Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-07-09
PLA.TFORM
DEMOCRACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

OF THE
DEMOCRACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.
The Democratic party has ever been,
and yet is, law abiding party. 1t asks
nothing but its rights under the Consti-
tuition and the laws. 1t resorts to no vi.
olation of either; it countenances no vio-
iation of either. 1t has o right to all the
guarantees of public and private liberty,
and OF property, contained in our funda
mental laws, and it will surrender not
one of them. 1t has the right to dicsuss
public measures, and will discuss them.
1t has the right tc propose and advocate
that policy which it deems best for the
nation, and it will exercise that right. 1t
has a right to nave its policy passed up
on by the spccplc at peaceablc and un-
trammeled elections, and it will maintain |
that right. If found in minority it
yields obedience to all lawful rules of the
majority; if it be the ma aority itself, it
claims that its lawful rules be respected.
Whether in majority or minority, it
obeys all laws that are in force. Those
that it disikes, it seeks to overthrow, not
by violence, but by legitimate repeal
Those that it proposes, it seeks to carry,
not by force but by legal enactment And
what it does in all these respects, it de.
mands, and has right to demand, that
all others shall do. They owe the same
obedience to the Constitution and the
laws that Democrats owe. They have
the same interest to maintain free gov
ernmcnt, to protect liberty, to be secure
in their houses, persons and property,
| that Democrats have. 1t is neither their
interest nor ours that bespotism or an
a chy should prevail; and If they wish to
avert both, let them see to it time that
they give no occasion for either. We
will 90 our duty, let them remember to
do theirs.
/ RESOLUTIONS
| /. That the will of the people is the foundation
Of all free government. That to give effect to
/ this will, free thought, free speech and n free
press are absolutely Indispensable. Without free
discussion there is no certainty of sound judg.
meut there can be no wise government,
2. That it is an inherent and constitutional
right of the people to discuss all measures of their
government, and to approve or disapprove as to
their best judgement seems right. That they
have like right to propose and advocate that
policy which in their judgement is best, and to
argue and vote against whatever policy seems to
them to violate the Constitution to impair their
liberties, or to be detrimental to their welfare.
B. That these and ali other rights, guaranteed
to them by their constitutions, are their rights in
time of war as well rs in times of peace and of
far more value and nee ssity in war than in peace.
For in peace liberty security and property are
seldom eRdangered in war, they are ever in peril.
a. That we now say to all it may concern, not
, by way of threat, but calmly and firmly, that we
will not surrender these lights nor submit their
forcbe violation. We will obey the laws our
selves, and all otheurs INST obey them.
5. That there is manifest difference between
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 people owe allegiance.
The Administration are but the agents of the peo.
pie, sub ect 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 solemn
protest against the proclamation of the President
of the United States, dated the first day of Jan
uary, one thousand eight hundred and sixty three
by which he assumes to omancipate slaves in GER
tain States, holding the same to be unwise, un =
constitutional, and void
I. That we declare our determined opposition
to system of emancipation by the States upon
compensation to be made out of the treasury OF
[ the tnlteu states, as DurdCnSOme upon the pcO
! pie, uni just in its very nature, and wholly without
: warrant of the Constitution.
g. That we declare that the power which has
recently been assumed by the President of the
= United States, whereby under the guse of mill
h tary nccess ty he has proclaimed and extend oil
. asserts the right to proclaim or eXtend--martia
law over States where war does not exist, and ha
u suspended the writ OF habeas corpus, it is unwar
ranted by the Constitution, and its tendency is tC
t subordinate civil to military authority, and to sub
vert our system of free Government.
Q. That we deem it proper further to declare
n that we, together with the truly loyal people o
1 the State, would hail with pleasure and deligh
| any manifestations of desire on the part of Tho
seeded States to return to their allegiance t.
the Government of the Union, and in such even
g we would cordially and earnestly co operate will
e them in the restoration oe peace and the procure
f ment OF such proper guarantees rs would give Sc
curity to all their interests anl rights
10. That the soldiers composing our armic
merit the warmcst thanks of the nation. Thei
n country called aud nobly did they respond, Liv
! ing, they shall know nations gratitude woun
'' ded, nations care; and dying, they shall live i
c our memories, and monuments shall be raised t
y teach posterity to honor the patriots and heroe
! who offered their lives at their coantry's altar
. Their widows and orphans shall be adopted b.
y the nation, to be watched over and cared for Il
l. objects truly worthy nations guardianship.
70 IL. That Ohio will adhere to the Constitution
r. and the Union the best, il may be the last hop
of popular freedom, and for all wrong
which may have been committed or evils whic
may exist, will seek redress, under the Constitu
RI ton and within the Union, by the peaceful bu
,f powerful agency of the suliragcs of free people
:, H. That we hail with pleasure and hope til
~ manifestations of conservative sentiment anon
le the people of the Northern States in their clec
)f tons, and regard the same as the earnest of
rs good purpose upon their part to cooperate wit
"A all other loyal citizens in giving security to tn
~ rights of every section and maintaining the Ur
q ion and the Constitution they were ordaine
by the foundation of the Republic,
n l3, That whenever it becomes practicable
=, obtain convention of all or of three fourhs
" the States, such body should be convened for tn
Il purpose of proposing such amendments to tn
in Federal Constitution rs experience has prove
ii 10 he necessary to maintain that instrument
- the spirit and meaning intended by its founder
~ and to provide against future convulsions an
wars
he IA, That we viii earnestly support every cor
stitutonal measure tending to preserve the Unio
of the States. No men have greater interc
in its preservation thun We have-none deserve
l. more; there are none who will make greater saC
A. rihces or endure more than we will to acconplis
IN that end. We are, MS we ever have been, u
- devoted friends of the Constitution and the Vi
- on, and we have sympath with the enemies
rs either.
s. 10. That the arrest, imprisonment, preteud,
ne rria, and actual Punishment Of Clement l., Val