Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-28
UNION DEnoCRarIc PLATFORM.

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the Constitution, and seeing 10 the present condi
ton Of the country the deplor.bis effects Of .
departure from its time honorci and conserv s<ire
principles. and the triumph Of sectionzlisn ard
firmly believing that the Union and the Constito-
ton can be preserved alone by tie restoration Of
that party 70 power. ve invite all true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite with NJ IN sustaining
its organization and carrying out ifs principles:
Therefore,
Resolred. 1. 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.
2 That we are uualterably attached 20 the
Constitution. by which the Union OF these States
was formed and established; and that faithful
observance Of iis principles can alone continue
the existence of the Union, and the permansat
happiness Of the people
3. That the present civil war has mainly re-
suited from the long continued. unwise. and fs-
natcal agitation in the North. Of the question OF
domestic slavery, the consequent organization Of
a geographical party. guided BY the sectional
platforms adopted ai Buffalo. Pittsburgh, Phila-
delphia. and Chicago. and the Development there
by Of sectional hate aud JEALOUSY. producing (ss
bad long been foreSeen and predicted by usl its
counterpart in the South Of secession. disunicn.
and armed resistance 20 the General Government.
and terminating in a bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bourd together by
fraternal bonds. thus bringing upon the whole
country a calamity which we are now 20 meet ne
loyal citizens. striving for the adoption Of that
mode OF settlement best calculated 20 again re-
store union and harmony.
l. That in rejecting all propositions likely %
result ir satisfactory adjustment OF the matters
in dispute between the North and the South ard
especially those measures which would have So
cured the border slave States 20 The Union. and
hearty CO operation on their part in all constitu-
tional and legal measures 20 procure a return Of
the more Southern States 10 Their allegiance tic
Republican party assumed fesr,ul rrsponsI-
bilty. and acted in total disregard oi the beSt n,-
terests OF the whole country.
D. That II the party in power had shown The
same Gesire % settle by amicable adjustment.
internal dssensions before hostilities had ac-
tually commenced. that the Administration has
recently exhibited TO avoid a war with our an
cient enemy. Great Britain. We confidently be
heve 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 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 n counter revolution. dis
place those who control and direct the present re
bellion. That no effort 10 create or sustain such
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 It's inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
g. That We are utterly opposed to the twin
heresies, Northern sectionalism and Southern
secession, as inimica 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, banishpg 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 subjugati IN.
nor for the purpose of overthrowing 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 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 Coasfifu-
hon but we are opposed TO war for the emanci.
patton of the negroes, or the subjugation of the
Southern States.
III. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern dsunionsts, TO liberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional, insulting 70
loyal citizens. disgrace to the age is calculated
orctard the suppression of the rebellion and
our unqualified condemnation.
IL. That the total disregard Of the writ Of Ia
beas corpus by the authorities over Us, and the
seizure and Imprisonment Of the citizens Of loyal
States where the judiciary il In full operation.
without warrant of law and without assigning any
cause or giving TO the party arrested any opportu
nifty OF odeiense. hagrant violations Of the Con-
st'tution and most alarming acts of usurpaton 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 liberty OF speech AM. Of the press are
guaranteed 10 the people by the Constitution. and
none but a usurper would deprive them Of these
rights; they are inestimable 20 the citizen and
formidable TO tyrants Only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present un6ortu-
nate troubles 10 muzzle the press and stHe free
discussion. exercises of despotic power against
which freedom revolts and which can not be tole-
rated without converting freeuien into slaves
IL. That the seizure of Slidell and Mason, on
board n neutral vessel on the high seas was
either in accordance with international law, and
so legal; or else in violation of such law and 90
illegal. Ii the former. We lament that our nation
hto bttu W tItI rutftIlltF, uruT q
threat; If the latter. il the duty Of the Ad-
minstraiion az once 70 have disavowed 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, a. far as Irac-
ticable. in the same condition in which that off
Ger had found them. Ia either event the action
OF the Administration WAS vacilIating land COW
ardly. and degrading to the dignity OF great ma
ton.
Is. 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 ofimprcesing
upon the legislative action OF that body 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 prstences
by which they hope TO dupe the unwary into their
support; and all loyal persons. "a they
love their country. not TO be deceived thereby.
10. That the disclosures made BY the invest
eating committee in Congress Of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the srmv and navy
departments, duplicating the heads Of those de-
partments in a connivance At, if not an actual
participation in system OF corruption, and 10
which our brave soldiers have been delrauded Of
their proper supplies, and our Government threat
eDed with bankruptcy, demands thorough in.
rr.sr. al