Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-10
UNION pEnocRarIc PLATFORM,

I
the Constitution. and seeing IN the present cond
ton of the country the deplorable effects Of a
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles and the triumph Of sesfionalism: and
/ firmly believing that the Union and the COnstitu
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party to power. we invite all true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite with in sustaining
its organization and carrying out lts principles:
/ Therefore,
Resolved, l. That We reaffirm and endorse the
i political principles that IRON time % time have
been put forth by the National Conventions of
the Democratic party.
3 That We are unalterably attached 30 the
| Constitution. by which the Union of these States
was formed and established; and that a faithful
observance of its principles can alone continue
the existence of the Union, and the permanent
happiness of the people.
g. That the present civil war has mainly re
suited from the long continued, unwise, and Ia
natcal agitation, in the North of the question Of
domestic slavery, the consequent organization OF
geographical party, guided by the sectional
platforms adopted at Buffalo. Pittsburgh, PhIla-
/ delphia, and Chicago, and the development there
by of sectional hate and JEALOUSY. producing (as
+ had long been foreseen and predicted by u.s. its
counterpart in the South of secession, dsuniOn,
and armed resistance to the General Government,
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bouud together by
fraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country a calamity which we are now meet as
loyal citizens, striving for the adoption of that
mode of settlement best calculated TO again re
store union and harmony.
L. That in rejecting all propositions likely TO
result In satisfactory adjustment of the matters
in dispute betS cen the North and the South. and
especially those measures which would have sc
cured the border slave States 10 the Union. and a
hearty co operation on their part in all cOnstitu-
tional and legal measures TO procure a return of
! the more Southern States To their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed a fearful response
bility and acted in total disregard of the best in
terests of the whole country.
D. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire 10 settle, by amicable adjustment,
our internal dssensons before hostilites had ac-
tually commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid with our an
cient enemy. Great Britain, confidently be
lieye that peace and harmony would now reign
throughout all our borders.
g. That the maintenance of the Union upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object of all who profess 10y
atty TO the Government-and in our judgment
this purpose can only be accomplished, by the
! ascendency of Union party in the Southern
States, which shall, bv counter revolution, dis
place those who control and direct the present
DelllOn. nat no e0Ort I'D create or sustain sucn
a party can be successful which il 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
Convention.
T. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
D. That are utterly opposed TO the twin
heresies, Northern sectionalsm and Southern
secession, as nmcal 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.
g. That in this national emergency the Democ-
racy of Indiana, banishing all feeling of passion
and resentment, will recolect only their duty TO
the whole country; that this war should not be
waged in the spirit of conquest or subjugatiJn,
| nor for the purpose of overthrowing OF interfer-
ing with the rights institutions of the States.
but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the
| Constitution, and to preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired; and that as soon as these OBJ
jects are accomplished the war ought to cease.
TO- That We will sustain, with all our energies,
a war for the maintenance ofthe Constitution, and
OF the integrity of the Union under The Consfifu-
ton; but We are opposed to war for the emanci
%
| Southern States.
H. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunionists, to berate and arm
the negro slaves is unconstitutional, insulting 70
loyal citizens, disgrace 10 the age, is calculated
to rctard the suppression of the Iebelon and cts
our unqualified condemnation.
IL. That the total disregard of the writ of ha
beas corpus by the authorities over u.s. and the
seizure and Imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
The f,,II
without warrant of law and without assigning any
cause giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty of defense, hagrant violations of the Con
stituton and most alarming acts Of usurpatOn Oi
power, which should receive the stern rebuke ol
every lover of his country and of every man who
prizes the security and blessings OF lie liberty and
property.
l3 That liberty of speech ant, of the press ar,
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, and
none but a usurper would deprive them Of thess
rights; they are inestimable to the citizen and
formidable 20 tyrants only. And the attempt.
which have been made since our present unfortu
nate troubles, TO muzzle the press and sife free
discussion, exercises of despotic power against
which freedom rev0ts and which can not be tole
rated without converting treemen into slaves.
Ia. That the seizure of Slide and Mason, on
board a neutral vessel, on the high seas. was
either in accordance with international law and
so legal: or else in violation OF such law and 50
illegal. Ii the former. we lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender, under a
threat; If the latter It was the duty of the Ad
ministration at once 10 have disavowed the act oil
their officer and instead OF incarcerating the cap
tiyes in Fort Warren. 10 have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them, far prac
ticable. in the same condition in which that off
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
as manifested in the partisan character of all ap-
pointments of the Administration TO civil Office
and in holding party caucuses by the Republican
members Of Congress for the purpose Ofimpressinl
upon the legislative action Of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party have demonstrated that then
professions OF sacrificing party platforms, and par
" organizations upon the altar Of their country.
are but so many hyPocritical aud false pretences
by which they hope 10 dupe the unwary into thei.
support; and warn all loyal persons. as they
love their country, not 10 be deceived thereby.
10. That the disclosures made by the invest
eating committee in Congress Of the enormou:
frauds that have stalked into the army and nav,
departments, duplicating the heads OF those de
partments IN a c0nnlyance at, If not an actua
participation in a system of corruption and in
which our brave soldiers have been deirauded o.
their proper supplies. and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy. demands a thorough in
/ CpSfiQafi0n info all Our tso.h C,.t.