The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-03-20
VOLUME 3-NEW SERIES.
INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


the date of its organization, been in favor Of the
maintenance of the Union und the preservation of
The Constitution, and seeing in the present cond-
ton of the country the deplorablc effects of
departure from It's time honOred and conservative
principles, and the triumph of sectOnaliSn and
firmly believing that the Union and the Corstitu
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
It's organization and carrying out its principles.
Therefore.
Resolred. l. That rcafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the National Conventions of
the Democratic party
That are unalterablv attached TO the
Constitution. by which the Union of these States
was formed and established : and that faithful
observance ofits principles can alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi-
of the people
g. That the prescr civil war has mainly re-
suited from the long continued unwise. and fa
natical agitation. in the North. of the question Of
domestic slavery. the consequent organization of
geographical party, guided by the sectional plat
adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
and Chicago. and the DEVELOPMENT thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy producing (as had
long been foreseen and predicted ny us) its
terpart in he South 0f secession disunion and
armed resistance the General Government and
terminating in bloody strife between those who
should have been forever bound together by fra
trv calamity which we are now tn meet "a loyal
citizens. striving for the adoption Of that mode Of
settlement best calculated TO glin restore union
aud harmony.
l. That in rejecting all propositions likely 10
result in satisfactory adjustment of the m .tters
in dispute between tie North and the South and
especially those ms asur es which would have se-
cared the border slave States To the Union and a
hsrty cooperation their p,rt in all constitution
a and legal measures to procure return of the
more Southern States 10 their allegiance, the Re
publican party assumed fearful responsibility
and ,c,ed in total disrcgar' of tho best interests
OF the whole country.
). That If the party in power had shown the
desire to settle. by amicahle adjustment our
Internal dssen=iouS before hostlites had actually
commenced. that the Administration has recently
exhibited TO avoid with ancient enemy,
Great Britain. confidently believe that peace
and harmony would now reign throughout all our
borders.
6. That the maintenance Of the Union upon
The principles of the Federal Constitution should
DC the controlling object of all who profess loyal
" 20 the Governmcnt-lnd in judgment this
purpose can only be accomplished. by the aecer-
.lcncv of a Union party in the South, rn States.
which shall. bv counter revolution diS~lqce those
who control and direct the present rebellion That
effort 10 create or sust,n such 4 patty be
essful which IS not based upOn definite set
tement of the questions at iSsIe between the two
sections; and We therefore demand that such
settlement be made hv additional constitutional!
yu.rantv either initiated bv act of Congress or
through the medium &C National Convention
T. That the Republican party has fully demon
stratei It's inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties
? That utterly opposed 10 the twin
herc-ies. Northern sectionaliSm and Southern GO
ce,~ion. inimcal 70 the Constitution and that
freemcn. they value the boon of civil liberty
int The Tnace OF the country, should frown inlg
nantls them.
.. That in this national emergency tho )-moc
rae. % nii,na bini-hins All ferl'n, of p ,esion
an resentmrn'. viii recollcc' only the'r du:y to
tao Whole c'uu:Tv; that this shDui not be
ra.-l N the spirit of conquest or sub;ux lt;on
nor r. tn purpose of over hrewing interfering
with the rights instit tinns of the S'1trs, ant To
defend AMI maR.siE the suprem ~ or the Con-
sttnton. and 70 preserve the Union with eli the
dignity. equality a,d rights of the srvpr, S.strs
uuiwPtr red; snl t.at as snon these objects are
accomplished the oueht 10 cease.
10. That will sustain. with all energies
war FIR he maintenance of the Constitution. aud
- the integrity of the Union Ter he Constitutions
bur We ara opposed To n the cmrnci alton
of the negroes, or the sul Iion of the Southern
sia,es.
II. That the purposes .vowcd and advocated
ly the Northern disunionists, to lbera'e and arm
me negro slaves. is a disgrace To the age. cacula
ted 70 retari the suppression Of the rebellion and
meets our unTulliged condemnation
- TaAt the total disrcecrd Of the writ Of ha-
b,ss corpus bv the authorities ~. and the
seizure and imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
Sts.es where the lu'liciar' il in full operation
without warrant or law and without assigning any
caIse giving 10 the party arrested any opportu-
nity ot defense, hagr1nt violations of the Con
stl'utOn and most alarming acts Of usurnatson Of
poser. which should receive the stern rcl,uke Of
every lover of his country and Of every man who
prlzos the security and blessings OF life liberty and
property.
I3. Tha. tho liberty Of speech and of the rrcss
arc griaranteed to the people by the Constitution.
and but usurpcr would de privc them of these
riglits they are incstmablc to the citizen and
formidable 10 tyrantS only. And the attempt.
winch have been made since present unfortu-
nate troubles. to muzLle the press and stife free
discussion are exercises Of despotc power against
which freedom rcvolts and which not be tole
rated without converting frcemen into slaves.
Is. That the seizure Of Mason and Sdcl ON
board neutral vessel. on the high
either in accor'll with international law, anl
81 legal; nr Else IN violation of such law, and So
Illegal. II the former we lamett that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender. under a
threat If the latter IL was the duty Of the Ad-
nnnistration at once 20 have dIsavowed the act Of
their officer and iusteal Of incarcerating the cap
tves IN Fort Warren. to have Immediately -
p'ired the wrong by placing them. n far "a prac
hcablc. IN the same condition in which that off
rsr found them. In either event. the action of
the Administration was vacillating and cow
10 That the action Of the Republican party.
a. manifested in the parts an character of all ap-
polntnenis Of the Administration % civil Office !:
-of ." bol'iisg party eaucnsses by the Republican
members OF Congress for the purpose ofimpressing
apon the legislative action of that body the peculiar
dogmas OF that party. have demonstrated that
their professions Of sacrificing party platforms.
and party organizations, upon .he altar Of their
sountry," are but % mrny hypocritical and false
presenses by which they hope to- dupe the unwary
into their support and warn all loyal persons.
a. they love their country, not to be deceived
ibereby.
I6, That the disclo made by the invcsti-
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the army and navy
,aopsstments. duplicating the heads Of those de
psrtm.uts in n contsvance at, If not an actual
participation in system OF corruption, and in
which our brave sodiers have been defrauded o
their proper supplies. AMI our Government threat
sned With bankruptcy. demands thorough inves
tgstiOn into all our expenditures, both State and