The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-26
NJ
-oy THE
CHIC DEMOCRACY.
ADOPTED AT
Columbus, june H, 1868.
PREAMBLE.

nv OnGLA ~ dlU III
laws. 1t resorts to no violation of either i
countenances no violation of either. 1t has
right to all guarantees of public and private
liberty, and OF property, contained in the fun
damental laws, and it will surrender not one o.
them. 1t has the right to discuss public
measures, and will discuss them. 1t has-tht
right to propose and advocate that policy whic
it deems hest for the nation, and it will exer-
else that right. 1t has a right to have its pol
icJ passed upon by the people at peaceable
and untrammeled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in a minority, il
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 ii
is a majority or minority, it obeys all laws tina;
are in force. Those that it dislikes it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by a Iegiti
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it seeks
to carry, not by force. but by legal enactment
And what it docs in all these respects, it de.
mands, and has a right to demand, that all
cnce to the Constitution and the laws as the
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect hber-
ty, to be secure in their houses, persons, and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interes. nor ours that despotism or an
archy 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 foun-
dation of all free government. That TO give
effect 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.
2. That it is an inherent aud constitution
al right of the people to discuss all measures
of their Government, and to approve or disap-
grove, as to their best judgment seems right
Rhat they have a right to propose and advo-
cate that policy which in their Judgment is
best, and to argue and vote against whatever
policy seems to them TO violate the Constitu-
tioa, to impair their liberties, or be detlimen-
aAl TO their welfare.
B.. That these and all other rights, guaran-
ices 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, security and
property are dom endangered in war they
are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to all whom it may
concern, not by way of threat, but calmly and
firmly, that we will not surrender these rights
nor submit to their forcible violation. We
will obey the laws ourselves, and all others
must obey them.
5. That there is q manifest difference be-
tween the Administrations of the Government
and the Government itself. The Government
consists of the civil and political institutions
created by the Constitution, and to it the PEG
pie owe allegiance. The Administrator are
but the agents of the people, subject to their
approval or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
6. That in the exercise of the right to diff
fer with the Federal Executive, we enter our
solemn protest against the Proclamation of the
President of the United States, dated the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred
and sixty three, by which he assumes to emau-
cipate slaves in certain States, holding the
same to be unwise, unconstitutional and void.
Z. That we declare our determined opposi-
ton to a system of emancipation by the States,
upon compensation to be made out of the
Treasury of the United States, as burthensome
spon the people, unjust in its every nature,
md wholly without warrant of the Constitu
tion.
g.. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President
of the United States, whereby, under guise Of
a military necessity, he has proclaimed and
extended-or asserts the right to proclaim or
exteId-martial law over States where war
does not exist, and has suspended the writ of
habeds corpus, is unwarranted by the Constitu-
ton, and its tendency is to subordinate civil
to military authority, and to subvert our free
government.
9. That VIC deem it proper further to de-
clare that we, together with the truly loyal
people of the State, would hail with pleasure
and delight any manifestations of a desire on
the cart Of the seeded States to return to
their allegiance to the Government of the
Union, and in such event we would cordially
and earnestly cooperate with them in tie res
~toration of peace and the procurement of such
proper guarantees as would give security to all
their interests and rights.
10. That the soldiers composing our-arm-
les merit the warmest thanks of the nation
Their country called and nobly did they re-
spond. Living, they shall know a nations
gratitude wounded, a nations care and dy-
ing they shall live in our memories, and mon
shall be raised to teach posterity to
honor TIE patriots and heroes who offered their
lives at their eountry's altar. Their widows
and orphans shall be adopted by the nation, to
watched over and cared for as objects truly
worthy a nations guardianship.
IL. That Ohio will adhere to the Consti-
tuition and the Union as the best, it NAV be
the last, hope of popular freedom, and for all
wrongs winch may have been committed or
evils which may exist, will seek redress, under
the Constitution and within the Union, by the
peaceful but powerful agency of the SURFACES
Of a free people.
az. That we hail with pleasure and hope
the manifestation of conservative sentiments
among the people of the Northern States in
heir elections, and regard the same as the
earnest of a good purpose upon their part to
with all other loyal citizens in Civ
ng security to the rights of every section, and
maintaining the Union and Constitution as
hey were ordained by the foundation Of the
Republic.
13. That whenever it becomes practicable
% obtaie a Convention of all or three fourths
the States, such body should be convened
for tho purpose of proposing such amendments
o the Federal Constitution as experience has
proved to be necessary to maintain that %instru-