M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-08-20
Platform fine Democracy OF
Ohio,
PREAMBLE.

wv - u puiNls IL uehS ho'ilHb
but lis rights under The Constitution and the b
laws. 1t resorts to no violation Of either; .
it cOuntenances no violation of either. 1t /
has right TO all guarantees Of public and !
private liberty, and of property, contained IN .
uuT iundanenta. laws, and il will surrender |
rot one OF them. / has the righ, to discuss |
public measures aud will discuss them 1t /
has the right to propose aud advocate that F.
policy which it deems best for the nation, |
and il will exercise that right. Il has the |
right 10 have llSroicy passed upon by !he /,
people at praceuble and untrumuelrd cleo |
ilyns. aud i viii maint5iu that right. II
'J,nd in ii minority, it yields Obedicnce to
al awful rule Of the majority; il ii be the
maiority itself, Il claims lhatits lawful will
Le respected. Whether in majority or
minority, il obeys all laws that are in force.
These hat it disikrs it seeks to overthrow
not by violence. but by legitimate repeal.
Those that it proposes, it seeks to carry, not
by force, but by legal eneclments. And
" hat it DOES in all these respects, it de-
mdndS AMI has right to demand, that all
others shall do. They owe the same Ubed
fence to the Constitution and tie laws that
Democrats owe. They have The same ill.,
crest 10 maintain free government, to pro-
tecI liberty, to be secure in their houses,
persons aud property, that Democrats have.
1t is neither their interest nor ours that des-
potl.m or anarchy should prevail; aud il they
wish TO avert both, let them see 10 it in time
that they give no occasion Tor either. We
will 10 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
foundation OF all free governments. That
80 give effect TO this will, free thought Tree
speech and fee press are absolutely indis-
pcusabe. Without Tree discussion there is
no certainty OF sound judgment; without
sound judgment there can be nc wise gov
emment.
Q. That it is an inherent and constitu-
tionaI right of the people to discuss all mea-
sures OF their Government, aud to approve
o. dIsapprove, as to their best judgment
seems light. That they have a rightio pro-
rose and advocate that policy which IN their
judgment is best, and to argue and vote
against whatever policy seems to them to
violate the Constitution, to impair their lib
critics, or be detrimental TO their welfare.
3. That these and all other rights, guar
antsrd TO Them by their constitutions, are
their rights in time Ofwar as well as in time
oil peace; and OF far more value aud neCessi-
ty in war than in peace. Forin peace liber-
ty, security and property are seldom endan
gered; in war they are ever IN peril.
1. That we now say to d whom it may
Conrern, not by way of threat, but calmly
and firmly, that we will not surrender these
rights nos submit to their forcibe violation
We will obey the laws, ourselves, and all
others must obey them.
g. That there is manifest difference be
tween the Administration OF the Govern.
nenL aud the Government itself. The Gov
eminent consists of civil and political insti
tutons created by the Constitution, and to
it the people owe allegiance. The Admins
latiun are but the agents OF The people.
subject to their approval or condemnation
according 10 the meIit or demerit OF their
acts,
g. That in the exercise of the right to
diher with the Federal Executive, we enter
U1r solemn protest against The proclamation
1T The President of the United States, uated
;he fist day OF January one thousand eight
hundred and sixty three by which he as.
sumts to emancipate slaves in certain
States, holding the same to be unwise un-
constitutional and void.
2. That we declare our determined op-
position 70 a system of emanCi patton by The
States. upon compensation to be made out
of the Treasury oil the United States. as
burdsnsome upon the people, unjust in its
very nature, and wholly without warrant Of
the Constitution.
s. That We declare that the power which
has recently been assumed By the President
Of lh- Uuit1d States, whereby, under guise
Of military necessity, he has proclaimed and
ext.uded--Or asserts the right to proclaim
or extend martial law over States where
war does not exist, and has suspended the
writ JfHABEAs CORPUS, is unwananted by
the Constitution, and its tendency is to sub
ordinate civil to military authoriy, aud to
subvert our system of free government.
9. That we deem it proper further TO de.
clair that we, tcgalh with the truly loyal
people of the States, would hail with pleas
uce and teIgh. any manifestations OF de.
sire on the part ot the seeded States to re-
turn o 'heir allegiance to the Government
of he UuJn, and in such event we would
codiaily aud earnestly cooperate with them
ia the resurllion OF peace and the procure
meul q sucl proper guarantees as would
give security TO all their interests and
rights.
TO- That the soldiers composing our ar
mics merit the warmest thanks of the ma.
tion. The country called and nobly did
they respond. Living, they shall know a na-
tioi gratitude, wounted, a nation 3 care
aud dying they shall live in our memories;
aud monuments shall be raised to teach pos.
terity 10 honor the patriots and heroes who
offered their lives at their country's aIter.--
Their widows AMI orphans s1al be adopted
by the nation, TO he watched over and cared
ioras objects truly worthy nations guard
iaHship.
II. That Ohio will adhere to the Con.
stilution and the Union as the best, it may
be The last, hope of popular freedom, and for
b. wrongs which may have been committed
Or evils which may exist, will seek redress
uufcr he Constitution and within the Uni
on, BY the yeacrfu. but powerful agency OF
the sudIages Of Tree people.
I2 T6atwe hail with pleasure and hope
tho i"as''e,i1tiuns Of The conservative SEN
tim.ut among tie Northern States IN their
rI..fig..e eug record tho eoroa nj ,Lo a.,