The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-06-24

Il :
obeys all laws that are in force. Those
that it dislikes 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
demands, 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 haze the same
interest to maintain free government, to
protect liberty, to be secure in their houses,
persons and property, that Democrats
have. tits neither their interest nor ours
that despotism or anarchy should prevail;
and if they wish to avert both, let them
see to it in time that they give no occa-
sion 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
foundation Of all free government. That
to give effect to this will, free thought,
free speech and free press are absolutely
indispensable. Without free discussion
there is no certainty of sound Judgment
there. can be no wise government.
| 2. That it is an inherent and consti-
tutional right of the people to discuss all
measures of their Government, and to ap-
prove or disapproye, as to their best judy
lnent seems right. That they have a
right to propose and advocate that policy
which in their Judgment is best, and to
argue and vote against whatever policy
seems to them to violate the Constitution,
to impair theirliberties, or be detrimental
to their welfare. .;ss-4s - ..
3. That these and all other rights,
guaranteed to. the m by their constitutions,
are their rights in time IF war as well as
in time of peace; and of far more value
and necessity in war than in peace. For
Fin peace liberty, security and property
are seldom endangered; in war they are
ever in peril. i,s5 a. ss
A. That we now say to all whom it
may concern, not by way of threat, but
calmly and firmly, that we will not sur
render these rights nor submit to their
forcible violation. We will obey the laws,
ourselves, and all others must obey them.
s. That there is a manifest difference
between the Administration of the Cow
ernment and the Government itself. The
Government consists of the civil and polit-
ical institutions created by the Constitu-
tion, and to it the people owe allegiance.
The Administration are but the agents of
the people, subject to their approval or
condemnation, according to the merit or
demerit of their acts.aa eaa SO
g. That in the exercise of the right to
differ with the Federal Executive, we en-
ter our solemn protest against the procla-
nation of the President Of the United
States, dated the ffst day of January, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty three,
by which he assumes to emancipate slaves
in certain States, holding the same to be
unwise, unconstttutionalan and void. 81 as,
Z. That We declare our determined
opposition to system of emancipation by
the States, upon compensation to be made
out of the Treasury of the United States,
as burdensome upon the people, unjust in
its very nature, ana wholly without war
rant OF the Constitution. gsa
s. That we declare that the power
which has recently been assumed by the
President of the United States, whereby,
under guise of military necessity, he has
proclaimed and extended-or asserts the
right to proclaim or extcnde-martiall law
over States whore war does not exist, and
has suspended the writ of habeas corpus,
is unwarranted by the Constitution, and
its tendency is to subordinate civil to mil
itary authority, and to subyert our system
Of free governments. sa 7aa za5sfaiIs
9. That we deem it proper further to
declare that we,s together with the truly
loyal people of the State, wouldhailswith
pleasure and delight any manifestations
of a desire on the part of the seeded
States to return to their allegiance to the
Governments Of the Union, and in such
event we would cordially and earnestly
CO. operate with them in the restoration of,
peace and theprocurementf of such proper
guarantees asswould give security to all
their interests and rights less9ao
10. That the soldiers composing our
armies meritsthe warmest thanksesof the
nation. Their country called and nobly
did they respond. Living, they shall
know a nation's gratitude; wounded, a
nations care; and dying. they shall live
in our memories, and monuments shall be
raised to teach posterity to honor the pa-i
ltriotsf and heroes who offered their lives
at their country s. altar. Their widows
and orphans shall be adopted by the ma
tioa, to be watched over and cared for as.
objects truly worthy . nation 3 guardiane
sf5iu ssa fs@ss asfss n 9re svss tf{s4 s4Fs 3.
IL. That Ohioawih adhere to the Con.
'stitution and the Union as the best, it may
be the last, hope of popular freedom, and
for ali wrongs which may lave been com-
mitted or evils whichm exist, will seek
redress, under the Constitution and within
the lJnfoi; by the peaceful but powerful
agency Of tlie suffraees aof d free people.
atl3 That's we hail with pleasure and hope
the manifestations gof scohtefvatse SEMI
nlent among gsthen people IF thessN Northern
States il their elections, and regard the
same as the earnest of ageodpurpsseupon]
thchspaft TO cooperate with aflsother loyal
in giving security to thearights of
every section, and maintaining the Union
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