Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-13

assai IL with the cry that II was pro slavery, aud
from the fact that. latierly, the Southern States
voted for Democratic candidates for President.
many honest, fair minded mea we're made to be
leve that there was some ground for the asser-
ton, whereas, the truth i that the abstract
question Of slavery was never introduced into
any Democratic convention, and no opinion was
ever expressed upon the subject Every one was
lett free to form bis own opinions and views
upon this question, without let or hInfrance from
any one. How, then. has the opinion gained
such footing a. to mislead some men OF real IN
teligencel We can only answer this question
BY referring 70 the action Of the party, and thus
show the utter falsity Of the charge. The first
resolution adopted upon the subject of slavery
was az the Democratic National Convention held
NJ Baltimore on the 5th OF May, ls40, and was
in the following words:
sResolred That Congress has no power, under
the Constitution, 20 interfere with, or control
the domestic institutions Of the several States
and that such States are the sole and proper
judges Of everything pertaining TO their own at.
fairs. not prohibited by the Constitution; that all
efforts by abolItionists or Others made 70 induce
Congress 20 interfere with questions of slavery,
or To take ncipient steps in relation thereto,
calculated TO lead To the most alarming and dan
gerous consequences, and that all such efforts
have an inevitable tendency To diminish the hap
piness OF the people, and endanger the stability
and permanency of the Union, and ought not to
be countenaDced by any friend TO political in
stitutions"
The stand taken in this resolution was always
maintained from that day forward. The party
planted itself upon the Constitution. and what
ever nterfered with States or individuals, con
trary to the Constitution. was opposed The
leaders of the party did not pretend to pass judg
ment upon the institution of slavery, because u
had already been decided BY the highest tribunal
in the land that il local or domestic ins,itu
ton over which the United States had no control
There were doubtless many Democrats who
thought and believed that if the negro race was
to remain ia our couatry in any considerable
numbers, they must for long period, If not per
manenty, remain in servItudc; that, under these
circumstances, slavery was not al evil; while
Others believed very differently. twas a singu-
lar fact that that portion of the party the arthest
removed from actual contact with the negro race,
the least acquainted with il, and knowing the
least of It's capacities for civilization and free
dom, were those who were imbued with the
strongest anti slavery opinions.
The Convention OF 1874 re adopted the resO
luton of 1910. leaving the party to stand pre-
cisely il had before. No principle was
adopted-no new proposition was even made to
the Convention. In LAS the same resolution
adopted without change or alteration. In
1892, at the time Mr. Pierce was nominated, the
same resolution was re affirmed. and the follow
ing additional resolutions were adopted:
ResOlred, That the foregoing proposition COW
ers and is intended TO embrace. tile whole sub
ject of slavery agitation IN Congress; and, there
fore, the Democratic party of the Union, stand
ing this national platform. will abide by, and
adhere TO, faithful execution of the acts known
as the compromise measures, settled by the last
Congress- the act Tor retaining fugitive slaves
includcd which act being designed TO carry out
all express provision of the Constitution, cannot,
with fidelity thereto, he repealed. nor so
changed to destroy or impair its efficiency.
ResOlred, That the Democratic party will re
sist all attempts at renewing. in Congress or out
of it, the agitation of the slavery question, un-
der whatever shape or color the attempt may be
made.
Surely, up TO this time, no grounds of com
plant could be made against the Democratic
party that it was pro-slavery. 1t adhered in its
resolves closely To the Constitution. BY that in
strument il stood 1t that can be called pro
slavery. then the Democfatic party might be
called so also LII not, then how cln any such
complaint be made? When we have finished
with this review OF the platform OF the Demo
cratic party, we will beStow such attention as may
be necessary TO show how the Republican party
veered around towards the Abolitonists, az tina,
party was ascertained to hold the balance OF
power between the two. We think We shall be
able TO show TO the satisfaction of every candid
man, that lille there Is no reason for calling the
Democratic party rO-slavery, there are good
grounds for calling the Republicans quasi Adolf
tionists.
We have already referred to the action of the
Democratic atiOnal Conventions IN 1910, lo44
SIS and 1882, upon the question of slavery and
found nothing from which even Inference
could be drawn that the party, as such, ever held
tba A lltlo
tons undertook to declare was, simply, that
Congress had no power TO interfere with, or con
troll, the domestic institutions of the several
States This WAS the Constitution, and by that
the Conventions not only resolved to stand firm
ly, but il was made the duty OF every man who
was "a member OF that party to stand by the Con
stitution and obey It, and obey the laws OF tn,
land.
During the administration of General Pierce
the question OF the status of slavery in the Ter
ritories of Kansas and n Nebraska had been raised
and excited much angry feeling. At the meet
ing OF the Democratic National Convention in
lo56, at Cincinnati. much anxiety was felt by TN,
leading men OF the North as well as the South
TO lay dOwn platform which would prove suci
clear expression of the Constitution, and, con
sequenty, OF the party, that all would be salts
factory herewith. Alter much deiiberati IN, the
Convention adopted the resolutions which haC
ieCthtu tue cdnCbuu Ol tue convention III lN1U
and had been reafirmed successfully in 1874
lciS and 1872, with the additional resolutions
adopted. in the latter year But the danger OF ;
sectional party had vastly increased and tn:
question OF slavery in the Territories acquired
IRON Mexico had 10 be met and disposed OF, Tn,
following resolutions were added:
And that We may more distinctly meet the is
sue Ou which a sectional party, SubSiSting eLciu
srely on siGrery agitation relies, TO test th'
fidelity of the people OF the North and South tC
the Constitution and the Union:
"Resoiued That. claiming fellowship with, anC
desiring the co operation OF all who regard IL,
preservation OF the Union under the Constitution
a the paramount issue, and repudIating all sec
uOnal parties anu platforms concerning dOInest4
sl.very which seek 10 embrv the States and in
cite treason and armed resistance 10 law ia th
Territories, and whose avowei purpose, II con
summated. must end IN civil and disunion
the American Democracy recognize ard adop
the principles contained IN the organic laws estab
fishing the Territories of Nebraska and kuns =
a emJOdying the only sound and ,afe solution O
the slavery question upon which the great nation
al idea OF the people of this whole country ca.
repJ>e in It's determined conservation of liz
Union. ami non Interference of Congress witt
slavery ia the Territories OF IN the District 0
Columbia.
-" hesoired. That this was the basis of the com
promt of 1850, confirmed 10y both the Demo
cratic and Wing parties in national conventions
h,.f ~5