Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-25
UrreI Dsuocnarrc rlATrem u

tne Oonstitction. and s>ene u the rre>fnt conol
ton Of the country tbe derlorable ELECTS Of
departure from ts tine honorsd and oonserr atve
principles, and the triamgh of sectionslism. and
firmly believing that the Union and the Constits-
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party 70 power. we invite eli true Union neu
throughout the land 70 unite with a. IN Sustaining
It's organization and carrying out IL principle
Therefore
Resolved l. That Ne reafiTm and endorse the
political principles that from time ~ time have
been pat forth by the National Conventions of
the Democratic party
.. That ve are unalterablv attached 10 the
Constitution. by which the Union Of these State
was formed and established. and that faithful
observance Of its principles can alone continue
the existence Of the Union. and the permanent
happiness Of the people
3. That the present civil has mainly re
suited from the long continued. un~se. and "a
natical agitation. IN the North. Of the question Of
domestic slavery. the consequent organization OF
geographical party, guided by the sectioaAl
platforms adopted At Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Phils
delphia and Chicago. and the development there
by of sectional hate and jealousv, producing (as
bad long been foreSeen and predicted oy Us u
counterpart In the South of secession. disanion.
aud armed resistance - the General Government.
and terminating IN bloody strife between tubse
Who should have been forever bound together bs
fraternAl bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country calamity which we are now 70 meet as
loyal citizens striving for the adoption OF that
mode Of settlement best calculated 10 again re
store union and harmony
L. That in rejecting all propositions likely %
result in a satisfactory adjustment of the matters
in dispute between the North and the South and
especially those measures which would have
cured the border slave States 70 the Union. and
hearty CO operation on their part in all constita
tional and legal measures 10 procure a return Of
the more Southern States 10 their allegiance, The
Republican party assumed fearful respouSi
bilitv and acted in total disregard Of the best IN
terests OF the whole country.
D That II the party in power had shown the
same desire 10 settle. by amicAbie adjustment.
our internal diSsensions before h0stilites had az
tually commenced that the Administration has
recently exhibited TO avoid a With our
cient enemy. Great Britain, We confidently be
leve that peace and harmony would now reign
throughout all our borders.
s. That the maintenance Of the Union upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object of all who profess 10y
atty 10 the Government-and in our judgment
this purpose only be accomplished. by the
ascendency of Union party in the Southern
States. which shall. by counter revolution dis
place those who control and direct the present
5ellion. That no effort 10 create or sustain such
party can be successful which Is not based upon
definite settlement of the questions at issue be
tween 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
Conv enton.
4 That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability 70 conduct the Government
through It's present difficulties.
q. That utterly opposed 20 the twin
heresies, Northern sectionalism and Southern
secession, as nimical To the Constitution: and
that freemen. as they value the boon Of civil lib
erty and the peace Of the country. should frown
indignantly upon them.
3. That in this national emergency the Democ.
racy of Indiana banishing all feeling of passion
and resentment. will recoilect only their duty 10
the whole country; that this war should not be
waged in the spirit Of conquest subjugati.Dn
for the purpose of overthrowing interfer-
ing with the rights or institutions of the States.
but to defend and maintain the supremacy Of the
Constitution, and TO preserve the Union with ali
the dignity, equality and rights OF the several
States unimpaired; and that soon as these oh
jects accomplished the war ought 20 cease.
TO- That we will sustain with all our energies,
a war for the maintenance the Constitution. and
OF the integrity of the Union under the CoasfifH-
tion; but We are opposed 10 awar for the emanc
patton of the negroes, or the subjugaton of the
Southern States.
IL. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunionists, 10 liberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional, insulting ~
loyal citizens. disgrace 10 the age. Is calculated
to rctard the suppression of the rebellion and meets
our unqualified condemnation.
l2 That the total disregard of the writ Of ha
beas corpus by the authorities over Us. aud the
seizure and imprisonment of the citizens Of loyal
States where the judiciary is in full operation.
without warrant of law and without assigning any
cause giving to the party arrested any opportu
nifty ofdeiense, are fagrant violations Of the Con.
stituton and most alarming acts OF usurpation of
L ~.E
every lover of his country and of every man who
prizes the security aud blessings Of e liberty and
property.
l3 That liberty of speech ant Of the press are
guaranteed 10 the people by the Constitution and
none but a usurper would deprive them Of these
rights; they are inestimable 20 the citizen and
formidable 10 tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unfortu
nate troubles. to muzzle the press and stiae free
discussion, exercises of despotic power against
which freedom revolts and which not be tole
rated without converting freemen into slaves.
H. That the seizure Of Slidell and Mason on
board a neutral vessel, the high seas,
either in accordance with international law, and
so legal: or else in violation OF such law and 80
illegal. If the former, We lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender. under a
threat; If the latter il was the duty Of the Ad
ministration at once To have disayowed the act Of
their officer, and instead OF incarceratng the cap
tives in Fort Warren. TO have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them. a. far prAc
tcable in the same condition in which that ofh
Ger had found them. In either event. the action
! of the Administration vacillating land COW
ardly and degrading TO the dignity Of great ma
ton.
l5 That the action Of the Republican party
"a manifested in the partisan character Of all ap
pointments Of the Administration to civil Office,
and. in holding party caucuse- by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressing
upon the Legislative action Of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party. have demonstrated that Their
professions sacrificing party platforms and par
ty organizations upon the altar Of their country.
are but many hypocritical and false pretences
by which they hope 70 dupe the unwary into their
support; and warn all loyal persons. A. they
love their country, not 20 be deceived thereby.
l6 That the disclosures made by the invests
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the arms and navy
departments, duplicating the hcsds Of those de
partments in a connivance at, II not an actual
participation in a system Of corruption. and In
/ which our brave soldiers have been deirauded of
their proper supplies, and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy demands thorough In
vesiigation into all our expenditures, both STATE
and National. and that a speedy and marked q
ample be made Of all such birds of prey" Who