty
4 IL.
nantly upon them.
| 8. That in this national emergency the Oernoc-
rae, of Indiana, banishnG all feeling of passion
and resentment, will recollect only their duty to
the whole country; that this should not be
waged in the spirit of conquest or subiugation
nor for the purpose of overthr2wing or interfering
with the rights institutions of the States ont to
defend and maintain the supremacy Of the Con
stitution. and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity. equality aid tights OF the several States
unirnpared; and that as soon as these objects are
accomplished the war ought to cease.
| 10. That we will sustain, with all our energies.
| 4 war for .he maintenance of the Constitution and
of the integrity of the Union under the Constitution
/ but we arc opposed to a war for the emancination
of the negroes, the subjugation Of the Southern
States.
! IL. That the purposes avowed and advocated
\ By the Northern disunouists, to liberatc and arm
the negro slaves, is a disgrace to the age caicula-
/
meets unqdaliged condemnation.
| d. That the total disregertl of the writ of ha-
beas corpus by the authorities over Us and the
seizure and Imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
States where the judiciarv is in full operation.
without warrant or law and without assigning anv
cause or giving TO the party arrested any opportu-
nifty Of defense, fragrant violations OF the Con-
stitution and most farming acts of usurpat;on of
power, which should receive the stern rebuke of
every lover of his country and Of every man who
prizes the security and blessings of life liberty and
property.
l3. That the liberty of speech and of the press
| are guaranteed to the people by the Constitution
and none but usurper would deprive them of these
rights they are inestimabe to the citizen and
formidable to tyrants only. And the ATTEMPTS
which have been made since our present unfortu-
nate troubles, to muzzle the press and stile free
discussion, exercises of despotc power aeains:
which freedom revOlts and which can not be tole-
rated without converting freemen into slaves
Ia. That the seizure of Mason and Slidell .on
: board neutral vessel, on the high seas was
either in accorda nee with international law. and
so legal; else in violation of such law. and So
Illegal If the former, we lament that our nation
has been humiliated by their surrender. ynd,y n
threat; if the latter, it the duty of the Ad.
ministration at once to have disavowed the act OF
their officer, and inc'ead of incarceratnp the can
tives in Fort W Nar.c., to have Immediately re.
paired the wrong by placing them, az far as prac-
ticable, in the same condition in which that Off
Ger found them. In either event. the action Of
the Administration was vacillating and COW
ardy anddegradlng to the dignity of a great nation
ID. That the action of the Republican party
as manifested in the partisan character of all an
pointments of the Administration to civil Office
and, in holding party caucusses by the Republican
; members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressne
upon the legislative action of that body the pecnliar
dogmas of that party, have demonstrated that
their professions of Sacrificing party platforms
and party organizations, upon The altar of their
COUNTRY arc but many hypocriticaI and false
pretenses by which they hope to dupe the unwary
into their support and We warn all loyal perso.
as they love their country, not to he decei, ID
thereby.
J6, That the disclo ures made by the investi
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the army and navy
departments, duplicating the heads of those de.
Dartments in contrivance at, if not an actual
participation in system of corruption, and in
r which our brave soldiers have been defrauded oi
their proper supplies, and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough n,es