The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-09
PLAT FIG
OHIO DEMOCRACY.
Columbus, June II, 1868.
PREAMBLE.
ADOPTED AT


The Democratic party has ever been. and
yat IS, q law abiding party. It 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 guarantees Of public and private
Liberty, and OF property, contained in the fun
damental laws, and it will surrender not one of
them 1t has the right to discuss public
measures, and will discuss them. 1t has the
right to propose and advocate that policy which
1t deems best for the nation, and it will exer-
.cise that right. 1t has a right to have its pol
ICY passed upon by the people at peaceable
and pntrammeled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in a minority, it
yields obedience to all lawful rule of the ma
jority; if it be the majority itself, it claims
that its lawful will be respected. Whether it
IS a majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in force. Those that it dislikes it seeks
20 overthrow, not by violence, but by a legiti-
mate repeal Those that it proposes, it seeks
20 carry, not by force, but by legal enactment.
And what 1t does In all these respects, it de-
mands, and has a right to demand, that all
sothers shall do. They owe the same obedi
ence to the Constitution and the laws as the
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect hber-
~, to pc secure IN their houses, persons, and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their ~interes. nor ours that despotism or an
archy should prevail and if they wish to
avert both, 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 the circumstance s that have
brought US together, we hereby resolve:
RESOLUTIONS.
That the will of the people is the foun-
dalton 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 acknowledgement; without sound judgment
there can be no wise government.
2. That it is an inherent and constitution
alright of the people to discuss all measures
of their Government, and to approve or disap-
prove, as to their best Judgment seems right.
That they have a right to propose and advo-
cate that policy which in their judgment is
best, and to argue and vote against whatever
policy seems TO them 10 violate the Constitu-
ton, to impair their liberties, or be det1imen-
tai to their welfare.
That these and ali ether rights, guaran-
,teed to them by their constitutions, are their
rights in time of war as well as Ia time of peace;
and of far more value and necessity in war than
In peace. For in peace liberty, security and
property are seldom endangered In war they
are ever in peril.
-. That we now say to all whom it may
concern, not by wcy of threat, but calmly and
firmly, that We will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their forcible violation. We
will obey the laws ourselves, and all others
must obey them.
5 That there is 8 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-
:ple owe allegiance. The Administration are
the agents of the people, subject to their
.approVa. or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
e. 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=siztysthree, by which he assumes to eman-
.clpate slaves in certain States, holding the
to be sunwlse, unconstitutional and void.
- Z. That we declare our determined opposi-
ton ITO a system of emancipation by the States,
upon compensation to be made out of the
Treasury of the United States, as burthensome
spon the people, unjust in its every nature,
md wholly without warrant of the Constitu-
tion.
g.. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President
of the United States, whereby, under guise of
a military necessity, he has proclaimed and
extended-or asserts the right to proclaim or
exterd-martfal law over States where war
does not exist, and has suspended the writ of
hdbeds corpAs, IS unwarranted by the Constitu-
ton, and its tendency is to subordinate civil
to military Authority, and to subvert our free
government.
g. 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
the Fart of the seeded States to return to
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.
10. That the soldiers composing our arm
les merit the warmest thanks of the nation
Their country called aud 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
Hments shall be raised to teach p~osterity to
honor tie patriots and heroes who offered their
lives at their country's altar. Their widows
and orphans shall be adopted by the ration, to
be- watched over and cared for as objects truly
worthy a nations guardianship.
Ill. That Ohio will adhere to the Consti-
tuition and the Union as the best, it NAV be
the last, hope of popular freedom, aud 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 suffrages
of a free people.
II. 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 a good purpose upon their part to
cooperate with all other loyal citizens in Civ
maintaining the Union and Constitution as
they were ordained by the foundation of the
Republic.
10. That whenever it becomes practicable
to obtain a Convention of all or three fourths
of the States, such body should be convened
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