The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-31
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOC.
RACY OF OHIO.
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; il
Couutcnances no violation of either. 1t has q
right to all the guarantees of public and pri-
vGtc liberty, and Of property, contained in our
fundamental laws, and it will surrender not
one of them. 1t has the right to discuss pub
JIG 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 right to have its
policy passed upon by the people at peaceahle
and untrammelled elections, and it will main
tain that right. If found in minority it
yields obedience to all lawful rule Of the ma
jority; if it be the majority itself, it claims
that its lawful will bo respected. Whether in
majority or minority, it obeys all laws that
are in force. Those that it dslikes, it seeks
to overthrow, not by violence, but by legiti-
mate repeal. Those that it proposes, it s.cks
to carry not by force but by legal enactment.
Aud what it does in all these respects it de-
mauls, and has right to demand, that all
others shall do. They owe the same obedi-
Unce to the Constitution and the laws that
Democrats owe. They have the same interest
to maintain free government, to protect liber-
~, to be secure in their houses, persons and
property, that Democrats have. 1t is neither
their interest nor ours that despotism or anar-
cby should prevail; and if they wish to avert
both, lc! them sec 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. Thot the will Of the people is the founda.
tiOn 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 10 no wise government.
.. That il 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 their judgment is
best, ana to argue aud vote against whatever
policy seems to them to violate the Copstitu-
ton, to impair their liberties, or to be detri.
mental to their welfare,
s. 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, SO.
cGrity aud property are seldom endangered ;
in war, they are ever in peril.
4. That we now say to oil whom it may con.
ceru, 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, aud all others must
obey them.
5. That there is manifest difference be-
tween the Administration of the Government
ard 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 are
but the agents of the people, subject to their
approval or condemnation, according to the
merit or demerit of their acts.
G That in the exercise of the right to differ
with the Federal Executive, we enter our SOL
emn protest against the proclamation Of the
President of the United States, dated the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred
md sixty.three, by which he assumes to eman.
cipate slaves in certain States holding the same
to be unwise, unconstitutional, and void.
l. That we declare our determined opposi-
ton to system of emanCi patton by the States
upon compensation to be made out of the treas
ury Of the United States, as burdensome upon
the people, unjust in its very nature, and
wholly without warrant of the Constitution.
8. That we declare that the power which
has recently been assumed by the President Of
the United States, whereby under the guise oil
military necessity he has proclaimed and ex
ho ri 1bt tn oi m M
tend-martial law over States where war does
not exist, and has suspended the writ OF habea
corpus, is unwaranted by the Constitution
and its tendency is to subordinate civil to mil
itary authority, and to subyert our system o
free government
0. 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 a desire on the par
Of the seeded States to return to their allegi
ance to the Government of the Union, and il
such event we would cordially and earnestl.
cooperate with them in the restoration o
peace and the procurement of such propc
guarantees as would give security to all thei
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, n natioa's care and dying theyshal
live in our memories, and monuments shall b
raised to teach postority to honor the patriot
and heroes who offered their lives at thei
countrys 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 Constitu
ton and the Union as the best, it may be th
last hope Of popular freedom, AMI for al
wrongs which may have been committed 0
evils which may exist, will seek redress, unde
the Constitution and within the Union, by tn
peaceful but powerful agency of the suffrag"
Of a free people. u.
r. That we hail with pleasure and hope th
manifestations Of conservative sentiment anon
the people Of the Northern States in thei
elections, and regard the same as the earnes
of a good purpose upon their part to cooper
ate with all other loyal citizens in giving sc
curiety to the rights Of every section an
maintaining the Union and the Constitution q
they were ordained by the founders Of tho RI
public.
10. That whenever it becomes practicable
obtain convention of all or Of three fourtl
~ the States, s1ch body should be convene
T n TIE purPasspf proposing such nmtndmen
fio Feieral Constitution ~ eXrerirnce b
he BE- necessary 10 luinrnn that instr
ulaut In the spiIit and meaning intended by il