Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-13

WEKEKks. The Democratic party having. ron
the date Of lie organization. been In favor Of he
the Constitution, and seeing in the present cond'
ton OF the country the depiorsble elects Of :
departure from ts tine honored and conservative
princfpiee, and TIE triumph Of sectionalisr,, and
firmly believing that ibe Union and the Constita-
ton can De preserved alone by The restoration Of
that party to power. ue invite al true Union men
throughout the land 70 unite With us in sustaining
its organization and carrying cut i,s principles:
Therefore,
Rsselred l. That ne reaffrm and endorse the
political principles thai from time % time have
been put forth by the National Conventions Of
the Democratic party.
2. Thaf are unaltersbly attached 20 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 consnued unwise and Ia
nstical agitation, I'm the North. cf the question Of
domestic slavery, the consequent organization Of
a geographical party. guided BY the sectional
platforms adopted At Buffalo. Pittsburgh, Phiis-
delphia. and Chicago, and the development there
by Of sectional hate and JEALOUSY, producing (as
had long been foreseen and predicted BY us) its
counterpart in the South Of secession, dsunion,
and armed resistance to the General Government.
and terminating in bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
fraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country calamity which we are nov 10 meet as
loyal citizens, STRIVING for the adoption Of that
mode Of settlement best calculated 20 again
store union and harmony.
4 That In rejecting all propositions likely 20
result in satisfactory adjustment OF the matters
in dispute between the North and the South. and
especially those measures which would have
border q md a
hearty cooperation on their part In all constitu
uonal and legal measures % procure a return Of
the more Southern States 10 their allegiance. The
Republican party assumed fearful respous-
bility. and acted in total disregard Of the best in
terests OF the whole country.
s. That if the party In power had shown the
same desire TO settle, BY amicable adjustment.
our internal dissensions before hostties had ac-
tually commenced. that the Administration has
recently exhibited 20 avoid a with
cient enemy. Great Britain. We confidently be-
heve that peace and harmony would reign
throughout all our borders.
g. 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
DelnOn. nat no eUOrt 10 create or sustain cuch
a party can be successful which Is not based upen
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 a National
Convention.
T. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated is inability 10 conduct the Government
through its present difficulties.
That "a are utterly OnDOSei the twin
heresies, Northern sectionasm and Southern
secession, 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.
g. That in this national emergency the Democ-
racy of Indiana banishing all feeling Of passion
and resentment, will recolect only their duty 70
the whole country; that this war should not be
waged in the spirit of conquest subugation,
nor for the purpose Of overthrowng or interfer-
ing with the rights or institutions Of the States.
but 10 defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and to preserve the Union with air
the dignity, equality and rights Of the several
States unimpaired and that socn as these OBJ
ects are accomplished the war ought 90 cease.
10. That we will sustain, with all our energies,
war for the maintenance the Constitution, and
OF the integrity of the Union ssdsv sAs Csssfsfs-
fion; 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 20
loyal citizens, disgrace TO the age IL calculated
rctard the suppression of the rebellion and
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 IL in full operation.
without warrant Of law and without assigning any
canse giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty of defense, are fragrant violations Of the Coz
stitution 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.
Is. 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 10 the citizen and
formidable 20 tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since our present unfortu-
nate troubles, to muzzie the press and stife free
discussion, exercises of despotic power against
which freedom revolts aud which can not be tole-
rated without converting freemen into slaves
! Ia. That the seizure Of Sidell and Mason, on
board a neutral vessel, on the high seas, was
either in accordance with international Law. and
so legal: else in violation OF such law. and 80
illegal. II the former. we lament that our nation
|
threat; if the latter, il was the duty Of the Ad-
ministraton at once 70 have disavowci the act Of
their officer and instead of incarcerating the cap
tives in Fort Warren. 70 have Immediately re-
paired the wrong by placing them. ss far as prac-
tcabe, in the same condition in which that OH
Ger had found them. In either event. the action
of the Administration was yacillating land COW
ardly. and degrading to the dignity Of great ma
ton.
l5. That the action of the Republican party.
manifested in the partisan character Of all sp-
pointments of the Administration to civil Office;
and. in holding party caucuses by the Republican
members of Congress for the purpose ofimpressing
upon the legislative action Of that body the peculiar
dogmas of that party have demonstrated that their
professions sacrificing party platforms, and par
ty 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.
Is That the disclosures made by the invest
eating committee in Congress Of the enormous
frauds that have stalked into the arm. and nav y
departments, duplicating the heads Of those de
partments in a connivance at, ii not actual
participation in . system Of corruption. and in
: which our brave soldiers have been derauded OF