The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-26
PLATFORM OF TIE DEMOC.
RACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

lhLAsuoLG'
Tho Democratic party has ever been, and
vet is, law abiding party 1t asks nothing
but its rights under the Constitution and the
laws. 1t resorts to no violation Of either; it
countenances no violation of either. 1t has a
right to all the guarantees Of public and pri-
vate liberty, aud Of property, contained in our
fundamental laws, and it will surrender not
one Of them 1t has the right to discuss pub
JIG measures, and will discuss them. 1t has
the right to propose and advocate that policy
which it deems best for the nation, and it will
exercise that right. 1t has q right to have its
policy passed upon by the people at peaceable
and untrammclled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in minority it
yields obedience to all lawful rule of the ma
Jointly; if it be the majority itself, it claims
thatits lawful will lie respected Whether in
majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in force. Those that it dislikes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence but by legiti-
n,ato repeal. Those that it proposes, it seeks
10 carry no; by force but by legal enactment.
All what it docs in all these respects it de-
mands, and has right TO demand, that all
Others shall do. They owe the same obedi-
cuco to the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect liber-
ty, to be secure in their houses, persons and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interest nor ours that despotism or anar-
Ghy should prcyajl and if they wish to avert
botb Let them see to it in time that they give
no occasion for either. We will do our duty,
let them remember TO do theirs.
In view Of tho circumstances that have
brought Us together, we hereby resolve:
RESOLUTIONS.
/. Tint the will Of the people is the founda-
tion Of all freq government. That to give eff.
feet to th's will free thought, free speech and
n free Uess are absolutely indispensable.
Without free discussion, there is no certainty
Of sound judgment; withOu. sound judgment
there can be 10 wise government.
.. That it is an Inherent and Constitutional
right Of the people to discuss all measures of
their government, and TO approve or disap-
provo as to their best Judgment seems right.
That they have like right to propose and ad
vocato that policy which in theit judgment is
best, ant to argue and vote against whatever
policy seems to them to violate the CoDstitu-
ton, TO impnir their liberties, or to be detri-
ment1l to their welfare.
g. That lrcse and all other rights, guaran-
teed 10 them by their Constitutions, are their
lights in time Of war as well as in time of
peace; and Of far mere value and necessity in
war than in peace. For in peace liberty Sc.
cllily and property are seldom endangered I;
in war, they are ever in peril.
4. That VIC now say to all whom it may con.
Germ not by way Vf threat but calmly and
firmly, that We will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their fOrcible violation. We will
obey tie laws ourselves, and all others must
obey them.
3. That there is n manifest difference be-
tween the Administration of the Government
and the Government itself. The Government
consists of the civil and political institutions
created by the Constitution, and to it the peo.
pie owe allegiance The Administration are
but the agents of the people, subject to their
approval or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
6 That in the exercise of the right to differ
with the Federal Executive, We enter our SOL
emn protest against the proclamation of the
President of the United States, dated the first
day Of January, one thousand eight hundred
and si&ty'tbree by which he assumes to eman
oipate slaves in certain States holding the same
to be unwisc unconstitutional, and void.
I. That We declare our determined opposi.
ton to a system of emancipation by the States
upon compensation to be made out of the treas
ury Of tao United States, rs burdensome upon
the people, unjust in its very nature, and
wholly without warrant of the Constitution.
8. That We declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President of
the United States, whereby under the guise of
military necessity be has proclaimed and ex-
tended-or asserts the right to proclaim or ex-
tend-martial law over States where war does
not exist, and has suspended the writ of ka5eas
corpus, is unwawanted by the Constitution,
and its tendency is TO subordinate civil to mil
itary authority, and to subvert our system Of
free government.
g. That we deem it proper further to declare
that We, together with the truly loyal people
of the State, would hail with pleasure and de-
light any manifestations of desire on the part
of the seeded States to return to their allegi-
ance to the Government of the Union, and in
such event we would cordially and earnestly
cooperate with them in the restoration Of
peace and the procurement Of such proper
guarantees as would give security to all their
interests and rights.
10. That the soldiers composing our armies
merit the warmest thanks Of the uation. Their
country called and nobly did they respond
Living, they shall know nations gratitude
wounded, natioa's care; and dying, they shall
live in our memories, and monuments shall be
rnised to teach posterity to honor the patriots
and heroes who offered their lives at their
country's altar, Their widows and orphans
shall be adopted by the nation, to be watched
over and cared for as objects truly worthy O
nations guardianship.
II. That Ohio will adhere to the Constitu,
tion and the Union as the best, it may be the
last hope Of popular freedom, and for all
wrongs which may have been committed OF
evils which may exist, will seek redress, under
the Constitution and within the Union, by the
peaceful but powerful agency of the suffragOs
Of free people.
II. That we hail With pleasure and hope the
manifestations Of conservative sentiment among
the people of the Northern States in theii
elections, and regard the same as the earnest
of good purpose upon their part to cooper
ate with all other loyal citizens in giving Sc.
curiety to the rights Of every section and
maintaining the Union and the Constitution MS
they were ordained by the founders Of the Re
public.
Is. That whenever it becomes practicable t
obtain convention of all or Of three.fourth
of the States, such body should be convened
for the purpose of proposing such amendment
to the Federal Constitution as experience ha
proved to be necessary to maintain that instru
ment In the spirit and meaning intended by it