Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-07-04
RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY THE
Democratic State Convention.

Resohea, That we again renew our
vows of fidelity to the Constitution of the
United States, the great charter for which
our fathers struggled and fought, and
which was established, as they themselves
expressed it, "to form a more perfect Union
establish Justice, ensure domestic tranquil.
ty, provide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and pos
terity."
Resolved, That inasmuch as the Consti-
tuition cmbodies the on y guarantees We
have for public liberty and private right.
as without it we can have no hope Of pro-
lection from bloodshed, spoliation and an
archy-the man who sneers at "the Con.
stitution as it is" proves himself to be
deficient in the first element Of patriotism;
and any officer OF the State or Federal
Government who swears to support the
Constitution, and afterwards, with that
oath on his conscience, willfully violates
it, is wholly unworthy fpublic confidence.
ReSotved, That among the rights which
the Constitution provides to every citizen,
is that of being secure in his life, liberty
and property, SO that he cannot be deprived
of either without due process of law, fair
trial by competent judge and jury of
his neighbors, with witnesses to confront
him and counsel 10 defend him. This is
so Just in ITSELF SO necessary to the happi-
ness of the people for whom all govern
ment is made, and so plainly written down
in the Federal Constitution, and in all the
State Constitutions, any person who can
misunderstood it has not in our opinion, ,
the mental capacity which fits him for
public station,
Resolved, That we have heard with in
tense alarm and deep indignation that some
of our political opponents claim for the
President of the United States a power
hitherto wholly unknown in America and
never exercised in Europe or Asia, except
by the most despotic monarchs, namely ::
the power 10 arrest free citizens for the
expression of their honest opinions on
public affairs; and that the President
has not only presumed TO exercise this
power himself with the moderation and
mercy which his own nature might prompt
but has delegated it to many subordinates,
and they again to others in every part OF
the country, until its hideous presence is
seen and felt all over the land.
Resolvel, That among the the numer-
Gus officers to whom the President has
given this terrible power above the laws
and above the people, there must, in the
nature of things be a large proportion who
are totally incapable of welding it either
honestly or wisely-low politicians filled
with partisan rancor, knaves who do not
care for Justice and rufians who delight
in trampling it under foot; and therefore
we are not surprised to learn that the
worthiest men have been torn from their
families, Judges knocked down on the bench
ministers ofthe Gospel imprisoned in loath-
some dungeons and respectable women
treated with brutality which it would be
indecent even to name-and all this, in
many cases, without pretense that the
victims were guilty even of political of
fense, much less of any crime against the
laws.
Resolved, That free government cannot
exists without free press, ,and the Consti
tuition of this State, as well as that of the
United States, has declared that it shal
be free. Those persons therefore in offc
or out of office, who attempt to suppress
books and newspapers by violence are TIM
enemies OF this government and ought t.
be themselves suppressed.
! Resolved, That we hartily thank th
lionhearted Democracy of Ohio, for tn
manly vindication they have given to tn
! Constitution against the great crime com