Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-16
UNION DEnoonAv,C PLATFORM

ADorTED CONVENTION JANUARY. 3, 1s62
WHEREAS, The Democratic party having, from
the date OF its Organization. been ia Favor of the
maintenance of the I'm, and the preservation
the Constitution. and seeing in the present condi
ton of the country the deplorab.e effects of
departure from It's time honOrel and conservative
principles and the triumph of sectionaliSm: and
firmly believing that the Union and the Consttn-
ton ctg be preserved alone by the restoration OF
that party To power, invite all true Union men
throughout the land TO unite with us in sustaining
its organization and carrying out its principles:
Therefore,
Resoiced. /. That we reaifirm and endorse the
political principle, fhat from time TO time have
been put forth by the National Conventions OF
the Democratic party.
, That We are unalterably attached to the
Constitution. by which the Union OF these States
was formed ana established; and that f,ithiul
observance OF its principles can alone contime
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. aud Ia
natical 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, Pha-
delphia and Chicago, and the development there
by of sectional hate and jealousy. producing (as
mad long oeen fore~een aud predicted bv u.s. its
counterpart in the South of secession disunion.
and armed resistance To the General Gov vernment.
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should hive been forever boui:d together by
fraterral bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country a calamity which we are now to meet as
loval citizens, striving for the adoption of that
mode of settlement best calculated TO 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 to the Union. ami u
hearty CO operation on their part in all constitu
tional and legal measures procure return of
the more Southern States to their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed fearful response
bity. and acted in total disregard of the best in
teres,s OF the whole country.
;. That ii the party i'm power had shown the
same desire To settle, by amcable adjustment,
our internal Gissensions before hOstlites had ac-
tually commenced. that the Administration has
recently exhibited 10 avoid war with our
cient enemy Great Britain. we confidently be
eve that reace and harmony would now rel IN
throughout all our borders.
g. That the maintenance Of the Union upon
the principles Of the Feieral Constitution should
be the controlling object OF all who profess 10y
atty to the GoveTnment-and in our judgment
this purpose can only be accomplished. by the
ascendencv of Union party in the Southern
States. which shall. bv counter revolution, dis
place those who control and direct the present re-
bellioa. That no effort to create or sustain such
"A party can be successful which is not based upon
definite settlement of the questions at issue me
tween the two sections: and we therefore demand
that some such settlement be made by additional
constitutional guaranty either initiated by act of
Congress cor through the medium of a National
) Convention.
= That the Republican party has fully demon
stratei its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
:. That We are utterly opposed TO the twin
heresies. Northern sectioBalIsm and Southern
secession n nmical To the Constitution: and
that freemen. they value the boon of civil lib-
ertv and the peaee of the country, should rowu
Indignantly upon them.
g. That in this national emergency the Democ-
racy of Indiana. bani>hing all feeling Of passion
and reSentmenr. will recolect only their duty to
the whole country; that thus war should not be
waged In the spirit of conquest or subugatiJ IN
nor for the urpose of overthrOwing or inter. r
ing with the rights or institutions of the State,
hun to defend and maintain the supremacy OF the
Constitution. and 20 preserve the Union with all
the dignity. equality and rights OF the several
+ States unimpaired. and that soon as these OBJ
iects 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 Coasffu.
fion but We are opposed TO a war for the emanci
patton of the negroes. or the subiHgation of the
Southern States.
IL That the purposes avowei and advocated
bv the Northern disuniOnists 10 lberate and arm
the negro slaves Is unconstitutional. insulting 10
loyal citizens. disgrace 10 the age i calculated
torctard the suppression fthe ebelliOn and m, cts
our unqualified condemnation.
II That the total disregard of the writ of IA
beas corpus by the authorities over u. and the
seizure and Imprisonment of the citizens OF loyal
States where the judiciary Il in full operation,
Without warrant OF Law and without signing any
cause or giving To the party arrested any opportu-
niiy ofdsiense. fragrant violations of the Con-