The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-12
M
10Y THE
OHIO DEMOCRACY.
ADos TED AT
Columbus. June II, Is63.
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
The Democratic party has ever been. an,
Jet Is, a law abiding party. 1t asks notbin,
but Its rights under the Constitution and tn
laws. 1t resorts to no violation of either !
countenances no violation of either. 1t has
right to all guarantees of public aud priyat,
liberty, and OF property, contained in the fun
aamentai laws, and it will surrender not one o
them 1t has the right to discuss publ,
measures, and will discuss them. 1t has tn,
right to propose and advocate that policy whic
1t deems lest for the nation, and it Kill exer-
else thatright. 1t has a right to have its pol
ley passed upon by the people at peaceabls
and untrammeied elections, and it will main
tain that right. IF found in a minority, il
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 ii
is a majority or minority, it obeys AL laws that
arc in forcc. Those that it dislikcs it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by a legiti-
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it seeks
to carry, not by force, but by legal enactment.
And what 1t docs in all these respects, it de-
mands, AID has a right tn demand, that all
Others 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-
t., to be secure in their houses, persons, and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interest 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 ne 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 ~resolv.:
RESOLUTIONS.
1 That the will of the people is the foun.
dation 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 sound judgment without sound Judgment
there can be no wise government.
2. That it is an inherent and constitution
al 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 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 to violate the Constitu-
ton, to impair their liberties, or be detIimen-
tai to their welfare.
3. That these and all ether rights, guaran-
teed to them by their constitutions, are their
rights IN time of war as well asin time of peace;
and offar more value and necessityin war than
IN peace. For IN peace liberty, security and
property are Sc dom endangered in war they
are eEerin peril.
q. That we now say to all whom it may
concern, not by wsy of threat, but calmly and
firmly, that We will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their forcible violation. We
viii obey the laws ourselves, and all others
must obey them.
That there is & 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, aud to it the PEG
pie owe allegiance. The Administrator are
but the agents of the people, subject to their
appr5vai or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts,
{. 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
daysof january, one thousand eight hundred
and sixty three, by whish he assumes to eman-
cipate slaves in certain States, holding TIE
same to be unwise, unconstitutional and void. |
Z. That we declare our determined opposi-
tionrto a system, of emancipation by the States,
upon compensation to be made out of the |
Treasury of the United States, as barthensome
upon the people, unjust In its every nature,
md wholly without warrant of the Constitu
tion. $500 r,f
8. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President
" Oniit0 ObdleS, WaSEcD51 FuuueT SQlSc OF |
u mllitiry necessity, he has proclaimed and
extended-or asserts the right to proclaim or
exteEd-martial law over States where war
does not exist, and has suspended the writ of
hdbeas corpus, is unwarranted by the Constitu-
ton, and its tendency is to subordinate civil
to military authority, and to subyert our free
government.
8. That We deem it proper further to de-
clare that we, together with the truly loyal
HonnIo5 e he - F ~-1-1l 49, -
and delight any manifestations of a desire on
the Fart CT 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
of peace and the procurement of such
proper guarantees as would give security to all
their interests and rights. Il
: 10. That the soldiers composing our arm
les merit the warmest thanks of the nation.-
Their country called aud nobiy did they re-
,pond. Living, they shall know a nation's1
/; wounded, a nations care and dy-
they shall live in our memories, and mon
lments shall be raised to teach posterity to
1enor the patriots and heroes who offered their
ives at their country's altar. Their widows
md orphans shall be adopted by the ration, to
De watched over and cared for as objects truly
Eorthy a nations guardianship
IL. That Ohio will adhere to the Gonsti-
and the Union as the best, it NAV be
he last, hope of popular freedom, aud for all
Vrongs winch may have been committed or
which may exist, will seek redress, under
he Constitution and within the Union, by the
,eaceful but powerful agency of the SURFACES
f a free people. H55
II. That we hail with pleasure and hope
he manifestation of conservative sentiments
mong the people of the Northern States in
heir elections, and regard the same as the
arrest of a good purpose upon their part to
cooperate with all other loyal citizens in Civ
az security to the rights of every section, and
,aintaining the Union and Constitution as
hey were ordained by the foundation of the
f 80 :
.18. That whenever it becomes practicable !
} obtain a Convention of all or three fourths $