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

maintenance of the Union and the preservationo
the Constitution. and seeng in the present condi
ton OF the country the deplsrsbls ELECTS Of .
departure from itz tine honored and conservative
principles. and the triumph Of seciouslisn, and
firmly believing that the Union and the Conssitu-
ton can be preserved alone By the restoration o.
that party 10 power. We invite al true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite With CO In sustaining
its organization and carrying out is principles:
Therefore
Resolved. /. That NE reafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time 70 time have
been put forth by the National Conventions Of
the Democratic party.
?. That are unalrerablv attached % the
Constitution. by which the Union Of these States
was formed and established: and that a faithful
observance of is principles can alone continue
the existence OF the Union, and the permanent
happiness OF the people
?. That the present civil war has mainly re
suited from the long continued. rnwise. and "A.
natical agitation. I'm the North. Of the question Of
domestic slavery, the consequent organization Of
a 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 (ss
had long been foreseen and predicted by NE IL
counterpart In the South of secession, dlsunion.
and armed resistance TO the General Government,
and terminating in a bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
fraterual bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country a 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.
a. That in rejecting all propositions likely TO
result In satisfactory adjustment OF the matters
in dispute between the North and the South and
especially those measures which would have So
cured the border slave States 10 the Uuion, and a
hearty CO operation on their part in all constitu
tional and legal measures 10 procure a return Of
the more Southern States 10 their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed a fearful rcsponsi
blity. and acted in total disregard of the best IN
teresis of the whole country.
D. That II the party in power had shown the
same desire 10 settle, by amicable adjustment,
our internal dissensions before hostilites had &C
tnally commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited To avoid with
cient enemy. Great Britain, we confidently be.
lieve that peace and harmony would nov reign
throughout all our borders.
8. That the maintenance of the Union upon
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the contro;ii,g object Of all who profess 10y
atty 10 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
bellion. That no effort TO create or sustain such
n party can be successful which is not based upon
definite settlement Of the questions AZ 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.
I. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated It's inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
Z. That we are utterly opposed 10 the twin
heresles, Northern sectionalism and Southern
secession, as inimical 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.
9. That in this national emergency the Democ-
racy Of Indiana. banishing all feeling Of passion
and resentment. will recollect only their duty 20
the whole country; that ekis war should not be
waged in the spirit of conquest or subjugati)n,
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 70 cease.
10. That We will sustain, with all our energies,
war for the maintenance ofthe Constitution, and
OF the integrity of the Union under The Consfifu-
tion; but we are opposed to war for the emanci-
patton of the negroes, or the subjugAsion Of the
Southern States.
by the Northern disunionists, 10 liberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional insulting TO
loyal citizens, disgrace 10 the age is calculated
to rctard the suppression of the rebellion and meets
our unqualified condemnation.
IL. 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 loyaI
States where the Judiciary is in full operation,
without warrant oflaw and without assigning any
cause or giving to the party arrested any opportu
nifty of defense, iagrant violations Of the Con
stitution and most alarming acts Of usurpation Of
power, which should receive the stern rebuke of
every lover Of his country and Of every man who
prizes the security and blessings Of fe liberty and
property.
l3. That liberty Of speech AM; of the press are
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, and
none but a usurper would deprive them OF these
rights; they are inestimable 70 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 stife free
discussion. exercises OF despotic power against
which freedom revolts and which can not be tole-
rated without converting freemen into slaves.
Ia. That the seizure of SIdell and Mason, on
board neutral vessel on the high seas, was
either IN accordance with international law and
so legal; or else in violation OF such Law, and so
illegal. Ii the former, we lament that our nation
has been humiliated by their surrender, under q
hredt; III tne latter, IL was the duty OF the Ad
ministration at once to have disavowed the act of
their officer, and instead of ncarceratng the cap
tives in Fort Warren. TO have Immediately re-
paired the wrong by placing them, as far as prac
ticable, in the same condition in which that off
Ger had found them. In either event. the action
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.
manifested ia the partisan character Of all ap-
pointmeDts of the Administration 10 civil Office:
and, In holding party caucuses by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressing
upon the}egslative action Of thatbody the peculiar
dogmas of that party. have demonstrated that their
professions OF sacrificing party platforms, and par
ty organizations, upon the altar OF their country"
are but so many hypocritical and false pretences
by which they hope TO dupe the unwary into their
support; and We warn all loyal persons, as they
love their country, not 10 be deceived thereby.
l6 That the disclosures made by the invest
eating committee in Congress Of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the army and navy
departments, duplicating the heads OF those de-
partments IN a connvance at, il not an actual
participation in system Of corruption and In
which our brave soldiers have been ceirauded Of
their proper supplies. and our Governmen; threat
ened with bankruptcy. demands a thorough in
yestgation into all our expenditures. both State