Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-06
The Democratic Mass Convention Of
the 10Th and nth Congressional Dis
trictS OF Indiana.

eastern Indiana was called TO order in the Court
House Square, at Fort Wayne. at l o'clock. P.
NJ, Wednesday, April 29th, by the Hon. Isaac d.
G Nelson, on whose motion Hon. Franklin P.
Randall, Mayor of Fort Wayne, was. by acclama-
ton, chosen President Of the Convention, and on
motion of Mr.. Nelson. the editors present of the
Democratic papers of the Districts, viz: 18th Dis
trict-Thomas Tigar, Isaac W. Campbell, of
Allen county; E. Zimmerman, Of Whitley coun-
ty; L. V. Long, of Kosciusko county: ]. p. Love
land, of De Kalb county; W. II. Norton, of Elk
hart county. llth District. Gerry Smith. Of
Wells county; W. c.. Kocher, of Huntington
county; A. J. Hill, of Adams county, were cho
sen Secretaries.
On motion of Hon. J. X. Edgerton, a commit.
tee Of twelve members-six from each Congress
sional District-selected by their delegation, were
appointed to draft and report resolutions express
i've of the principles and purposes of the Conven-
ton. The committee thus selected and appoint
ed we're: 10Th District-Joseph K. Edgerton, /.
d. q. Nelson, of Allen county; s. W. Sprott, of
De Kalb county; S. E. Alvord, of Noble; g.. W.
Mcconnell, of Steuben; J. H. Schell, of Elkhart.
18th District-James F. Mcdowell. of Grant:
l.. P. Milligan. s. McCaughy, of Huntington;
George S. Brown. of Wells; John Mcconnell, of
Adams: Samuel A. Shoaff. of jay.
The Convention, during the afternoon, was
successfully addressed by the Hon. George II.
Pendleton. Hon. s. S. Cox. of Ohio, and Hon.
d. W. Voorhees,, of Indiana, in speeches worthy
of the national reputation of the speakers.
At the close of Mr.. Voorhees, address, the
Committee on Resolutions, by their Chairman.
the Hon. j X. Edgerton, reported unanimously
the following preamble and resolutions, which
were adopted by reclamation:
The Democracy of the 10Th and 1lth Congress
ional Districts of INDIANA, having assembled in
Convention to take counsel together upon the
- - r -. ..r...- -Dur ,.,-o-,lol - ..r,l
war, and believing that the occasion demands that
we should plainly, fully and f~earlessly declare
our opinions and purposes to the end. not only
that henceforth, there may be no cause TO mis-
represent us, but, also, that the cause of ~constitG-
tionai Union may be strengthened among US, do
resolve
L. We solemnly and without mental reserva-
lion. declare our fidelity to the Constitution Of
tine United States, and to the laws of the United
States, mnde in pursuance thereof, as the Supreme
Law Of the land. and we viii, to the best of our
ability, support, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States, against all its
enemies, and we demand of all public rulers and
magistrates, State and National, that they shall
do likewise.
3. The Government of the United Statesi is the
sovereign will of the people as expressed in the
Constitution and Constitutional Laws of the
United States. The men who temporarily adj
minister the government, are not the government
Itself but its ministers. whose acts are entitled TO
respect and Obedience. only as they conform to the
supreme law of the land.-They are not above
the law, but its subjects and servants. They are
not the objects of our loyalty or allegiance. We,
therefore, I~epudiate as slavish. and having no
foundation in the principles of our free Demo-:
cratic system of gOvernment-the doctrine that
loyalty TO the Government of the United States,
consists in unconditional adherence to the meas
ures or policv of any administration On the
contrary. we affirm that it is the inalienable right
of the people. for whose welfare alone govern
ment exists. to freely discuss. Judge, approve or
condemn the policy and measures Of all public
rulers. and at all times, as we'll in war as in peace,
to apply to all they may propose or do, the inial-
lible test of the Constitution, fidelity to which is
the criterion of loyalty.
3. We r~epudiate as dangerous and revolu
tiOnary, the doctrine. that a state of war, con
fers upon the President of the United States or
his subordinates in authority. any power. Eyecu
tive, Legislative, or Administrative over per-
sons or property, above or beyond what are
vested in him or them by the Federal Constitu-
ton. We admit no military necessity to justify
any violation of the Constitution. which is the
guide and safeguard of rulers nd people alike,
in peace and in war, and in all conditions of pub
lie affairs. the military should ever be subordi-
nate to the civil pewer.
4. The Federal Union as it existed prior to the
commencement Of civil war is the only National
unity. known to the Constitution aud Laws of
the United States, and we denounce as revolu-
tionary and hostile to constitutional liberty, all
leagues, plans. pledges and attemps, having in
view the establishment of "a National Unity"
among the people of the United States, on any
other basis than the Constitution of the United
States.
5. The right of revolution is the last resort of
an oppressed people. 1t does not and cannot ex
sist 30 long as peaceful constitutional means will
avail to the defense of constitutional liberty. 1t
is the duty OF every citizen to exhaust all such
means for his remedy and defense against real
OF supposed grievances. Forcible resistance to
rulers, magistrates or public officers, is justIhab,e
only, when the ability 10 obtain peaceful coDsti-
tutional redress, shall be taken from the people
by usurpation and tyranny.
Our liberties rest upon the constitutional guar
antees of freedom OF opinion and speech free
press. tree courts, and free elections. When
administrative power shall attempt to wrest these
from Us by violence, the strong arm of free peo-
pie will defend tbei birth right. Having faith in
the people, and in their constitutional Govern
ment, We will stand by it. and no insurrectionary
or revolutionary act of ours, under temporary ex
elements or for inadequate causes. admits It's
failure Our high duty and purpose are to de-
lend constitutional Government in all its forms
and functions. We therefore deprecdte and de-
nOunce all attempts by violence to evade or op.
pose the due execution of the Tax and Conscrip-
ton acts, or any other acts of the late Federal
Congress, and we advise all citizens feeling ag-
grieved by those acts to appeal only to the Judi
cial authority, and to that great legislative power
of a free people-the ballot box, which is their
raralv o-..v.f H.
o. We declare that the existing rebellion, based
up,n the doctrine of secession. is an rnjustifable
attempt 70 subvert by violence the Constitution
and Government OF the United States. and should
be resisted and put down by all the material and
moral power that can be constitutionally brought
TO bear against il. We accord unreservedly with
the patriotic declaration of Andrew jackson, that
the Constitutional Union must and shall be pre-
served.
Z We are opposed to the doctrine and, parti-
san measures OF the political party or organiza-
ton, which under he various names of AbolI-
ton, Anti Slavery, Free Soil, Republican, Union,
No party and Loyal National League, has be
trayed the people into entrusting it with political
power, and which now controls the Federal Ad-
ministration. We oppose this party Of many,
and ever shifting names, now, as we have hereto
fore done. because we regard it as a sectional,
disorganizing and revolutionary party, having no
sympathy with true national Democracy, and es-
s~entially unfaithful TO the Federal Constitution.
Ii has from its origin. in violation of the spirit of
that Constitution. persistenIly forced upon the
minds of the people. sectional issues, ~arraying in
hostility sectional feelings and interests, engen
dering sectional hatred and preparing the wsv
for. and inviting disunion and civil war; and
freely declare our belief. that this sectional party,
is now under the name of 1.-The Loyal National
League" aiming TO p~ervert the war, which was
accepted and supported by the National Dem
ocracy, solely as "A necessity. in defense OF the
Federal Union iuto a war OF conquest, subiuga