Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-13
lRroR the 81, piairSvilis easetto.l
Democratic Festival at ST. ClairsvilIei
Ohio.

DohVOiVuo CooNNM w =" N'S'A"N'
Ohio.
In obedience to the call contained in last
weeks paper, some two hundred guests sat
down TO sumptuous table spread by the pro-
prietors of the National Hotel, at 8 O'Clock p.
M, ON the evening Of March 4th. Every town
ship In the county was represented, and large
number from abroad, including many dlstin-
guished citizens of Virginia In the olden times,
were present. Old gray-hairsd men Of eighty
years rode twenty miles over frozen roads to
meet their fellow Democrats, perhaps, for the
last time, In consultation. Good humor pre-
vailed, and all were of one mind. All were
surprised at 80 large q number being present,
as il was only expected to be local meeting
on account of the almost impossible condition
Of the roads.
The repast being finished, Capt. John H.
Heaton, Chairman of the committee of Ar
rangements, announced as President OF the
evening the Hon. William KennoD, Jr.
Upon taking the chair, at the head of one Of
the tables, Mr.. Kennon arose amidst tumutu
Gus applause, 10 thank bis friends for the com.
pliment. He continued his remarks at some
length, and was frequently interrupted by ap-
pause, which was altogether uproarous when
he referred to the spirit of stern resistance that
was rising In every Democratic breast against
/ the unconstitutional and infamous laws Of the
present Congress, and the cruel tyranny of the
Executive.
| The Secretary then, in obedience to the pro-
gramme of the committee of Arrangements,
read the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, IL is the privilege and the duty
of free people, living under the guarantees of o
written Constitution, which contains the provis-
ions of an organic law with the great principles
Of freedom and fraternity to frankly and fearless
ly assert their rights to freely canvass the acts
Of their appointed servants and to reaffirm the
great trusts which underlie the Government,
and upon which for three quarters of q century
have securely rested the liberties OF the people,
and which we had fondiy hoped would lsst for
ever; and
WHEREAS, There can be no liberty where
there is no freedom Of speech, and freedom OF
the press, and these being orr ancient cOnstituS
tional rights, which have ever been enjoyed In
every house, cottage and cabin in the Confede.
racy, VIC will not now suffer them to be stricken
down or drawn into controversy. These righte,
In the language of Daniel Webster, belong to
private life and to public life, and we will de
fend and exercise them in all places-in times
Of war and in times of peacs-liviDg we will
assert them-dying we will assert them; and
should we leave no other legacy 10 our children,
by the blessing of God we will leave them the
inheritance of free principles, and the exercise
of manly, independent constitutional defense
of them; and
WHEREAS, The present Administration has
for two years endeavored by means moet foul to
muzzle the press and to put gags into the mouths
OF our people, that those in power might escaps
q Just and merited condemnation OF their crimes
against free people, and against the Consti-
tuition and laws which they were sworn to pre-
serve, protect and defend; therefore,
l. Resolued, That q change In the admins
trative policy of the Federal Government is
imperatively demanded, If the people would &C.
cure their liberties, and restoration of their
Constitutional rights and re-establishment of
the Union upon the only basis upon which it
can permanently rect for ages to come, to. wit:
frsternal sentiment and feeling. It is a fact
we'll known by all mem whose opinious are to
be regarded with the least degree of respect.
and proved by the history of the last two wears.
that the Union of the Constitution can never
be restored by conquest and subjugation. 1t is
therefore OF the first importance that the peo.
pie should initiate at once some plan to restore
the Union and stop the bloody hand of War
which is now desolatng the fairest portions of
our once happy land, and strewng it's bosom
with the bones of our murdered fellow. citizeus
| 2. Resolued, That the assertion contained in
the message of the President of the United
States of July 4th. 1861, that the Estates were
created by the Union," and consequently nv
the Federal Government, contains a doctrine
not warranted by any thing in the Constitution
of the United States, contrary to the plajnest
historical facts and the clearest deductions OF
reason, and leads directly to the overthrow of
our beautiful federal system of Government
and the erection upon Its ruins of central con-
solidated despotism, and ultimately 10 the loss
of liberty itself
g. Resolued, That the President by bis uu-
lawful suspension OF the right to the great writ
of liberty-the habeas corpus, by his arrest of
American citizens, and Transporting them to
distant and loathsome prisons, without charge
or accusation, and subjecting them to the most
inhuman treatment, endangering both life and
health, and by requiring of the persons thus
held as condition of their release, test oaths
both arbitrary and illegal, and which are always
odious to freemen, has proved himself not only
o usurper but tyrant, and unfit to preside over
free people.
4. RESOLVED, That the Republican majority of
the 37th Congress, which will this day expire,
has proved themselves the ready tools of q
usurping Administration, by giving the form
and force Of law to all the edicis Of arbitrary
power, and have betrayed the liberties of the
people into the hands of tyrants. They have
sat in the Senate chamber and House of Rep
resentatives and witnessed the Constitution Of
the country overthrown-the rights of the peo.
pie cloven down, and deprived of their dearest
liberties, and have sustained the power that did
1t. And for these things they deserve and
should receive the lasting execrations of the
whole country.
5. Resolved, That no free Government can
exist among men without q separation of the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial function of
government into different departments--e
Independents of the other, in its own spheres;
and in order to maintain this separation an ex-
act balance 10 always necessary between these
departments. Therefore, in q we'll adjusted
government like that established by our Fed.
eral Constitution, he who, holding one of theae
departments In his hands, seeks TO disturb the
equipoise Of the system, by grasping the power
that belongs to the others, may be known, no
matter what are his sprofeasions, to be an enemy
TO liberty regulated by law, and must certainly
be despot and tyrant OF heart, and will soon
strike down the Liberties Of bis country and
erect upon its ruins the throne of his dss.
potism.
6. Resolced, That the Conscript bill recently
introduced into the Senate of the United States
by Senator Wilson Of Massachusetts,, and pass
ed into law by Congress, is eubversive OF the
sovereignty and rights Of the States, and de-
signed to make them mere dependencies upon
the Federal Government: unconstitutional in
It's provisions and dangerous to the liberties of