The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-04-24
INDIiNl DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

WHEREAS, lhe democratic party having, from
the date of It's organizations been in favor of the
maintenance of the Union und the preservation of
the Constitution. and seeing in the present condi-
ton of the country the deplorabc effects of a
i,cparture from It's time honored and conservative
principles and the triumph of scctionalisrn; and
firmly believing that the Union and the CorStitu
tion can be preserved alone by the restoration of
that party tO power invite all the Union men
throughout the land to unite with us in sustaining
It's organization and carrying out its principles
Therefore
ResoIred, |. That We rcaifirm and endorse the
nolitical principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the National Conventions of
the Democratic party
That we are unalterahly attached 10 the
Constitution. by which the mon of these States
was formed and established anl that faithful
observance oft. principles alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi-
ness of the people.
e That the present civil war has mainly
sul,ed from the long continued. unwi>e, and IA
na,;cal agitation in the North. of the question OF
domestic slavery. the consequen mt organization OF
a peoQraphical party. guided by the sectional plat
forms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia.
and Chicago, and the development thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy producing (as had
lone been foreseen and predicted by MS its
sernart in the South of secession, disuniOn, and
armed resistance to the General Government. and
n bIOOtV
should have been forever bound together by fra
ternal bonds. thus bringing upon the whole coun-
try a calamity which to meet n 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 10
result in satisfactory adjustment of the matters
in ,iispute between the North and the South. and
especially those measures which would have Sc
cur.d the border slave States TO the Union. and a
harty co operation their part in a u constitution
al and legal measures 10 procure 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.
s. That if the party in power had shown the
same dcsIrr to settle. by amicabc adjustment, our
internal issensos before hostilities had actually
commenced that the Administration has recently
exhibited 10 avoid war with our ancient enemy,
Great Britain. confidently believe that peace
and harmony would now reign throughout all our
borders
s Tb,. the maintenance of the Union upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object Of oil who profess loyal
tv 20 the Government-and in Judgment this
p,rnnse can only be accomplished, by the aScen-
Cencv ola Union party in the southern States.
which, shall Nv counter revolution. tisplace those
;sho control anu direct the present rebellion That
RIO effort 10 crease or sustain such party be
src cssfnl which is not based upon definite set
tlemcnt of the questions at issue between the two
sections: and ~ 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.
Z. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated lis inability conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
: Thut We are utterly opposed to the twin
hereses, Northern sectlonalSm and Southern Sc
freemen. IA they value the boon of civil liberty
and the peace of the country, should frOwn ndig
ulntlT upon them
y f-iat In .lls nstiouaI emergency the Oernoc-
rae, of Indiana bnni,hng all feeling Of passion
and resentment. will recoilcct only their duty to
the whole country that this should not be
waped In the spirit oi conquest or SubugatiOn.
nor for the purpose Of over.Lr,wing or interfering
with the rights or n=tt tons of the States. out To
defend and maintain the sunremscY of the Con
stitn,ion. and to preserve the Union with ali the
dignity, equality AID rights of the s"veri States
uninpa.red; and that a soon as these objects are
Accomplished the war ought To ceaSf.
10 That We will sustain, with all our energies.
war FIR .he maintenance Of the Constitution. an1
of the integrity of the Union under The Constitution
hut we aro opposed 20 a war for the emtncI alton
of the negroes, OF the subugation Of the Southern
States.
IL. That the purposes avowed and advocated
Northern
the Negro slaves is a Disgrace 10 the age cacula-
ted 10 rctari the suppression OF the rebellion and
meets onr unqualiged condemnation.
ID That the total disregerd of the writ Of ha
beas corpus by the authorities over us, and the
seizure and Imprisonment OF the ctizens OF loyal
States where the lulciar. i in full operation,
without warrant or law and without assigning any
cause or giving to the party arrested any opportu
nitv of defense are fragrant 'ioatIOns OF the Con
st,u,ion and most alarming acts OF usurpat,on of
power. which should receive the stern rebuke of
eyery lover of his country and OF every man who
prizes te security and blessings OF lie, liberty and
property
I3. That the liberty of speech and of the press
ar. .vuaranteed To the people by the Constitution.
and nom but usurper would deprive them "t these
rights they are inestimabe 10 the citizen and
formidable 10 tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present uniortu-
mate troubles to muzZle the press and stihe tree
discussion are exercises of desPOtlc power against
which freedom revolts and which can not be tole-
rated without converting frecRen INTO slaves.
"a That the seizure of Mason aud SHdell on
board a neutral vessel. on the high seas. was
either in accorda nee with international law, aud
80 iesnl; or else in violation of such law. and so
Illegal IF the former. We lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender. under a
threat. IL the latter, il was the duty Of the Ad-
ruin,s,ration AT once have disavowed the act of
their officer and instead Of incarcerating the cap
tiyes in F,tt Warren, 10 have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them, As far as prac-
ticable, in the same condition IN which that OH
c., fonud them In either event, the action OF
the Administration a. vacillh.ing and COW
ardy and degrading TO the dignity OF great nation
Is That the action Of the Republican party
as manifested in the partisan character of all ap
pointments Of the Administration 10 cIvii once
and in holding party caueusses by the hepuphc'i
members Of Congress for the purpose OF imprsss'ht
upon the Legislative acton Of that body the Pccua
dogmas of that party. have demonstrated ina
their professions Of sacrificing party platforms
and party organizations, upon ,he altar OF ti'en
country are bu. % many hyp0critcal and iais'
pretensss by which they hope to dupe the uhWa'l
into their support and We warn all Loyal persons
as they love their country. not to be deceFe'
thereby.
IG That the disclo made by the Invesu
eating committee in Congress of the emo, ,n'"
fraud. ,hat Lave stalk,d into the army fhu "",
departments. implica ing the heads oi tose w
partments in n cOntrivance at, IL no. All ~" !:
participaton in system OF corruption anu
which our brave soldiers have been deiraudeu y
their proper supplies. and our Government ~ ~
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough lh.es
tga,ion into all our expenditures. both S's'e al,
National. and that "A speedy and marked oA",'p'
he made Of all such ''brds ofprcy, who' utN'i
seafv of F)s