Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-08

Is not weRderfll that ignorance, passion and
prejudice should bid defiance to the laws.
we note these things, not to excite wrath
but to warn every man who desires TO preserve
the peace OF society, the liberties aud prop
erty OF the people, the laws and constitutions
of the land, that II. behooves him to set hIl
face against all aggressions upon either. Con.
atitutlons and law make free government, re
spect for them preserves II, disregard of them
brings despotism or anarchy. The Democratic
party has ever been, and yet is, a law-abiding
party. II asks nothing but lts rights under the
Constitution and the laws. 1t resorts to no vi.
olation OF either; it countenances no violation
of either. II has right to all the guarantees
of public and private liberty, and Of property.
contained in our fundamental laws, and II
will surrender not one of them. 1t has the
right to discuss public measures, and will dis
cuss them. IL has the right to propose and ad-
vocate that policy which 1t deems best for the
nation, and it will exercise that right II
has right to have iis policy passed
upon by the people at peaceable and untram-
melled elections, and 1t will maintain that right.
If found in minority II yields obedience to all
lawful rule of the majority; il IL be the majori-
ty itself 1t claims that its lawful will be re
spected. Whether in o majority, or minori.
ty, It obeys all laws that are In force. Those
that IL dislikos, II seeks to overthrow, nos by
violence, but by a legitimate repeal. Those
that II proposes, 1t seeks to carry not By force
but by legal enactment. And what It does In
all these respects, IL demands, and has q right
to demand, that oil others shall do. They owe
the same obedience to the Constitution and the
laws that DemocrRts owe. They have the came
interest to maintain free government, to pro-
tect liberty, to be secure in their houses, per.
ar md hat nn ii
neither their interest nor ours that despotIsm
or anarchy should prevail and If they wish to
avert both, lot them see to II 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:
That the will OF the people is the founda-
tion OF all free government. That to give eff
feet to this will, free thought, free speech and
free press are absolutely slndispensable.
Without free discussion, there ia ne certainty
of sound judgment; without sound Judgment
there csn be no wise government
2 That 1t 10 an inherent and constitutional
right OF the people to discuss all measures of
their government, and to approve or disapp,ove
as to their best judgment seems right That
they have like right to propose and advocate
that policy which in their judgment is best, and
to argue and vote against whatever policy
eeems to them to violate the Constitution, to
impair their liberties, or to be detrimental to
their welfare.
3 That these and ell other rights, guaran-
teed to them by their constitutions, are their
rights In timeOf war as well as in time oil peace;
aud OF far more value and necessity 10 war than
In peace For in peace liberty, security and
property are seldom endangered; In war, they
are ever 10 peril.
4. That we now say to all whom 1t may con-
cern, not BY way of threat, but calmly and firm.
ly, that we will not surrender these rights, nor
submit to their foTcbe violation We will obey
the laws ourselves, aud all Others must obey
them.
B. That the attempt recited in the preamble
to suppress by force the Democratic newspa-
pers of this city, was an outrage that dema ands
the exemplary punishment of the guilty, a1d
the condemnation of all men. And We call
upon the civil and military authorities to ferret
out the offenders, in order that they may be
proceeded against according to law.
b. That thanks are due, and are hereby ten
dered to Brig Gen. James Cooper for the part
taken by him in suppressing the mob, and for
his timely, manly and noble General Order,
published in this morning's papers of this city .
T. That our thenks are also due and tendere ed
to Captain Albert B. bod, U. S. A., and to the
soldiers under his command, for the part taken
by them in preserving the peace on the night
of the 5th instant, and since.
g. That the city police deserve our thanks for
their exertiobs, on the occasion above referred
to, to preserve the peace.
9. That the Secretary transmit to General
Cooper copy of the above resolution No 6
to Capt. bod copy of resolution No 7, and to
the Chief OF Police copy OF resolution No. 8.
Aiter the adoption of the foregoing preamble
and resolutions, the meeting insisted upon hav-
ing speech from Judge THURMAN. 10 compli.
aucs with the call, he came forward aud spoke
most eloquently and ably in vindicatiou OF the
rights and liberties of the American people,
Judge RANKIN, MAT. MARTIN and Senator JOHN
sroN, were then sucCessivsly called out, and
made capital and telling speeches.
The meeting then adjourned with three timeI
three cheers for the Union, the Constitution, the
enforcement of the Laws, and the observance ol
Order.
OTTO DRESEL, President.
JOHN G. THOMPSON, Secretary.