The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-06-17

1868.
Published in the Democra. by request.l
We, the Democracy of Forage County, in mass con
vtnon assembled ver READY al all times upon all occa
sions aud under al circumstances 10 give reason for
the faith that within as and believing in the utmost
freedom pi speech do now by unanimous resolves make
and publish the following declaration of principles,
by which we claim to be governed, ahd which We do
hereby pledge ouseves to uphold and maintain through
good and through evil report, while in the exercise of
right loyal of free Republican govern
ment.
g LEGGED but to truth, liberty and law,
No Iowsr sways US md no lear shall awe"
WHEREAS, A civil ar nth all its mold enormities,
is cesoating once peaceful and prosperous
country ana this fear been and
maui"ined ~ II PORTION of our country men whom We
regard as sadly in and wildly deluded, and
WHEREAS, The ctrrenJ euso Of the times renders
slost imperative for every and of to place
before the pa expression of their fidelity to the
Government,
WHEREAS 1t was declared by our fathers that to Sc
ure ctr5an iuSeuable tights, among which lite,
liberty. and the pursuit of hHppDess," +" governments
instituted among men, deriving their just
from the of the verned, and beeving that
The only safety for this ptoe aud restoration OF our
happy Union to its form condition of unity aud
teace Is in the faithful all laws by all
men either in nigh low positions and the ample pro
lection The of the pubic servants to the citizen
all his constitutional and legal rights and privileges
without which government is a mockery-Therefore,
l. Resooed That political pow is inherent in the
people and that Instituted for their eqa
pfoirrtion and bebefi ? -E
That the peupl ha the right to assemble together,
in peaceable manner, to consult for their common
good, and to petition the for redress of
grit, ances;
That the military should be in strict subordnation to
1 the civil power;
That eye-y irizeu may freely wrte speak and publish
his sentiments all shjec:s, be ng responsible for the
abuse o! the right and no law should be passed to
strain or abrdee lie liberty Of speech of the press:
That prrson should be held for a capital other
wise infamous crime unless on presentmnnt indict
ment OF grand jury and when SO chargedis entitled to
speedy and impartial trial by jury; shall
lie transported out OF the State oense commit
ted within the same. sa-
2 RsoI5ed That rvation is the first Law of
N ure. und applies with equal force to nations to
Individuals and it is therefore tie bounden duty of all
every legitimate effort prosTye its existence, maintain
its Integrity punish its enemies and restore peace and
tranquility throEghour its Gordrrs. .-EiH- f-..s.
3. Resolved, THAI as Democrats we have washed our
hands clean from all connection with the dark moving
cause of the present deplorahle civil STRIFE. nd while
under the present Admins! !raton can discover no
immediate prospect of terminating The same, will
continue to do all that in towards the furtherance
of any constitutional measures that shall aim at the
restoration of entire country to be dominion oft
spparent effort the of the potosrs that be- to
paryert this struggle into crusade against Slurry
to dru9ooH our army in of determination of the
whites for lhe eleva lou of the negro fzlC
! 4. Rssolred, That the avowed willingness of the Re-
publican Union party hiring all the evils in the caen
dar upon his naton if by dong they may only purge
the land of slavery is instruct conformity with the prac
lice of the noted Enpiiic who administered medicine tt
NIL his pattens to first throw them into fts-clsimnf
that he uUas death on ftS'' o.
S. Resolved. That we cordially endorse the principle
advocated by VIM. IL. Seward in a dispatch 10 Mr. Ad
in November last that, in this country especially, ii
is habit not only entirely consistent with the Cnnstitu
but even essential to its stability to regard the Ad
inistration, my existing distinct and
II,
ceedings of the one without thought of dislcyaliy
the other; aud we further affirm in the language
Daniel Webster, that " 1t is the ancient and undoubtet
prerogative OF this people TO canvass pn6c measure
, and the merits Of public men. 1t is home bred
rgb fresda privilege 1t has been enjoyed in ever.
cottage ana atn in The nan IT Is not To oe drawn IN
to controversy. 1t 10 uncouhted as ibe right o
breathing the air or walking the earth-e)ongng o HI
public life duty. and is the last dnty which Ihcs
whose represen; alive aut shall find TO abI d,n
Aiming at all times to be eoureons ami temperate in IL
except wien the right nself Questioned Il shall
Ice myself on the extreme boundary OF my right am
) bid defiance that would move me from M
ground The bgh Constl' utiona privilege shall de
lend and exercise within this iioue and In all pces, il
ing shall assert it, and should leave no other nherI
tance to my Children by the blessing of Goo will leav
them the Inheritance of free principles and the exampl
of manly, independent ConStitu ional defense
them Entertaining these views, and looking upon tn
freedom of opiuon and expression lying at he b,si
OF all popuiar governments we can but regard witt
feelings Of profound apprehension and alarm all efforts
neither made by the civil military authorities
bitrarily prohibit he exercise Of these rights.
g. Resotoed That tie doctrines and practices of
sousts and abotoniss alike ia ial TO the UNION an
the liberties of he country, and while we WIZ snppor
tie cons uied auhores in all constitutional neasn
against the former "e VIII interpose all Constitutions
: ard legal means ag4inst the latter 81 ..rl-
4 Resofred, Thut we repel with Indignation ali i'm
puta1ns of diS'oyalty against the Democrats OF Ohio
In efutson Of all such ISLANDERS, inerpose the
par history tine past and present-thei
patient support of law ard order under the most yin
and exasperating circum> >tances. and their blood
wounds aud bleaching bones on the battle fields OF th
:. war. -. --.'
o s. Res. lied That we consider the arbitrary arrests
by armed snldiert, free American citizens. thei
incAic ration III mililary brstiles the denial of the rgh
trial by jury, aud the defiance Of the writ of hahen
corpus INV Use and coht ary 10 the letter and sir
of Constitution and that deprecate all such act
revolutionary in their tendency
g. Resofced, That the hrary and Illegal ARE:
and exile of Hon. C L. Iiundighnn and other patriot
c Democrat, without law auth rty. save the will
mtary despot, is au6acious aud fagrant defanc
of Fedora CONSTITUTIONS direct blow at freedom
speech moustrons crime against human liberty, an
insult to the people OF Ohio, which they ought nc
and will submit to, aud at The approach ng electo
we will apply remedy through tie ballot box, wheI
by tue votes of outraged people, government VIII
o restored to the h nds of who will protect Stat
rights rebuke and check federal usurpaiions secur
freedom of speech and the and personal Hbert,
and eudeavor peace and prosperity to ou
g bleeding country. .-.E :
. 10. Resolued That cordially invite all that ca
above declared principles to assist in
earnest patriotic aud lawful effort to place the Covert
the hands of those who not guided by INT
p, rtsan character but who aciuated by cor
vicons IF their important responsibilities shall 500
this land to the prestige and SUPREMACY it enjo
. ed in the balmest days of its prosperity. i