The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-23
r La H M
ADOPTED AT
columbus, June II, 1868.
PREAMBLE.

StAAAO H. 1868.
Inc Democratic party has ever been, an,
fet Is, a law abiding party. It asks nothin.
but its rights under the Constitution and RI,
laws. 1t resorts to no violation of either /
eountenances no violation of either. L. has
right to all guarantees of public and priyat,
noerty, ana OF property, contained in the fun
damental laws, and it will surrender not one o
Them 1t has the right to discuss public
measures, ard will discuss them. 1t has the
right to propose and advocate that policy whic I
ut deems best for the nation, and it will exer-
Sclse that right. It has a right to have it's mol
lcy passed upon by the people at peaceable
ana elections, and it will main
stain that right. If found in a minority. il
yields obedience to all lawful rule of the ma.
5orIty; lflt be the majority itself, it claims
That Its lawful will be respected. Whether ii
as amajority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are IN force. Those that it dislikcs il seeks
go overthrow, not by violence, but by leeiti.
mate repeal Those that it proposes, it seeks
70 carry, not py force, but by legal enactment.
And what it does in all these respects. it de-
mands, and has a right tn demand. that an
Others shall do. They owe the same obedi
sence to the Constitution and the laws as the
democrats owe. They have the same Interest
no maintain free government, to protect hber-
y, TO De secure IN their houses, persons. and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interest nor ours that despotism mr. an
>archy should prevail and if thew wish to
avert both, let them see to it in time that thew
give no occasion for either. We will do our
duty let them remember to do theirs.
In view of the circumstances that have
brought US together, we hereby ~resolYS,:
RESOLUTIONS.
1. That the wall of the people is the foun-
datlon OF all free government. That to give
effect to this will, free thought, free speech,
and a free press are absolutely indispensable.
without free discussion there is no certainty
of sound judgment without sound iudoment
there can be no wise government
z That it is an inherent and constitution
al right OF the people to diz cuss all measures
.ot their Government, and to approve or disan-
prove, as to their best judgment seems right.
That they have a right to propose and adyo-
cate that policy which in their judgment is
best, and to argue aud vote against whatever
Peicy seems to them to violate the Constitu-
5tlon'' 10 impair their liberties, or be det1imen-
talto their welfare. 30
=. That these and all ether rights. euaran-
teed to them by.their constitutions, are their
rights IN time of war as well as in time of peace;
and effar more value and neces ity in war han
IN peace For in peace liberty, security and
property are seldom endangered in war they
are ever in peril.
We low say TO all whom 1t may
concern, not by wy of threat, but calmly and
hrmly, that we will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their forcible violation. We
VIII obey the laws ourselves, and all others
must obey them.
D. That there is q manifest difference be-
tween the Administration of the Government
and the Governments itself. The Government
consists OF the civil and political institutions
created by the Constitution, and to it the peo-
pie owe allegiance. The administrator are
but the agents of the people, subject to their
approval or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
That in the exercise of the right to diff
fer with the Federal Executive, we enter our
solemn protest against the Proclamation of the
President of the United States, dated the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred
and sixty three, by whish he assumes to eman-
reipate slaves In certain States, holding tie
same to be HnRise, unconstitutional and void.
q Thatwe declare our determined OPPOSE
tion to a system of emancipation by the States,
upon compensation to. be made out of the
Treasury of the-United States, as burthensome
4spon the people, unjust in its every nature,
md wholly without warrant of the Constitu
ton.
D. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President
at the United States, Whereby, under guise of
q military necessity, he has proclaimed and
extended-or asserts the right to proclaim or
extend-martial law over States where war
does not exist, and has suspended the writ of
habeas corpus, is unwarranted by the Constitu-
tion, and its tendency is to subordinate civil
to military authority, and to subvert our free
government.
3 That we deem it proper further to de-
clare that we,. together with the truly loyal
people of the State, would hail with pleasure
and delight any manifestations of a desire on
tho norf ~ The eo111aJ. O4-A--
their allegiance to the Government of the
Union, and In such event we would cordially
and earnestly cooperate with them In TIE res
~toration of peace and the procurement of such
proper guarantees as would give security to all
their interests and rights. 49,
10. That the soldiers composing our arm
les merit the warmest thanks of the nation
Their country called and nobly did they re-
spond- Living, they shall know a nations
gratitude ; wounded, a nations care ; and dy-
ing. they shall live in our memories, and mon
uments shall be raised to teach posterity to
honor TIE 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 a nation guardianship.
H. That Ohio will adhere to the Consti-
tuition and the Union as the best, it NAV be
the last, hope of popular freedom, and for all
wrongs which may have been committed or
evils which may exist, will seek redress, under
the Constitution and within the Union, by the
peaceful but powerful agency of the SURFACES
Of . free people.
IL. That we hail with pleasure and hope
the manifestation of conservative sentiments
among the people of the Northern States in
their elections, and regard the same as the
earnest of agood purpose upon their part to
cooperate with all other loyal citizens in Civ
ing security to the rights of every section, and
maintaining the Union and Constitution as
they were ordained hu the foundation nf The