The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-03-27
INDIiNi DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

fpAncnaIiCc Oh tie Union tlilu vi
lhe Constitution. and seeing III the present condi
ton of the country the deplorable effects of a
,lerarture from its time honored and conservative
PRINCIPLES and the triumph of sectionalism; and
firmly believing that the Union and the Corstitu
lion can be preserved alone by the restoration Of
,h., party TO power we invite all the Union men
throughout the land TO unite with us in sustaining
It's organization and carrying out its principles.
Therefore.
Resolved. !. That we rcaffirm : ~ endorse the
political principles that from time TO time have
been put forth By the National Conventions Of
the Democratic party.
. That we are unalterablv attached 10 the
Constitution. BY which the Union Of these States
Vas formed and established /: and that faithful
observance ofits principles can alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi
meas Of the people.
J. That the present civil war has mainly
suited from the long coniiDucd. unwise, and IA
satical agitation in the North. Of the question Of
domestic slavery, the consequent organization OF
geographical party. guided bv the sectional plat
forms 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) i,s coun.
,,rpsr. in the South of secession, dsunion. and
armed resistance to the General Government. and
terminating in n bloody strife between those who
should have been forever bound together by fra
ternal bonds. thus bringing upon the whole coun-
try q calamity which we are ROW To meet rs loyal
citizens. striving for the adoption of that mode Of
settlement best calculated 10 again restore union
and harmony.
4. That in rejecting all propositions likely 10
result in satisfactory adjustment of the matters
IN dispute between the North and the South. and
especially those measuI ga which would have Sc
cured the border slave States to the Union. and a
har.y co operation their part in all constitution
A. sod legal measures To procure return of the
mere Southern States to- their allegiance. the Re.
subican partY assumed fearful responsibility
and acted in total disregard Of the best interests
o! she whole country.
5. That If the party in power had shown the
same desire 20 settle. by smicablc adjns ment.
internal dis.ensons before hOstilies had actually
commenced, that the Administration has recently
srhit,it-d To- svoid a with ancient enemy
f:rent Britain confidently believe that peace
and harmony would now reign throughout all our
borders
6 That the maintenance Of the Union upon
tie principles Of the Federal Constitution should
tie the controlling object of ali who profess loyal
~ 30 the Government-and IN our judgment this
purpose can only be accomplished. by the ascen-
dxncv offs Union party in the Southern States.
which shall by a counter revolution dispscc those
sho control and lire the present r. rtbelOn. That
no effort create suStaip such party be
sue essfu which is not based upon 4 definite set
element Of the questions at ssue between the two
sections; snd therefore demand that some such
settlement be made by additional constitutional
guaranty. either initiated by act of Congress or
through the medium of National Conv cnton.
:. That the Republican party has fully demon.
s.rstsd IL inability 10 conduct the Government
through lis present difficulties.
:. That are utterly opposed 20 the twin
h.rcsies. Northern sectonalism and Southern pc
e,..on, n. inimical TO the Constitution and that
a.. ,-oft, sl,o1 #.
and the peace of the country should frown ndig
n1ntlT upon them.
9 That in thi. national emergency the )emoc-
rae, of Indiana banishing all feeling Of passion
and resentment. will recollcct only their duty to
tie whole country: that this war should not be
~AScd in the spirit of conquest or subiugatiOn.
nor for the purpose Of Overihrowing interfering
With the rights or nstit ons Of the States out TO
defend AMI maintain the supremacy of the Con
s,itntion and To preserve the Union with Eli the
dignity. equality AID rights of the several States
vrimr..red: and that = these objects are
accomplished ,h~ ough, TO cease.
10 That Ne will sustain. with all our cn.rgics
-ar FIR :he maintenance Of the Con-tu.ion. and
o the iniegri.J Of the Union under tho Constftion
but wear opposed 10 a war for tho emanci~ alton
of,h negroes, the subjugation of the Southern
States
H. Tha. the purposes avowed anil advocated
~ the Northern disunonists. to liberate and arm
the negro slaves is n disgrace to the nge. calcula-
ted 20 retsrd the suppression OF the rebellion and
meets our unqualig-i condemnation.
- That the total disregerd Of the writ Of hd
Bss. corpus By the authorities over us. and the
seizure and imprisOnment OF the citizens of loyal
State. whore the judiciar, is in full operation.
without warrant or law and without assigning any
esuse or giving TO the party arrested any opportu
nifty OF defense fragrant violations Of the Con-
,titution and most alarming acts Of usurpat.on Of
afa ttxo of
every lover Of his country and of every man who
pnres the security and blessings o: life, liberty and
property.
IL 7ha. the liberty Of speech and Of the press
are guaranteed 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 unfOrtu-
nat. troubles to muzzle The press and stihe 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 -cizure Of Mason and Sdell .on
bs.ri a neutral vessel. on the high seas. was
either in accordl nee with International law. and
90 legal: or else in violation Of such law. and So
Wl.sal II the former ve lamert that our nation
hs. been Inundated by their surrender. under a
tArsaf IL the latter, IL was the dutv of the Ad-
r.ui.,ration 1T once to have di.avowcd the act OF
their oficsr sni instead Of incarcerstIng tho cap
tive. ia Fort Wsrrer. 10 have immediately re-
paired the wrong by placing them, as far a. prac-
tcAble. in the same condition in which that Ofli-
Ger found them In either event. the action OF
the Administration was vacillaiing and cow
arIIy and grading TIE dignity of great nation
ID. That the action Of the Republican party.
as manifested ia the partisan character of all ap-
pon.nents of the Administration 10 civil office
anil, in hoL.:ng party caucusses by the Republican
members Of Co1gre-s for the purpose ofimpressing
upon the legislative action OF that body the pecuinr
dogma. Of that party. have demonstrated chat
their professions Of sacrificing party platforms
and party organizations, upon The altar of their
saus.-v," are bu, ~ MANY hypocritical and false
pretenses by which they hope to dupe the unwary
into their support and warn all loTal persons
a, ,hsy love their country, not TO be deceived
shereby.
I6 That the dsclo ures made by the investi
eating committee in Congress OF the enormou
frauds tina, have stalked into tho army and nav,
departments duplicating the heads of those de
p1rtmen,s in cOntrivsnce At, If not an actua
particination in a system of corruption. and II
which our brave soldiers have been deiranded o
their proper supplies. and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough inves
tigaton into all our expenditures. both State am
National, and that = speedy and marked oxampl
De made of all such ''birds OF prey" who, sakIn
advantage Of the nerescity of our country. hav
fsd Md fattened upon public plunder
n ~ ,ho ,oar;torious conduct of the Ind