The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-19
PLATFORM OF THE DEtOC.
RACY OF OHIO.
PREAMBLE.

PREAMBLE.
The Democratic party has ever been, and
yet is, o Jaw abiding party. 1t asks nothing
but its rights uEder the Constitution and the
laws. 1t resorts to nd violation of either; il
cOuntenances no violation of ether. 1t has a
right to all the guarantees of public Ind pri-
vate liberty, and Of property, contained il 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 policy
which it deems best for the nation, and it will
exercise that right. 1t has o right to have its
policy passed upon by the people Mt peaceable
and untrammelled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in q minority it
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 in
o majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
ara in force. Those that it dislikes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by legiti-
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it eks
to carry not by force but by legal enactment.
And what it does in all these respects, it de.
mands, and has right to demand, that all
others shall do. They owe the same obed-
euce 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 despotism or auar-
oily 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
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.
@ That it is an inherent and Constitutional
right of the people to discuss all measures of
their government, and TO approve or disap-
prove rs 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
tion, 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 we'll as in time Of
peace; and of far more value and necessity in
war than in peace. For in peace liberty, &C.
osrity and property are seldom endangered
in war, they are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may con.
Germ, 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 oil others mus
obey them.
s. 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, and to it the peo
pie owe allegiance. The Administration arr
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 ditfeI
with the Federal Executive, we enter our sol
emn protest against the proclamation Of tn
President of the United States, dated the frs
day of January, one thousand eight hundre
and sixty three, by which he ASSUMES to eman
cipate slaves in certain States holding the sam
to be upwiss, unconstitutional, and void.
7. That We declare our determined opposi
ton to system OF emancipation by the States
upon compensation to be mads out of the treas
ury of the United States, as burdensome upoI
the people, unjust in its very nature, an
wholly without warrant of the Constitution
s. That we declare that the power whicl
has recently been assumed by the President o
the United States, whereby under the guise o
military necessity he has proclaimed and ex
tended-or asserts the right to proclaim or ex
tend-martial law over States where war doe
not exist, and has suspended the writ of habeO
corpus, is unwarranted by the Constitution
and its tendency is to subordinate civil to mil
itary authority, and to subvert our system O
free government.
Q. That we deem it proper further to declar
that we, together with the truly loyal peopl
Of the State, would hail with pleasure and de
light any manifestations of desire on the par
OF the seeded States to return to their allegi
ance to the Government Of the Union, and i
such event we would cordially and earnestl
cooperate with them in the restoration 0
peace and the procurement of such propc
guarantees as would give security to ali thel
interests and rights.
10. That the soldiers composing our armie
merit the warmest thanks Of the nation. Thei
country called and nobly did they respond
Living, they shall know q nations gratitude
wounded, natioa's care and dying, they shal
m NM nd go holI
raised to teach posterity to honor the patriot
and heroes who offered their lives at the
country's altar. Their widows and orphan
shall be adopted by the nation, to be watche
over and cared for as objects truly worthy
nations guardianship.
II. That Ohio will adhere to the Constitr
ton and the Union as the best, it may be ii
last hope Of popular freedom, AMI for q
wrongs which may have been committed {
evils which may exist, will seek redress, und
the Constitution and within the Union, by Il
peaceful but powerful agency Of the suffrag
Of free people.
IL. That we hail with pleasure and hope Il
manifestations Of conservative sentiment amor
the people Of the Northern States in the
elections, and regard the same as the earne
Of o good purpose upon their part to co-ope
ate with all other loyal citizens in giving 8
curiety to the rights of every section ar
maintaining the Union and the Constitution
they were ordained by the founders Of the R
public. ,..
18. That whenever 1t becomes practicable
obtain q convention of all or Of three fourt
OF the States, such body should be conven
for the purpose Of proposing such amendmer
to the Federal Constitution as experience b
proved to be necessary to maintain that instr
ment in the spirit and meaning intended by
founders, and to provide against future convr
siops and wars,