The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-02-13
INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

ton OF the country the deplOrable effects OF Q
departure from irs time honored and conservative
principles. and the triumph of sectionalism; and
firmly believing that the Union and the Corstitu
zion can be preserved alone by the restoration oi
chat party to power we invite all the Union men
throughout the land to unite with in sustaining
its organization and carrying out its principles
Therefore.
Resolred. / That we reafIirm and endorse the
political principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the National Conventions OF
the Democratic party.
That we are unalterabv attached to the
Constitution. by which the Taion of these States
was formed and established and that faithful
observance ofits principles can alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent happi-
ness of the people.
J. 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
forms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia.
and Chicago, and the development thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy, producing (as had
long been forescen and predicted ny ns) its coun
terpart in the South of secession, disuniOn, 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 calamity which we are now to meet as loval
citizens. striving for the adoption Of that mode of
settlement best calculated to again restore union
and harmony.
L. That in rejecting all propositions likely TO
result in 4 satisfactory adjustment of the matters
in dispute between the North and the South AMI
especially those measuIes which would have
cured the border slave States to the Union. and
harty operation their part in all constitutions
. and legal meas to- procure a return Of the
more Southern States to their allegiance. the Re
4
and acted in total disregard of the bc, interests
of the whole country.
5. That if the party in power had shown tine
same desire 10 settlc. by amicable adjustment. our
internal diss ensions before hosties had actually
commenced, that the Administration has recently
exhibited to avoid war with our ancient enemy,
Great Britain. confidently believe that peace
and harmony would now reign throughout all our
borders.
6. That the maintenance of the Union upOn
the principles of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling obect of all who profess loyal
" to the Governmcnt-and in our Judgment this
purpose can only be accomplished. by the ascen-
depcy of "A Union party in the Southern States,
which shall by a counter revolution. dsplace those
who control and direct the present rebellion. That
effort to create or sustain such party can be
successful 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 initiated by act of Congress or
through the medium Of National Convention
e. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability conduct the Government
through its present d..culties.
:. That We utterly opposed 70 the twin
heresies, Northern sectiOnalisu and Southern So
cessiOn, rs inimica TO the Constitution and that
freemen, as they value the boon of evil liberty
and the peace of the country, should frown ndic-
nantlT upon them.
9 That in this national emergency the Ocmoc.
facy of Indiana, haniShing all feeling of passion
and resentment. will recollect only their duty 10
the whole country: that this war should not he
waged in the spirit of conquest or suhiug1tion.
for the purpose of ovcrihrowing or Interfering
with the rights institutions Of the States, ont to
defend and maintain: the supremacy of the Con
stitution. and to preserve the Union with al the
dignity, equality AID rights of the several States
nimpa.red; and that as soon as these objects are
accomplished the war ought to cease.
I'D. That We will sustain, with all our or rcips
for .hc maintenance of the Constrtip,. and
of the integrity of the Union der the Consfitu
but we are opposed TO war for the emanci-a,ion
of the negroes, the subjugation of the Southern
States.
IL. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunionis.s to libera,e and arm
the negro slaves, is disgrace to the age ca!cuIa
ted TO retard the suppression Of the rebellion and
meets our unquaged condemnation.
10. That the total disregerd Of the writ of bn
bsos corpus by the authorities over MS. and the
seizure and imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
States where the judiciary is in full operation
without warrant or law and without assigning anv
cause giving to the party arrested anv opport,l
nifty of defense are fragrant violations OF the Con
shtution and most alarming acts Of usurpat,On of
power. which should receive the stern rebuke of
every lover Of his country and Of every man wbo
prizes the security and blessings OF lie liberty and
property.
b. That The liberty of speech and of the rress
arc guaranteed to the people by the Consttrtio,
and none but usurper would deprive them of these
rights they are inestimable to the citizen and
formidable 20 tyrants only. And the attemn,.
which have been made since our present unfortu
nate troubles. to muzze The press and stiilc free
discussion are exercises of despotic power agans,
"hich freedom revolts and which can not he tOle-
rated without converting freemen into slaves.
Ia That the seizure of Mason and Sl;d,r on
board neutral vessel. the high seas was
either IN accordance with international law and
80 legal else in violation of sucl, law onI 60
Illegal. II tho former, we lamert that our n,ton
has been Inundated by their surrender under !
threat IL the latter. il was the duty of the Ad.
ministratOn at once TO have disavOw cd the act ol
their officer, and instead Of incarceratine the can
fives in Fort Warren, to have Immediately re.
paired the wrong by Pacing them, n far as prac-
tlcabe, IN The same condition i'm which thar off
Ger found them. In either event. the action Of
the Administration vacilIating and cow
hdly and degrading to the dignity o great nation
l5- That the action Of the Republican party.
as manifested in the partisan character of all an
pointmenis of the Administration % 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 pecuiar
doenas of that party. have demonstrated th,,
their professions Of Sacrificing party patforms
and party organizations. upon the altar of their
country arc bu. many hypocrtical and false
pretcnses by which they hope to dupe the ,rnwarv
into their support and we warn all loyaI persons
as they love their country, not to be deceived
thereby
l5. That the disclosures made nv Tho ;,,.os,;
eating committee in Congress or tI,o o,,,
frauds that have stalked into the army snI -
departments, duplicating the heads If ,hes" '' =
partments IN contrivance at, IL not an ac,no,
participation IN a system of corruntion. and n
which our brave soldiers have been defraudod .,
their proper supplies, anj our Government tbrcat
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough invos
tgation into all our expenditures. both State and
National and that speedy and marked ox,mnI,
be made Of all such birds of fprey," who. takinf
advantage of the nerescity of our connt,v b,y.
led ard tattencd upon public plundcr
IL. That the meritOriOus conduct of tho Ind