The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-24
PLATFORM OF CHE DEMOC-
RACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
The Democratic party has ever been, and
yet is, law abiding party. 1t asks nothing
but its rights under the Constitution and the
laws. 1t resorts to no violation of either; 1t
countenances no violation of either. 1t has
right to all the guarantees Of public and pri-
vate liberty, and of property, contained IN our
fundamental laws, and 1t 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 policy
which it deems best for the nation, and it will
exercise that right. 1t has a right to have Its
policy passed upon by the people at peaceable
and untrammelled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in minority it
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
q majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in force. Those that it dislikes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence but by legiti-
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it seeks
to carry not by force but by legal enactment
And what it does in all these respects, tide
mands, and has right to demand, that all
Others shall do. They owe the same obedi-
ence to the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect liber-
ty, to be secure in their houses, persons and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interest nor ours that despotsm or anar-
ehy 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.
l. 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 can be no wise government,
.. That it is an inherent and Constitutional
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 like right to propose and ad-
vocate that policy which in theit judgment is
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.
g. That these and all other rights guaran-
teed TO them by their Constitutions, are their
rights in time Of war as well as in time Of
peace and Of far more value and necessity in
war than in peace. For in peace liberty, se'
carity and property are seldom endangered
in war, they are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may CON
cern, noe by way Of threat, but calmly an(
firmly, that we will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their forcible violation. We viii
obey the laws ourselves, and all others mus
obey them.
5. That there is n manifest difference be
tween the Administration of the Government
and the Government itself The GOvernmen
consists Of the civil and political institution
created by the Constitution, and to it the peo
pie owe allegiance. The Administration ART
but the agents of the people, subject to theil
approval or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
6 That in the exercise of the right to differ
with the Federal Executive, we enter our sol
emn protest against the proclamation Of thu
President of the United States, dated the frs
day of January, one thousand eight hundreC
and sixty-three, by which he assumes to eman
cipate slaves in certain States holding the sam
to be unwse, unconstitutional, and vsid.
I. That we declare our determined oppOsi
ton to system Of mancipation by the State
upon compensation to be made out Of the treas
ury of the United States, as burdensome upo
the people, unjust in its very nature, an
wholly without warrant of the Constitution.
g. That We declare that the power whic
has recently been assumed by the President Q
the United States, whereby under the guise q
military necessity he has proclaimed and ez
tended--Or asserts the right to proclaim or eS
tend-martal law over States where war doe
not exist and has suspended the writ of habet
corpus is unwarranted by the Constitution
and its tendency is TO subordinate civil to mi
itary authority, and to subvert our system (
free government
o. That we deem it proper further to declal
that we, together with the truly loyal peop
Of the State, would hail with pleasure and d
light any manifestations Of desire on the pa
of the seeded States to return to their alleg
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 all the
interests and rights,
10. That the soldiers composing our armi
merit the warmest thanks Of the nation. The
country called and nObly did they respond
Living, they shall know nations gratitude
wounded, u natioa's care; and dying, they sha
live in our memories, and monuments shall
raised to teach posterity to honor the patrio
and heroes who offered their lives at the
cOuntry's altar. Their widows and orpha
shall be adopted by the nation, to be watch
over and cared for as objects truly worthy
nation's guardianship.
H. That Ohio win adhere to the Constit
ton and the Union as the best, it may be t
last hope Of popular freedom, AMI for
wrongs which may have been committed
evils which may exist, will seek redress, und
the Constitution and within the Union, by t
peaceful but powerful agency of the sutfraG
Of free people
IL That We hail with pleasure and hope
mauifestatcnso Of conservative sentiment amo
the people Of the Northern States in thu
elections, and regard the same as the earnt
of y good purpose upon their part to co-opt
ate with all other loyal citizens in giving :
curiety to the rights of every section a
maintaining the Union aud the Constitution
they were ordained by the founders of the
public.
l3 That whenever it becomes practicable
obtain convention Of all or Of three fourt
Of the States, such body should be conven
frthe purpose Of proposing such amendme'
pfbe Federal Constitution as experience
hged 20 be necessary to mlintain that insti
Enent in the spirit aud meaning intended by