Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-22

ResolOed, That the Democratic party is
the personifcstion of the body Of the peo-
ple who, in all ages and all enlightened
countries, have opposed the few that WELD
the Governments, under whatever name,
and by whatever means, to their adVsn-
taza. That on great occasions as well as
small, ths body Of the people means to
deal Justly, and love mercy; and al
though they may not always see, nor pur-
sue the path Of reclitude, they have un-
cessing desire TO return to it under the
guidance Of their own instincts, and the
direction Of the wise and good.
Resolged, That Almighty God has SO or
ganized human nature, and fitted men and
women for society snd governments; thst
the very highest expression Of those in
stitutions is our own free Democratic con-
federste system of sovereign States, united
Voluntarily together, while the very low
est is that OF consolidated military des-
potism over a continent; that we have en-
loved the former by inheritance, for near
ly eighty years, giving US the peace and
| liberty Of q small State, blended with the
strength and stability Of q great nation /;
and we have achieved all our prosperity
| BY aud through these extraordinary, social
and political institutions without respect
to other circumstances.
ResolVsd, That we find ourselves wag-
| ing most horrible war Of sections array
ing one half Of the country against the
other, which has cost us already the fourth
Of our substance, and the 1.-THE Of our
Young men and women, and without any
prospect Of sn end, every day adds fresh
food 10 the flames, till the country is one
sheet Of fire and csrnage-a war brought
on by the long and aggravated course Of
foolish mutual injustice, and by srtful
demagognes seeking their own advantage
over the ruins Of the Constitution, and the
great mass of the people surprised, blt
consenting, without due reflection on itt
inadequate causes, and the clear unoon-
stitutionslity Of coercion. That the tint
has come for the Western States to make
up their minds on all the points of tht
controversy, and if it shall be found ths
it has sprung from ignorance Of our polit
iesl system as we'll as from the schemes O.
those who hate our Governments and thu
mutual reprosches of the South and North
then it becomes their duty to interposs.
ReioIved That the admitted usurpationi
of President Lincoln on the triple plea O
necessity, the war power and the omnipo
tenee Of the Commsnder-in-C Chief, havi
opened our eyes to the merits of the is
sue; aud that we believe it is no defensive
war, as alleged by his followers for self
protection; but on the contrary it is essen
tally sn offensive war upon certain State
which have Withdrawn from the Union
and is, therefore, breach of duty IS vel
as fatal error Of judgment on the part o
the Federal Executive, which should be i'm
mediately corrected by Q change Of Admin
istration, and the prompt interposition o
the States.
ResolUed, That the sovereign State o
Ohio, which is central, powerful aud intel
Hgent, shall take the lead in measures Il
stop the war, BY protesting against it
coHstitutionRlity. That the Democracy
declare, therefore, in this Convention, thei
opinions Of the true theory Of the Fedora
Union, which is undoubtedly a Union o
sovereign States, created By q voluntary
compact, TO which each separate State 40
ceded for herself; and which compact de
pends exclusively on the continuing CON
sent Of each Of the parties to it; and no
upon the consent OF dissent Of any sup
posed constituency Of the whole American
7k = S--ss