Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-17

the Constitution, and seeing in the present condi
ton Of the country the deplorable effects Of a
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles. and the triumph Of sectionssm; and
firmly believing that the Union and the Constitu-
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party TO power. We invite all true Union men
throughout the land to unite with Is IN sustaining
its organization and carrying out 1t principles;
Therefore,
Reselued. 4. That We reafirm and endorse the
political principles that from time TO time have
been put forth by the National Conventions OF
the Democratic party.
2. Thst we are unalterably attached to the
Constitution. by which tie Union of these States
was formed and established; and that faithful
Observance Of IL principles can alone continue
the existeace of the Union, and the permanent
happiness Of the people.
3. That the present civil war has mainly re
suited from the long continued, unwise. and ia
natical agitation, in the North, of the question OF
domestic slavery. the consequent organization OF
n geographical party. guided by the sectional
platforms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Phia-
delphia, and Chicago, and the development there
by Of sectional hate and jealousy, producing (as
had long been foreseen and predicted by u.s. it,
counterpart in the South of secession disunicn
and armed resistance TO the General Government,
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
county a calamity which We are now 10 meet as
loyal cit;zens, STRIVING for the adoption of that
mode of settlement best calculated 10 again re
store 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 Sc
cured the border slave States 10 the Union. and
hearty co operation on their part in all consttu-
tional and legal measures TO procure return Of
the more Southern States 10 their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed a fearful response
bility, and acted in total disregard of the best in
terests of the whole country.
D. That IL the party IN power had shown the
same desire TO settle, by amicable~ ad lustment,
our internal dssensons before hostilities had ac-
tually commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid a with
cient enemy. Great Britain, we confidently be
lieve 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 To the Govern ment-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 reg
bellion. That no effort to create or sustain suJ
u -
definite settlement of the questions ayissde 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 to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
3. That we are utterly opposed to the twin
81
secession, as inimical 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 banishing 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 subjugati)n.
nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interior
ing with the rights or institutions of the States.
but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and 10 preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired; and that as soon these oh
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 Constitu-
fton but we opposed to a for the emanci
patton Of the negroes, or the subjugation of the
Southern States
IL. That the purposes avowed and advocated
by the Northern disunionists, to liberate and arm
the negro slaves, is unconstitutional insulting to
loyal citizens a disgrace TO the age is calculated
to rctard the suppression of the rebellion and IN,
our unqualified condemnation.
H. That the total disregard of the writ of ha
beas corpus by the authorities over us. and the
seizure and imprisonment of the citizens of loyal
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 fragrant violations of the Con
st,iution 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 life, liberty and
property.
- That liberty of speech anu of the press are
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution, and
none but a usurper would deprive them of these
rights: they are inestimable to the citizen and
formidable 10 tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unfortu-
nate troubles, TO muzzle the press and stihe free
discussion. 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 Sdell and Mason, on
board neutral vessel, on the high seas, was
either in accordance with international law and
so legal; or else in violation of such law, and 50
illegal. Ii the former. We lament that our nation
has been Inundated by their surrender. under a
nhreuf; if the latter, il the duty of the Ad-
ministration at once to have disavowed the act OF
their officer and instead of incarcerating the cap
tves in Fort Warren, To have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them. as far As prac-
tcable. in the same condition in which that Off
had found them. In either event, the action
at the Administration was yacllating land COW
ar,lly. and degrading to the dignity of great ma
tirn.
IL. That the action of the Republican party
manifested in the partisan character OF all APP
pointments of the Administration 10 coil office
and. in holding party caucuses by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressins
upon the legislative action of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party have demonstrated that thel
professions of sacrificing party platforms. and par
~ organizations, upon the altar OF their country
are but so many hypocritieal and false pretences
by which they hope to dupe the unwary into thei
support: and We warn all loyal persons. the,
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 army and nav,
departments. duplicating the heads of those de
partments in a cOnniyance az, If not an actua
participation in a system of corruption. and il
which our brave soldiers have been deirauded o
their proper supplies. and our Government threat
enei with bankruptcy. demands thorough in
vestigation into all our expenditures. both Stat,
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