Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-14
NUMBER $500.
UNION DEuoCRaruc PLATFORM.

Qatt OF lts OrganLAtl0n, DeeD ID lANOT ol
maintenance of the Unioo and the preservation o
the Constitution, and seeing in the present condi
ton of the country the deplorable effects Of
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles and the triumph Of sectionalism: and
firmly believing that the Union and the Constitu-
ti0n c,n be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party to power, invite all true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite with " IN sustaining
Its organization and carrying out it, principles:
Therefore,
Resolued, /. That we reaffirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the NatiOna! Conventions of
the Democratic party.
=. That are unalterably attached TO 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.
/ 3. 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, Phils-
delphia and Chicago and the development there
by of sectional hate and JEALOUSY, producing (as
\ had long been foreseen and predicted bv u.s. its
counterpart in the South of secession, dsunion,
/ and armed resistance TO the General Government,
and terminating in a bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bourd together by
iraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country a calamity which TO meet as
loyal citizens, striving for the adoption of that
mode of settlement best calculated to again re
store union and harmony.
4. That in rejecting all propositions likely to
result IN a satisfactory adjustment of the matters
in dispute between the North and the South. and
especially those measures which would have Sc
cured the border slave States to the Union, and a
hearty operation their part in all consttu-
tional and legal measures to procure a return OF
the more Southern States TO their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed a fearful responsi-
blty, and acted in total disregard OF the best in
terests of the whole country.
>. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire 10 settle, by amcable adjustment,
our internal dissensions before hostilites had
tually commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited TO avoid war with our an
cent enemy. Great Britain, confidently be
lieve 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
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 n Union party in the Southern
States, which shall, bv counter revolution, dis
place those who control and direct the present
beion That no effort TO create or sustain such
a party can be successful which is not based upon
a 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
Z. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
3. That We are utterly opposed to the twin
heresies, Northern sectionasm and Southern
secession, as nimcal to the Constitution; and
that freemen, they value the boon of civil lib
erty and the peace of the country, should frown
Indignantly upon them.
8. That in this national emergency the DemOc-
racy Of Indiana, banishing all feeling of passion
and resentment, will recollect only their duty to
the whole country; that this war should not be
waged in the spirit of conquest or subjugation,
nor for the purpose of overthrowing or 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 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.
10. That we will sustain. with all our energies
a war for the maintenance of the Constitution, and
OF the integrity of the Union under the Consfitu-
ton; but we are opposed to war for the emanci
patton of the negroes, or the subugation of the
Southern States.
H. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunionists, to lberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional, insulting TO
loyal citizens, disgrace to the age is calculated
To rctard the suppression of the rebellion and meets
our unqualified condemnation.
~ That the total disregard of the writ Of ha-
beas corpus by the authorities over US, and the
seizure and Imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
States where the judiciary is in full operation
without warrant of1aw and without assigning any
cause giving TO the party arrested any opportu-
nifty ofdefense, are fragrant violations of the Con
stitution and most alarming acts of usurpaton OF
power, which should receive the stern rebuke Ol
every lover of his country and of every man who
prizes the security and blessings of ie liberty and
property.
l3 That liberty of speech anu of the press are
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, and
none but usurper would deprive them of these
rights; they are inestmable to the citizen and
formidable to tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unfortu
nate troubles, to muzzle the press and stfe free
discussion are exercises of despotc power against
which freedom revots and which can not be tOle.
rated without converting freemen into slaves.
Ia. That the seizure of Slidell and Mason on
board a neutral vessel, on the high seas, was
eltner IN accordance with International law, anC
so legal; or else in violation OF such law, and SC
illegal. Ii the former. we lament that our nation
has been humiliated by their surrender, under a
threat; if the latteO it was the duty of the Ad
mnistraton at once to have disavowed the act oil
their officer and instead of incarcerating the cap
tlves in Fort Warren, to have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them, as far as prac
tcable, in the same condition in which that off
Ger had found them. In either event. the actor
of the Administration was 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 Ofimpressine
dogmas Of that party, have demonstrated that thel
professions OF sacrificing party platforms and par
ty organizations upon the altar of their country,
but many hypocritical and false pretences
by which they hope 10 dupe the unwary into their
support; and all loyal persons, they
love their country, not 70 be deceived thereby.
l6 That the disclosures made BY the invest
eating committee in Congress OF the enormou,
frauds that have stalked into the armv and nav,
departments, duplicating the heads of those de
partments in a connivance at, If not an actua
participation in a system OF corruption, and II
which our brave soldiers have been deirauded o.
their proper supplies, and our Government threat