The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-10-04
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,
ADOPTED By THE
Democratic State Convention
HELD IN
Columbus, August "a, 1865.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REsoLU-
TIONS.
the Committee on Resolutions, submitted
the following Report, which was unani-
mously adopted by the Convention:
l. ResolDed, That the Federal Gov
ernment exists only by virtue of the Fed
eral Constitution, and possesses no powers
not granted by that instrument.
2. ResoIred, That the experience of
the last four years has demonstrated, in
an eminent degree, the wisdom of our
forefathers in insisting upon 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.
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
a consolidation of all power in the hands
of the Federal Governmental inevita-
BILE consequences of which would be to
make that Government the most despOtic,
corrupt and oppressive in the world.
4. Resokred, 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.
5. Resolued, 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 assault upon the rights ofevery
State in the Union, and an effort to over
throw the Government ordained by the
Constitution.
6. ResoEued, That to each State belong
the right to determine for itself the quail
ifcations of its electors, and the General
Government cannot, nor can any depart
ment thereof, interfere. directly or indi-
rectly, with the exercise of this right,
without palpable violation of the Con-
stitution, and of thereserved rights of the
States.
z. Resoloed, 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 their
safety or protection. On the contrary,
its exercise by them, if attempted, would
be fraught with terrible calamities to both
them and the whites. We are, therefore
unequivocally opposed to Negro Suf-
| frages
s. Resozucd, That the experience Of
1000 years has demonstrated that negroes
are not equal to white men; and all at
tempts to place them On footing ofequal
ity, politically and socially, with the
whites, ever have proved, and ever viii
prove failures; and all such attempts eyel
have proved, and ever will prove, injuri
GUS to both races.
8. Resolred, That this Government wa
made by white men, and so far as we hav'
the power to preserve it, it shall continue
to be Government of white men.
i 10. ResolUed, That under the rule o
AbolitionIsm, and especially under th
recent 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
Dor, and the people against negro pauper
ism, it is the duty of the Legislature t
discourage negro emigration into ou
State.
II. ResolUed, That the war havin
ceased, it is the duty of the Governments
State and Federal, and of every citizen;t
strive to heal the wounds inflicted by il
and to bring about fraternal feeling be
tween the people Of the different section
of the Republic.
: IL. RESOLVED, That the valor and fol
titude of our troops have never been sui
passed, and their patriotic devotion to thel
country con never be obliterated from ou
Il y
memories.
Il 13. Resoloed, That we regard a n;
tional debt as national curse, ,and in vie
of our immense debts, Federal and Stat,
and of the enormous expenditures of ou
: Federal and State Governments, we de
/ mand an exercise of the most rigid ecor
I tomy by both; that all taxation by eitht
!. shall be perfectly fair and equitable; thi
y public expenditure shall be reduced to tt
lowest peace standard consistent with tt
public safety; that useless offices, civ
and military, shall be abolished, and III
= necessary officers dispensed with; and TIL
= the Tariff and Internal Revenue laws sha
: be reduced to the exact revenue poi
j sufficient for the Government, econom
ieally and honestly administered.
a. RcsotUed, That we most explicit
: condemn the policy of the party in pow
:. in creating thousands of millions of Go
= ernment stocks, and attempting to exho
:. crate the holders thereof from all oblig
i tion to pay their just proportion of tax
for the support of the States in whi'
they reside, and thereby creating an od
. GUS and privileged moneyed aristocrac