Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-18


wxxnxxs. The Democratic party having. from
the date Of lie organization, been In favor Of the
ms;ntcuance Of The Unioo and the preservation
the Constitution. and seeing in the present condi
ton Of the country the deplorable effects Of a
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles. and the triumph Of sectionalism; and
firmly believing that the Union and the Constitu.
ton CA be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party TO power, we invite all true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite with US IN sustaining
IL organization and carrying out its principles;
Therefore|
R>soipef. 4. That we reafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the Material Conventions OF
the Democratic party.
2 That we are unalterably attached to the
Constitution, by which the Union Of these States
was formed and established and that 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, unwse, and ia
natcal agitation, in the North, Of the question OF
domestic slavery, the consequent organization OF
a 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. disunion,
and armed resistance 10 the General Government
and terminating in a bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
fraterral 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 70 again re
store union and harmony.
4. That in rejecting all propositions likely TO
result ir 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 CO operation on their part in all constitu
tioDal and legal measures 10 procure return Of
the more Southern States TO their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed a fearful response
blity, 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 to settle, by amicable adjustment,
our internal dissensOns before hostlities had ac-
tually commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid a with
Gent enemy, Great Britain, we confidently be
6eve that peace and harmony would now reign
throughout all our borders.
8. That the maintenance OF the Union upon
the principles Of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object of all who profess 10y
atty 20 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 a counter revolution, dis
place those who control and direct the present re
beiion. That no effort TO create or sustain such
a party can be successful which is not based upon
definite settlementof 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.
That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
3. That utterly opposed to the twin
heresies, Northern secti0nalism and Southern
secession, as inimical 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.
3. 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
wsged in the spirit of conquest or subiugation,
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 10 preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimpared; and that as soon as these OBJ
jects are accomplished the war ought TO 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 Constifu-
ton but we are opposed to war for the emanci
patton of the negroes, or the subjugaton of the
Southern States.
Ill. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunonists, to liberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional insulting to
loyal citizens, disgrace to the age is calculated
to rctard the suppression ofthe 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 loyal
States where the judiciary is in full operation,
without warrant of law and without assigning any
cause or giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty of defense, hagrant 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 life liberty and
property.
- That liberty of speech ana. of the press are
guaranteed To the people by the Constitution, and
none but a usurper would deprive them of these
rights: they are inestimabe 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 stihe free
discussion. exercises of despotic 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 neutral vessel. on the high seas, was
either i'm accordance with international law, and
so legal: or else in violation OF such law, and so
illegal. If the former, we lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender. under a
threat; il the latter, il was the duty of the Ad-
ministration at once to have disayowed the act OF
their officer and instead of incarcerating the cap
tives in Fort Warren. To have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them, as far prsc-
ticable. in the same condition in which that off
Ger had found them. In either event, the action
OF the Administration Facilitating land cow
arily. and degrading to the dignity of great ma
ton.
10. That the action of the Republican party,
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 ofmpressing
upon the legislative action of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party have demonstrated that their
professions sacrificing party platforms and par
ty organizations upon the altar of their country
arc but so many hypocritical and false pretences
~ which they hope 10 dupe the unwary into thei:
support: and We warn all loyal persons, as they
love their country, not 10 DE deceived thereby.
Is That the disclosures made by the invest
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the armv and navy
departments, duplicating the heads of those de
paTtments in connivance at, IL not an actual
participation in a system of corruption. and il
which or hrava s,ltier.s have siafra uded o.