Year: 1862

maintenance OF the Union and the preservation .
the Constitution. and seeing in the present condi
ton of the country the deplorable effects Of a
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 10 unite with in sustaining
its organization and carrying out It's principles:
Therefore,


Resolued, 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.


2. That we are unalterably attached 10 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.


;. That the present civil war has mainly re-
suited from the long continued unwise and ia
natcal 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, Phila-
delphia, and Chicago, and the development there
by of sectional hate and jealousy, producing (as
bad long been foreseen and predicted by us) its
/ counterpart in the South of secession, disunion,
and armed resistance 10 the General Government
and terminating in a bloody strife between those
who should have been forever bound together by
fraternal bonds, thus bringing upon the whole
country a calamity which we 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


A. That in rejecting all propositions likely to
result in a satisfactory adjustment of the matters
/ in dispute between the \ orth 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 constitu-
/ tional and legal measures TO procure return of
the more Southern States to their allegiance the
Republican party assumed n fearful response
bity, and acted in total disregard of the best in
terests of the whole country.


5. That if the party in power had shown the
same desire TO settle by amicable adjustment,
our internal dissensions before hostilities had
tually commenced that the Administration has
recently exhibited to avoid "A war with our an
/ cient enemy Great Britain, we 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 Goyernment-and in our judgment
| this purpose can only be accomplished, by the
ascendency of Union party in the Southern
States, which shall, bv a counter revolution. dis
place those who control and direct the present re-
bellion. That no effort to create or sustain such
party can be successful which is not based upon
a 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.


Z. That the Republican party has fully demon
strated its inability to conduct the Government
through its present difficulties


.. 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, banisbng 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 subjugatiOn,
nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfer
ing with the rights 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 unimpared; and that as soon these OBJ
jects accomplished the ought to cease.
! 10. That we will sustain, with all our energies,
a war for the maintenance ofthe Constitution, and
| oil the integrity of the Union under The C0nsttu-
| ton but we are opposed 10 war for the emanci
| patton of the negroes, OF 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 ha-
6tds 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 giving to the party arrested any opportu-
nifty of defense, are hagrant violations of the Con-
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


l3. That liberty of speech ant. of the press are
guaranteed to the people by the Constitution. and
none but usurper would deprive them of these
| rights: they are inestimable 10 the citizen and
| formidable tyrants only. And the attempts
which have been made since present unfortu-
nate troubles. 10 muzzle the press and stihe free
discussion, exercises of despotic power against
which freedom reyolts and which can not be tOle-
rated without converting freemen into slaves


IA. That the seizure of Slidell and Mason, on
| board a neutral vessel, on the high 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 Inundated by their surrender, under a
threat; if the latter, it was the duty of the Ad-
ministrstion at once to have disayowed 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 vacilatng land COW
ardly, and degrading TO the dignity of great ma
/ ton.


ID. That the action of the Republican party,
as manifested in the partisan character of all ap-
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 OF 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 ali 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 nav '
departments, duplicating the heads OF those de-
partments in a connivance at, if not an actual
participation in system Of corruption, and in
which our brave soldiers have been deirauded OF
their proper supplies. and our Government threat
ened with bankruptcy, demands thorough in