The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-09-18
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOC'
RACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
Tho Democratic party has ever been, ana
vet is, q law abiding party. II asks notnlng
but its rights under the Constitution and tne
laws. 1t resorts to no violation OF either; II
couutenanoes no violation Of either. II has q
right to all the guarantees Of public and pri'
vste 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 pohoy
which it deems best for the nation, and 1t Will
exercise that right. 1t has right to have Its
policy passed upon by the people at peaceaole
and untrammelled elections, and 1t Will mann
tain that right. If found in minority II
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
maiority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in iorce. Those that it dislikes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by legti-
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it seeks
to carry not by force but by legal enactment.
And what 1t does in all these respects, it de-
mands, and has right to demand, that all
others shall do They owe the same obedi-
epce to the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect hber.
ty."fo be secure in their houses, persons and
property, that Democrats have. II is neither
their interest nor OURS that despotsm 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.
1, 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 con be no wise government.
Q. That it is an inherent and Constitutional
right of the people to discuss oil measures Of
their government, and TO approve or dlsap'
prove as to their best Judgment seems right
That they have like right to propose and ad
yocate that policy which in their Judgment IL
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.
8. That these and all other rights, guaran
teed to them by their Constitutions are theIl
rights in time of war as well as IN time o.
peace; and of far more value and necessity IL
war than in peace. For in peace liberty, Sc
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 ant
firmly, that we will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their fOrcible violation. We will
obey the laws ourselves, and all others mus
obey them.
6. That there is manifest difference be
tween the Administration of the GoVernmel
and the Government itself The Goyernmer
consists of the civil and political Institution
created by the Constitution, and to 1t the peo
ple owe allegiance The Administration ar
but the agents of the people, subject to thei
approval or condemnation, according to tn
merit or demerit Of their acts.
That in the exercise Of the right to dlte
with the Federal Executive, we enter our sol
emn protest against the proclamation OF tn
President of the United States, dated the mrs
day Of january, one thousand eight hundre
and sixty. three, by which he assumes to emar
oipate slaves in certain States holding the sau
to be unwise, unconstitutional, and void
7, That we declare our determined oppos
ton to q system of emancipation by the State
upon compensation to be made out OF the trea
ury Of the United States, as burdensome upo
the people, unjust in its very nature, al
wholly without warrant OF the Consutuuon.
8. That we declare that the power WhlC
has recently been assumed by the President
the United States, whereby under the gulse
military necessity he has proclaimed ana e!
tended-or asserts the right to proclaim or e.
Il L., kafa uhn wn
not exist, and has suspended the writ Of hGbe
corpus, is unwarranted by the Constitutio
and its tendency is to subordinate civil to M
itary authority, and to subyert our system
free government.
9. That we deem il proper further to decla
that We, together with the truly loyal peol
of the State, would hail with pleasure and d
light any manifestations Of q desire on the ps
of the seeded States to return to their allel
ance to the Government Of the Union, and
such event we would cordially and earnest
cooperate with them in the restoration
peace and the procurement Of such prop
guarantees as would give security to oil tht
interests and rights.
TO- That the soldiers composing our arm
merit the Warmest thanks of the nation. TIL
country called and nobly did they respond
Living, they shall know a nations gratituc
wounded, a natioHs care ; and dying, they sh
live in our memories, and monuments shall
raised to teach posterity to honor the patri
and heroes who offered their lives at tn
sountry's altar. Their widows and Orpht
shall be adopted by the nation, to be Watci
over and cared for as objects truly worth
nations guardianship. -.
II. That Ohio will adhere to the COnstl
ton and the Union as the best, 1t may be
last hope Of popular freedom, AMI for
wrongs which may have been committed
evils which may exist, will seek redress, un
the Constitution and within the Union, by
4. peaceful but powerful agency u the sutfra
of free people.
IL. That we hail with pleasure and hope
manifestations Of conservative resentment am
the people of the Northern States in II
elections, and regard the same as the carr
of a good purpose upon their part to co-oI
ate with oil other loyal citizens in giving
curiety to the rights Of every section
maintaining the Union and the Constitution
they were ordained by the founders Of the
public. =,
13. That whenever it becomes practiOabl
obtain convention Of all or Of three'foui
Of the States, such body should be conve
for the purpose Of proposing such amendm'
10 the Federal Constitution as experience
proved to be necessary to maintain that ins
asnt ia the spirit and meaning intended b.