The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-20
IynllNi DENNrRlTIC PLATFORM.

principles and the triumph of sectionalism; and
firmly believing that the Union and the CoEstitu
tion 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
its organization and carrying out its principles.
Therefore,
Resolred. ! That we reaffirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the National Conventions of
the DeRocratic party.
Constitution, by which the Union of these States
was formed and established /: and that a faithful
observance Off principles alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi-
ness of the people.
,. 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 plat
forn;s adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
and Chicago, and the development thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy, producing (as had
long been foreseen and predicted by us) it's coun.
terpart in the South of secession, disnnion, and
armed resistance to the General Government, and
terminating in bloody strife between those who
should have been forever bound together by fra
ternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole cOun-
try a calamity which we are now to meet loyal
ci,zens. striving for the adoption of that mode of
settlement best calculated 20 again restore union
and harmony.
4. 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
cured the bOrder slave States to the Union. and
harty cooperation their part in all constitution
nj and legal measures to procure return of the
more Southern States 10 their allegiance, the Re.
publican party assumed fearful responsibility,
and acted in total disregard of the best interests
of the whole country.
). That if the party in power ha4 shown the
same desire to settle. by amicable adjustment our
internal dissensions before hOstilites had actually
commenced that the Administration has recently
exhibited TO avoid war with ancient enemy,
Great Britain, we confidently believe that peace
and harmony would Eew reign throughout all our
borders.
g. That the maintenance of the Union upon
the PRINCIPLES of the Federal Constitution should
he the controlling object of all who profess loyal
" TO the Government-and in our judgment this
p,rnose can only be accomplished, by the ascen-
tierscy of a Union party in the Southern States,
which shall. 10y counter revolution displace those
who control and direct the present rebellion. That
no effort create sustain such party can be
sucressful which is not based upon definite set
tlement of the questions at issue between the two
sections; and VIC therefore demand that some such
settlement be made by additional constitutional
guaranty. either Undated by act of Congress or
through the medium of National COnves ion.
4. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated It's inability 10 conduct the Cove rnment
Through It's present difficulties.
:. That We arr utterly opposed 10 the twin
he-eS;es, No-thersi scctionalsn and Southern Sc
cession, irlmi' al to the Constitution and that
freemen, as they value the boon of civil liberty
and the peace of the country, should frown imls
uantlS rnon them
g. That in this national emergency the Ocmoc
rae, of Indiana, bansling all feeling of passion
and resentment, will recOlcct only their duty to
the whole country; that this war should not he
waged in the spirit of conquest or subiGgation.
nor foe the purpose of erhrawing or interfering
with the rights insttr tOnS of the States out to
defend and maintain the supremacy of the Con
stitrtion. and tie preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality AID rights Of the several States
unimpaired; and that soon these objects are
accomplished the ought to cease.
10. That will sustain. with all our energies
VAR for :he maintenance of the Constitution and
of the integrity of the Union un der the Constitution
Lut opposed to for the cmancirarion
of the negroes, or the sujugatiOn of the Southern
States.
IL. That the purposes avowcd and advocated
by the Northern dSunIOnlsts, to liberate and arm
the negro slaves. is disgrace TO the age calcua-
ted to retard the suppression of the rebellion and
meets our unqualiged condemnation.
II. That the total disregerd of the writ o. ha
Jens corpus by the authorities over us, and the
seizure and imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
States where fhe judiciar. is i'm full operation
without warrant or In and without assigning anv
cause giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty of defense, ere fragrant violations of the Con
stitutlOn 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.
Is. That the liberty of speech and of the rrcss
are guaranteed TO the people by the Constitution,
and none but usurper would deprive them of these
rights they inestimable to the citizen and
formidable to tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unf,rtu
nate troubles, to muzzle the press and stife free
discussion are exercises of despotic power against
which freedom revolts and which can not be tole
rated without converting freemen into slaves
IL That the seizure Of Mason and Slidell. ON
board neutral vessel, on the high seas, was
either in accOrdi nee with international law and
so legal; or else IN violation of such law and On
illegal. II the former, we lament that our pa,on
has been Inundated by their surrender under q
threat if the latter, il the duty Of the Ad.
mnistration at once TO have disavowed the act ot
their officer, and instead of incarceratne the can
tives i'll Fort Warren, to have Immediately re.
paired the wrong by Placing them, as far as prac-
ticabie, IN The same condition in which that off
Ger found them. In either event. the action OF
the Administration vacillating and COW
ardy and degrading to the dignity of great nation
ID. That the action of the Republican party
manifested in tho partisan character of all ap-
pOintments of the Administration 20 civil office
and, in holding party caucusses by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressinc
upon the legislative acton Of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party. have demonstrated tina,
their professions of Sacrificing party platforms
and party organizations, upon .he altar Of their
country" are bu. 20 many hypocritical and false
pretenses by which they hope to dupe the unwary
into their support and we warn all loyal persons
az they love their country, not to be deceived
thereby.
I6 That the disclosures made bv the invcsti
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have Ftalkcd into the army and navy
departments, duplicating the heads Of those de
partmehts IN contrivance at, if not an actual
participation in system of corruption and in
which our brave soldiers have been defranded oi
their proper supplies. and our Government throat
encd with bankruptcy, demands a thorough inves
tigaton into all our expenditures. both St.,o md
National, and that speedy and marked ox,nnIe
be made Of all such "Dirds of prey" who. t,lino
advantage of the necescty Of our country nav
fed AID fatteDed upon public plunder.
IL. That the meritorious conduct of the Indi
ann troor,c i'm everv hattlafaII whara v;o,o-..