Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-12
NUMBER 1859.
UNION DEnocRATuc PLATFORM.
ADoFrKD IN srATF coxvxsTinS JAsrAsr, $, ls61

maintenance OF the Unic1 and the preservation
the Constitution. and seeing IN the present condf
ton of the country the deplorabie effects OF q
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles, and the triumph Of sectionalism; and
firmly believing that the Union and the Constito-
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party TO power, we invite all true Union men
throughout the land 10 unite with in sustaining
its organization and carrying out its principles:
Therefore,
Resolved, L. That we reafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time 70 time have
been put forth by the National Conventions OF
the Democratic party.
,. That We are unalterably attached 20 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.
g. That the present civil war has mainly re
suited from the long continued, unwise. and IA
natica 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. Phla-
deIphia and Chicago, and the development there
by Of sectional hate and JEALOUSY, producing (as
had long oeen forescen and predicted by us) it,
counterpart in the South OF secession, disunion,
and armed resistance 20 the General Government,
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bourd together by
fraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country calamity which we are now TO meet as
loyal citizens, striving for the adoption ot that
mode of settlement best calculated to again re
store union and harmony 1
4. That in rejecting all propositions likely b.
result n 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 20 the Union. and a
hearty co operation on their part in all constitu
tional and legal measures to procure return OF
the more Southern States to their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed fearful response
bility 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 dissensions before hostilites had ac
tually commenced that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid with
cient enemy, Great Britain, we confidently be
eve that peace and harmony would reign
throughout all our borders
O. 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 Union party in the Southern
States, which shall, bv a counter revolution. dis
place those who control and direct the present re
bellion. That no effort to create or sustain such
party can be successful which is not based upon
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 q National
Convention.
I. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
8. That we are utterly opposed TO the twin
heresies, Northern sectionalism and Southern
secession rs 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, banishng 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 subjugatijn.
nor for the purpose of overthrowing interfer
ing with the rights 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 unimpared; and that as soon as these oh
jects accomplished the ought to cease.
10. That We viii sustain. with all our energies,
war for the maintenance ofthe Constitution, and
oil the integrity of the Union under the Coasfifu
! patton of the negroes, or the subjugation Of the
! Southern States. M
III. That the purposes ayowed 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 rcard the suppression ofthe rebellion and
our unqualified condemnation.
u. That the total disregard of the writ Of ka
beas corpus BY the authorities over Us, and the
nd of fha
States where the judiciary is in full operation,
without warrant of law and without assigning any
cause giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty ofdefense, are hagrant violations of the Con
sttution 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 liie liberty and
property.
10 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 inestimable TO the citizen and
| formidable TO tyrants only And the attempts
| which have been made siace our present unfortu-
nate troubles, To muzzle the press and siife free
discussion, are 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 SIideIi and Mason. on
board neutral vessel, on the high seas, was
so legal; or else in violation OF such law. and so
illegal. Ii the former. we lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender under a
threat; if the latter, il was the duty of the Ad
ninislration at once To have disavOwed the act o.
their officer, and instead of ncarcerating the cap
tves in Fort Warren TO have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them. "a far prac.
/ tcable, 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 na
ton.
ID. 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 Ofimpresslne
upon the legislative action of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party. have demonstrated that ther
professions OF sacrificing party platforms, and par
ty organizations. upon the altar OF their country,
are but so many hypocritica and false pretences
by which they hope 70 dupe the unwary into Their
support and we warn all loyal persons, a. they
love their country, not TO be 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
partments in 4 cOnnIvance at, n not actus
participation in a system of corruption. and il
which our brave soldiers have been delrauded o
their proper supplies. and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough in
yestigation into all our expenditures, both STAT.