St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-09-03


,r~.,fg ~ SKA ,rui' !.,ror pst| T. tL,ss,oIqn>
~ @ lMr.*Ls pue reported the following 81 f.
PLATFORM. n::.. INV !; 4
. llRssokes', Yhst. the Democracy Of oNiuneso.
to, by their representatives in convention as
sem6led, with renewed confidence in demo
cratic frineiplea, do hereby desiare the follow :.
i9g 70 be ~ platform upon .whicf. they stand,
and upon which they invite all conservative
oitiseus and patriots to plsestthsmselvcs: !
, Il That in the proseeution q ths present,
var to put down the rebellion, the adminis-
traitors Of oar Government are bound by the
solemn pledge Of Congress made It the COM
mencement Of The war: THAT this war is
not waged ~ their part ii any spirit 81 op-
pressioh,2 or for any purpose; Of conquest or
aabjagation, or purpose Of overthrowing or
Interfering with the rights Of established in
stitutioas Of these Statee, but to defend and
maintain the supremacy Of the Constitution
ndpreserve tho Union, with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the, several States un =
and as soon as these objects are nc.
complished, the war ought to cease"
, 2. That We hail with unqualified Joy every
symptom Of returning loyalty. that is mani,
tested BY the citizens OF the Southern States,
and will afford every encouragement in our
power to induce them to abandon their rebel
lious attitude md return to their allegiance,
and when any State is willing to resume its
constitutional rights in the Union, it should
be accepted without condition or restriction,
and viii then be entitled to- the enjoyment of
al ~ rights Of any, other State Of the Union.
That fn this emergency we will Danish all feel
ing Ofmere passion or resentment, and recol-
lect only our duty TO thewhole country.
). Thstswe look to the loyal and faithful
population of the South when the war is end
ed 70 resume the Administration of! their State
Governments, and we look to the Supreme
Court TO- settle definitely and finally the con-
stitutional rights of communities and individu-
als aAefected by the events of the, war.
II 4. That tile people Of Minnesota view with
alarm and regret the manifest disposition of
TIE commander of the Department of the
Northwest, To- reg ird the war with the Sioux
Indians as at an end, and We respectfully but
earnestly call upon the President to vigorous
" prosecute the war against them, until the
entire race Of murderous tsavages are either
captured and punished or exterminated.
s.. That, without endorsing the sentiments
of course pursued by all those arrested by
military power in loyal States, for alleged
political offenses. We zreputiate the idea that
the President. Or any one under him, without
due process Of law, hos the right to order the
arrest '&Ad in'prisonnent9o Of any citizen Of a
loyal State, and we denounce the exercise of
such power as Unconstitutional, arbitrary and
despotic and subversive Of the fundamental
principles Of a republican form Of government
and the liberties of our country:
G., That, it islt the duty, of every citizen to
obey the laws, and that however unconstitu-
tional and oppressive and unjust the same
may. appear. he must submit thereto, until
such laws are repealed, or declared null and
void by the proper tribunal.
2. That we tender our army. and especially
our Minnesota regiments, our heartfelt thanks
for: their patriotic devotion TO their country,
and we also tender our. sympathy to the sur
vivors, Of the gallant dead, who have offered
up their lives as sacrifice for their country,
and won for themselves the everlasting graft.
tude Of the nation. .. -.
Co.., Robertson, who was also on the
Committee, offered as an amendment to
the third resolution as given above, the
following resolution; -
| - Resolved, That we look to the army and M.
W of the Union to regain and retain every
inch Of national territory without any com
promise with rebels in arms that We look to
the loyal and faithful people of rhe South. when
the rebellion. shall be Terminated by military
! force, to resume the administration of their
State Governments; and We look to the Su.
rreme Court to settle definitely and finally
the constitutional rights of communities and
| individuals as effected by the events of the
war; and ON this broad and comprehensive
basis Of agreement ameng all good citizens
ard in common with the loyal masses of the
American people, we propose to ''1nove upor
the enemy's worksuntil-we force an uncondi
tional surrender."1 1.,",2.
After an exciting passage between this
gentleman and the. Chairman Of the Com
mittee; this latter parsonage offered tht
following resolution as substitute fo'
that presented by Col. Robertson:
Resolpcd, That while the nation, withou
distisction of,party, at the call of the Presi
dent for, old TO- restore the Constitution an{
the Union, rushed to arms regardless Of bloot
and treasure in so holyta cadse, We are nov
senvinced that every step taken by the ,Ad
ministration ind its supporters in Congress
under pretense Of preserving the Union AM
putting down the rebellion, has been mov'
in disguise for the overthrow of slavery, ant
the destruction fthe State Governments.
y The objection that the author of thi'
resolution had 70 Col. Robertson's amend
fmentrwas, that it committed the Detnoc
racy to support the war. This ne was op
posed 10. The object!of the war hat
been perverted, and he did not want tn
Democracy pledged to'sastain it, -:
pa Col. Robertson replied ito this TRADE
lashiog oshej Copperheads right and left
He explained why it was that they tauut
ed him with being an abolitienist. Because
the Republicans had not conducted th'
war ina style to suit: Democrats hoping
for the success Of our arms was being Al
:aoolitlonist. But for 81 the victories a
vieksburg, Port Hudson, Gettysburg AM
elsewhere We would not be here to.nig
diseussiug;the 1passageiof resolutions con
eerning u reconstruction. If they pppos
the wsr because they did not approve tn