Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-08
UNION DEnoCRaruc PLATFORM.
ADOPTED IN STATE CONVENTION yASrAEY, 8, is63

WHEREAs. The Democratic party having, from
the date OF its organization, been in favor OF the
maintenance Of the Union and the preservation o
the Constitution, and seeing in the present condi
ton of the country the deporable effects Of
departure from its time honored and conservative
principles, and the triumph of sectionalism 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 US in sustaining
its organization and carrying out its principles:
Therefore
Resolred, l. 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.
?. That we are unalterably attached TO the
Constitution, by which the Union of these States
was formed and established and that faithful
observance of its principles can alone continue
the existence 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
a geographical party, guided by the sectional
platforms adopted at Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Phila-
delphia and Chicago, and the development there
by of sectional hate and jealousy, producing (ss
had long been foreseen and predicted by u.s. its
counterpart in the South OF secession, disunion,
and armed resistance to the General Government,
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
fraterual bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country calamity which are now TO meet as
loyal 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 a 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. and a
hearty CO operation on their part in all consltu-
tional and legal measures to procure a return of
the more Southern States to their allegiance, the
Republican party assumed fearful response
bility and acted in total disregard of the best in
terests Of the whole country.
>. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire to settle, by amicable adjustment,
our internal dissensions before hostties had
tually commenced, that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid a war with
cient enemy. Great Britain, confidently be
lieve 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 object of all who profess 10y
atty to the Government-and in our judgment
this purpose can only be accomplished, by the
| ascendency of Union party in the Southern
States, which shall, bv counter revolution, dis
place those who control and direct the present
bellion. 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 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.
7. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
3. That we are utterly opposed TO the twin
heresies, Northern sectionalism and Southern
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 or subugation,
nor for the purpose of overthrowing interfer
ing with the rights or institutions Of the States
but TO defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and to preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights Of the several
States unimpaired and that these OBJ
jects are accomplished the war ought to cease.
10. That we will sustain, with all our energies
a war for the maintenance ofthe Constitution, and
OF the integrity of the Union under The Constitu
ton but we are opposed TO war 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, disgrace TO the age, is calculated
TO rctard the suppression ofthe rebellion and meets
our unqualified condemnation.
-. That the total disregard Of the writ of hG
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 or giving to the party arrested any opportu
nifty of defense, fragrant violations of the Con
stituton and most alarming acts of usurpaton 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 lfe liberty and
property.
13. That liberty of speech and of the press are
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution and
none but usurper would deprive them of these
rights; they are inestimable to the citizen and
formidable to tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unfortu-
nate troubles, TO muzzle the press and stife 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 seizure of SIidell and Mason, on
/ board neutral vessel, on the nlgn seas, was
either in accordance with international law, and
so legal; or else in violation of such law. and so
illegal Ii the former. we lament that our nation
has been humiliated BY their surrender, under a
threat; if the latter, it the duty of the Ad-
! ministration at once to have dsayowed the act of
their officer and instead of incarceratng the cap
tives in Fort Warren, TO have Immediately re
paired the wrong by placing them, as far as prac-
| ticabe, in the same condition in which that Off
Ger had found them. In either event, the action
of the Administration was vacillatng land cow
ardiy, and degrading to the dignity of great
ton.
10. That the action of the Republican party.
manifested in the partisan character of all ap-
pontments of the Administration TO civil Office;
and, in holding party caucuses by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressing
upon the legislative acton of that body the peculiar
dogmas Of that party. have demonstrated that their
professions OF sacrificing party platforms, and par
~ organizations upon the altar Of their country,
are but so many hypocritical and false pretences
BY which they hope to dupe the unwary into their
support: and we warn all loyal persons, as they
love their country, not to be deceived thereby.
l6. That the disclosures made by the investi-
eating committee in Congress of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the armv and navy
departments, duplicating the heads OF those de-
partments in a conniyance at, If not an actual