The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-01-25
ADDRESS .
TO THE PEOPLE OHIO.

TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.
AS the representatives Of the Democracy of the State
of Ohio in Convention assembled in view OF the i'm
poant objects sought to be accomplished our action
and of the consequent responsibility incumbent upon u.s.
we feel it at once our privilege and solemn duty to de-
clare to you the views of the democracy of Ohio upon
those great fundamental and constitutional principles
which they believe to be the basis and support of the A
merican Union and of American freedom.
In the embodiment of these views we will be neces-
Saily led into development of the common principles
of American democracy, of which we shall endeavor to
present you fair and faithful exposition. ..
That all governments designed forthe benefit Of the
governed that the people are the original and only le
gtimate source Of all governmental power that govern
ments have no rights or powers except such as are
conferred upon them by the people, as sanctioned by
them as conformable to their interests and will thatthe
exercise by government OF powers not so conferred or
sanctioned is oppression usupaon, and violation OF
the natural rights ofman and that it is the inherent and
inaenable right of every people, to alter, modify, or a
bolish an existing government when ever fails to pro-
mote the general welfare to secure these rights and
recognize the principles we regard as the hrs and as
sental principles ofall democracy.
These principles were for the first time in the history
of the world authorativey announced as the principles
of nation in the Declaration of American lndepen-
dence and constitute the invaluable inheritance OF every
American citizen, handed down to us by our Fathers
who maintained them with their lives, and sealed them
with their blood And they are the peculiar inherit
ance ofthe democracy as the followers OF the founders
of their party the writer of the Declaration of indie
pendence their consistent advocate throughout long
ffe the apostle of democracy, the immortal JEFFER-
soN i.. .-.
The Constitution of the United States was framed by
convention and adopted by the several States, pfevi-
uusly associated under articles OF confederation in or
der to perpetuate and to all poseriy those great
and original principles and to establish more efficient
government.
In order to the formation of correct opinions in regard
to the construction of this constitution it is mpor ant to
bear in mind that the convention which agreed upon it.
was convention Of States composed of delegates from
separate sovereign hough confederated States that
every article and clause oft was voted upon in conven
tion by States and finally that when agreed upon in
Convention it was then submitted to the several States
and was acted upon and adopted at different periods by
them in their separate and sovereign capacities as
States. i5@ -y ..-
The government which existed under the old confed-
Grafton was found to be inefficient for the general ma
tional purposes for which was designed The States
had conferred upon it. too little power they had retained
too much OF their original and natural sovereignty to
themselves To remedy this evil, they framed anda
dopted the present constitution, by which they establish
ed new general government upon which they confer
red greater powers by yielding to greater portion Of
their individual sovereignty. This historical fact,
while it Illustrates the necessity for certain degree OF
tigor, in the General Government in order to its eff
Federal Government is but the agent or creature, and
the States are the principals or creators.
In that convention appeared distinct and tangible, the
germs of the two great parties into which, since the or
ganizaion of the present government the country has
been divided On one side, were those who either ut
tery denied or greatly doubted mans capacity for self
govemment-who regard the mass of the people, not
endowed with reason, judgment, and discretion, but as
beings incapableo Of understanding their own interests
not as capable of apprecating their own rights
and the value of laws in secuingthem but as unruy
mob swayed by passion prejudice, and hatred OF men
better or in better circumstances than themselves who
required the iron hand of power to preserve them from
ANARCHY and selrdestruction-w believed, that men
were made for government and not that government
was instituted for man-who thought that government
could only be safely conducted by the Intellectual few,
and should be supported by the wealthy, and the we'll
born who by the grant of official and other exclusive
privileges should be attached to the government and
made to feel an official family or pecuniary interest,"
"a the stability ofthe Stale and its institutions
At the head ofthis class stood their great and intel
kctuaf leader, stood ALEXANDER HAMILTON man of
powerfu mind, high moral courage and indefatigable
energy His darling and long cherished object the es-
Adjustment of strong concentrated "National Govern
lnen" possessing in itsefal the powers of govern
ent dc iUre, Overwhelming and merging all the State
ovemmens and all the rights OF the people oil the States
he pursued with steady energy and uninernitted per-
severance that would have honored a better cause
With view 10 the accomplishment OF these purpo-
ses he proposed and advocated with zeal and energy in
the convention, plan National Government, cons
titing President Senate and Judiciary, during good
Behavior, that isor life- The President and Senate
10 be chosen by Electors elected BY the people in election
districts and the Governor of the several States to bC
appointed the National Government. This was q
plan of simple elective monarchy , ,,.
ON the other side were those who maintained they
IIAd confdencein mans capacity for seltgovemment
whcdid not regard the mass ofth people as mob
sun IN ignorance and swayed by passion, tonly to b.
Tie tools of ambitious demagogues the tootstoo ofdes
poiicpower orhe play things Of a King who regard
ma iualienabe righs-which they were capable Of ap
rIseating; and which; they had wisdom and virtue t
ssnre to themselves and transmit to their posterit
nnmpaired who regarded all government as dervin
anhority from the consent Of the governed, and VIII