The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-13
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,
ADOPTED BY THE
Democratic State Convention
HELD IN
Columbus, August a. 1865

Columbus, August a. 1865.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ,RESoLU-
TIoNs. h. .agHss less.
Hon. A. G. THURMAN, Chairman of
the Committee on Resolutions, submitted
the following Report, which was unani-
mously adopted by the Convention.
l.. Resozued, That the Federal Gov
ernment exists only by virtue of the Fed
eral Constitution, and possesses no powers
not granted by that instrument. glseg
2. Resolued, That the experience of
the last four years has demonstrated, in
an eminent degree, the wisdom of our
forefathers in insisting upon a strict con-
struction of the Federal Constitution; and
we utterly abhor the sophistry by which
violations, the most plain and palpable, of
the letter and spirit Of that instrument,
have been and are defended, r
3. Resolred, That the reserved rights
of the States are essential to the existence
of a Republican Government, and to the
liberties and prosperity of the people, and
we are, therefore, unalterably opposed to
consolidation of all power in the hands
| of the Federal Government-the inevita-
BILE consequences of which would be to
make that Government the most despotic,
corrupt and oppressive in the world.
4. Resolred, That the Democracy of
Ohio will maintain and defend, as they
have always heretofore done, as essential
to the existence of our Federal system of
government, the true doctrine Of State
Rights--not notification, not secession
but the theory of that system as laid down
in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions
of 1898, as interpreted by their authors;
the one by Madison in his solemn, official,
Inaugural of 1901. = ,.1 s. ese
s., Resolred, That, their ordinances of
secession being void, the so-called seced-
ing States are still in the Union as States,
and are, therefore, entitled to all the re-
served rights of the States, and to their
due representation in Congress; and to
vote at future elections of President and
Vice President; and any attempt of the
General Government, or any department
thereof, to deprive them of these rights,
would be an assultupon the rights of every
State in the Union, and an effort to over
throw the Government ordained by the
Constitution.
| 6. Resolced, That toeacb State belong
the right to determine for itself the quail
| i6cations of its electors, and the General
Government cannot, nor can any depart
ment thereof, interfere, directly OF indi-
rectly, with the exercise of this right,
without palpable violation of the Con-
stitution, and of thoreserved rights of the
States.
z. Resosoed, That the effort now being
made, to confer the right of suffrage upon
negroes, is an insidious attempt to over
throw popular institutions by bringing
the right to vote into disgrace. That the
negroes are not competent to the exercise
of that right, nor is it necessary to theil
safety or protection. On the contrary
its exercise by them, if attempted, would
be fraught with terrible calamities to botf
them and the whites. We are, therefore
unequivocally opposed to Negro Suf
frage, Iaa -, ....isr1 ..i.-.fF
4, 900 years has demonstrated that negroe,
are not equal to white men; and all at
! tempts to place them en- a footing ofequal
lity, politically and socially, with ,th
whites, ever have, proved, and ever will
| prove. failures; and all such attempts. eve
have proved, and ever will prove, injuri
lous to both races. -
+ 9. Resolped, That this Government wa
made by white men, and so far as we hav
1.-THE power, to preserve it, it shall continu
Ito be Government of white men.
/ 10. Resolued, That under the rule o
] IAbolitionlsm, and especially under tn
lrecent military orders in Kentucky, tn
emigration Of negroes into Ohio is
| growing evil, and in order that white la
Dor should be protected against negro la
Ebor, and the people against negro pauper
Iism, it is the duty of the Legislature
discourage negro emigration into ou
lState. s.
II. Resolred, That the war havin
ceased, it is the duty of the Governments
Estate and Federal, and of every citizen,t
strive. to heal the wounds inflicted by i
] and to bring about fraternal feeling be
tween the people of the different section
of the Republic.
IL. Resolved, That the valor and fol
E titude of our troops have never been SUI
passed and their patriotic devotion to the
!. country con never be obliterated from OF
memories. sb .sr}i5 p E'gsh a
13. Reso1oed, That we. regard n;
: tional debt as a national curse and in vie
, of our immense debts, Federal and Stat
and of the enormous expenditures of 0,
: Federal and State Governments, We d.
Q mand an exercise of the most rigid ecol
y omy by both; that all taxation by eth
y shall be perfectly fair and equitable; tn
Y public expenditure shall be reduced to Il
" lowest peace standard consistent with Il
y public safety; that useless Offices, civ
y and military, shall be abolished, and u
. necessary officers dispensed with; and tn
% the Tariff and Internal Revenue laws sh;
. be reduced to the exact revenue pei
. sufficient for the Government, econon
= ieally and honestly administered.
~ IA. lReselved, That1we most explicit
5 condemn. the policy of the party in pow
~ in creating thousands of millions of Go
/ -Ilernment stocks, aud attempting to exho
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