The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-17
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOC-
RACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE,
The Democratic party has ever been, and
yet is, law abiding party. 1t asks nothing
but its rights under the Constitution and the
laws 1t resorts to no violation of ether it
cOuutenances no violation of either. 1t has a
right to all the guarantees of public and pri-
yate liberty, and of property, contained in our
fundamental laws, and it will surrender not
one of them. 1t has the right to discuss pub
lie 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 right to have its
/. policy passed upon by the people at peaceable
and untrammelled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in a minority it
Yields obedience to all lawful rule of the ma
iority if it be the majority itself, it claims
that its lawful will be respected. Whether in
majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in force. Those that it dislkes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by legiti-
mate 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 obedi-
cnce to the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
10 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-
Chy 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 circumstances that have
brought us together, we hereby resolve:
RESOLUTIONS.
/. That the will of the people is the founda-
ton of all free government That to give eff
feet to this will, free thought, free speech and
free press are absolutely Indispensable
Without free discussion, there is no certainty
of sound judgment; without sound judgment
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 disap-
prove as to their best judgment seems right.
That they have like right to propose and ad-
yocate that policy which in theif Judgment is
best, and to argue and vote against whatever
policy seems to them to violate the CoDstitu'
ton, to impair their liberties, or to be detri'
mental to their welfare.
s. That these and all other rights, guaran'
teed to them by their Constitutions, are their
rights in time of war as well as in time OIL
peace and of far more value and necessity il
war than in peace. For in peace liberty, se
curity and property are seldom endangered
in war, they are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may con-
cern, not by way 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 a 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 dcmCrt of their acts,
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 sixty.tlree, by which he assumes to eman-
cipate slaves in certain States holding the same
to be unwise unconstitutional, and void.
I. That we declare our determined opposi-
ton to system Of emancipation by the States
upon compensation to be MADE OUT Oh the treas
ury OF the United states, as purdensome upon
the people, unjust In It's very nature, anC
wholly without warrant OF the' Oohst'uIlon.
o. That we declare that the power Whlcf
has recently been assumed by the PRESIDENT
the United States, whereby under the guise o.
military necessity he has proclaimed and ex
tended-or asserts tho right 10 proclaim OF eA
tend-maruai law over states Where war doe
not exist and has suspended the writ Oh @aoe0 yea
corpus Is unWarranteu py !he OCns.'tu'lon ~
ana It's tendency Is TO suo0rdinate c'vll 70 mil
ltary authority, and TO suoVert our system
lree government
o. That we deem 1t proper iurtner 70 aeclaI
that We, together win the truly ioyai PeoPl
OF the state, would nall with pleasure anu ue
light any manifestations OF desire on the pal
OF the seeded States to return to their alleg
ance to the Government OF the Union, and !
such event we would cordially and earnestl
cooperate with them in the restoration
peace and the procurement of such propC
guarantees as would give security to all thel
interests and rights.
10. That the soldiers composing our armie
merit the warmest thanks Of the nation. The
country called and nobly did they respond. :
Living, they shall know nations gratitude
wounded, nation s care; and dying, they sha
live in our memories, and monuments shall
raised to teach posterity to honor the patrio