The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-01-30
IyDIlNi DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

II
the Constitution. and seeing in the present condi
ton of the country the deporable effects of a
departure from its time honOred and conservative
rrinciples, and the triumph of sectiOnalism; and
70 firmly believing that the Union and the Corstitu
ton can be preserved alone by the restoration of
that party to power we invite all the Union men
throughout the land unite with us in sustaining
irs organization and carrying out its principles
Therefore.
Resolred, J. That we reafirm and endorse the
u poltcal principles that from time to time have
been put forth by the National Conventions of
l the Democratic party.
That we are pn,lterahy attached 10 the
Constitution. by which the Union of these Strtes
was formed and established and that faithful
observance ofits principles alone continue the
existence of the Union, and the permanent hapni-
ness of the people.
2 That the present civil war has mainly re-
4 sgied from the long continued. unwiSe, and IA
,ifcal agitation, in the North. of the question Of
domestic slavery. the consequent organization of
geographical party, guided bv the snctionol plat
forms adopted at Buffalo. Pittsburgh Philadelphia.
and Chicago, and the develOn1nent thereby of
sectional hate and jealousy, prodacirg (as had
long been foreseen and predicted ny us) IT'S coun
ternart 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 a calamity which now tn meet "a LOYAL
citizens striving for the adoption Of that mode of
settlement best calculated TO again restore union
and harmony.
4. That IN rejecting all propositions likely to
result in satisfactory adjustment of the matters
n dsnute between the North and the South. and
especially those measures which would have Sc
cured the border slave States to the Union. and a
hartv cooperation their part in constitutions
: al and legal measures to procure return of the
more Southern States to their allegiance. the Re
publican party assumed fearful responsibility.
and acted in total disregard of the best interests
Of the whole country.
J. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire to settle. by amicabe alus. .ment,
internal dissensOnS before hostilities had actually
| commenced, that the Administration has recently
/ exhibited 10 avoid a with ancient enemy,
Great britain. confidently believe that peace
and harmony would now reign throughout all
borders.
6. That the maintenance of tho Union upon
the principles Of the Federal Constitution should
be the controlling object Of all who profess Gvai-
% the GOvernment-and in Our Judgment this
purpose can only he accomplished. bv the ascer-
dencv Of a Union partv in the Southern Statcs,
which shall, bv counter revolution diSp1ce those
who control and direct the present re beiion That
no effort 10 create sustain such party c1n be
suc essful which is not based npon definite set
element of t,c questions at Issue between the two
sections; and therefore demand that sornc such
settlement be made bv additional constitutional
Guaranty. either initiated hr act of Congress or
through the medium 0f National Convention
9. That the Republican marty has fully demon
strated lis inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
:. That utterly OPPOSED 70 the twin
hereSics Northern SectiOnaSm and Southern So
ces~ou, as inimical TO the Constitution and that
freemen. they value the boon of civil liberty
and the Dea of the country, should frown indir-
u1utlT upOn them.
Q. That ia this national emergency the Ocnoc-
re. a. lndiana, banishng all feeling Of passion
end reScntmcnt will recoIcct only Their duty TO
the whole country: that this war should not be
7agei in the spirit of conquest subugation
nor for the purpose Of over r Nwinr or interfering
With tie rights instt tions of the States out to
defend and maintain the supremacy of the Cen
sttgton. and to preserve the Union with ell the
di,uty. equality aGd rights of the several S.atrs
Hniapt red; AMI that as sNNn these objects are
accomplished the war ough' To cease.
-. That viii sustain with all orr energies
awlr FIR he maintenance Of the Constitution. AMI
81 the integrity OF the Union der N. GonsfIf,ioD
out We opposed 10 war for the emauci afiGn
ri the negroes or the subjugation of the Southern
States
IL. That the purposes avOwed AMI advocated
iy the Northern di>unions,s, Ia lbera.c and arm
t.e negro slaves. is disgrace to the age cacula-
Tel 10 retard the suppression of the rebellion and
meets unqualig.d condemnation
y That the total dSreserd Of the writ Of 6a
beas o0rPHs bv the authorities over us AMI the
SEIZURE and imprisonment Of tho citizens Of lovnl
states where the iuliciar' Is in full oneration
vitEout warrant or law and without ASSIGNING anv
cause or giving to the party arrested anv onnortn
nty OF defense, are fagrant 'iot,l0ns of the Con
stiution AMI most alarming acts Of usurpat,on Of
POSER, which should receive the stern rebuke Of
every lover Of his country and of every man who
Tuzes the security and blessings OF life, liberty and
property.
b. That the liberty Of speech and of the rrcss
are guaranteed 10 the people bv the Constitution.
and nom but usurper would deprive them Of these
rights they are inestimabIe to the citizen and
form idable 10 tyrants only. And the attemrt.
which have been made since present unfortu-
nate troubles. to muzzle the press and stihe free
discussion exercises of despotic power against
which freedom revOlts and which can not he toIe-
rated without converting frecmen into slaves.
II. That the seizure Of Mason and Sidell,o
board a neutral vessel, on the high seas was
either in accordance with International law, and
80 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
threat; IL the latter, IL the duty Of the Ad-
mlnistration At once TO have dIsavowed the act oi
their officer and instead of inearccratng the cap
tves in Fort Warren, to have Immediately re-
f'''fN eie "Iohe DJ pacing uicm, m lar rs prac-
tlcable, IN the same condition IA ~hich that off
Ger found them. In either event. the action oi
the Administration vacillafing and COW
ardy and degrading to the dignity of great nation
10 That the action of the Republican party
as manifested in the partisan character of all ap
pOintmen's of the administration 10 civil office
and, IN holding party caucusses by the Republican
members OF Congress for the purpose ofimpressinl
upon the legislative action Of that body the peculiar
dogmas Of that party, have demonstrated tha
their professions OF sacrificing party platforms
and party organizations. upon .he altar &C thei
countrv.' are bu, % many hypocritieaI and falls.
pretenses by which they hope 10 dune the unwar,
into their support and we warn all loyal persons
a. they love their country, not to be deceive,
thereby
I6 That the disclosures made by the invcsti
eating committee in Congress of the enormou
frauds that have stalked into the army and nav
departments. duplicating the heads of those de
plrtments in q contrivance at, If not an actua
participation in a system of corruption. and
whie. our brave soldiers have been defrauded {
their proper supplies, AMI our Government threa
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough invei
fgation iufn all axnandifuroo both State N