Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-11

'efn 0n."ih .- ~ ~ @ ''.
The Position of ssthe Bourbon De
mocracy' OF Ohio Endorsed by
the RresIdent'S Message. NJ.
To-day the position of the Democracy OF
Ohio--'the Bourbon Democracy" as they
have been referred to sneeringly--is proud
one-one that they can contemplate with
inefIable satisfaction. On the 2lst OF June
the so-caIled Union party of Ohio met in
State Convention in this city, and NOM
mated their candidates and laid down
their Platform In their first resolution
they gave notice to President JOHNSON
that ain the treatment Of yexed ques-
tionso he should await "the solution Of diff
ficulties to be furnished by the progress of
time and the logic of events" In their es-
tiGation he was pursuing his policy Of re-
organization too vigorously; hence, this
declaration; but for fear that this utterance
might be regarded as obscure, and, fearing,
evilently, that the President should not re-
gard himself as their obedient servant, they
Illuminated through their sixth resolution
the following demand: N-'
seth. That while we are anxious for an
early reconstruction of fraternal relations
with the insurgent States, WE DEMAND THAT
such reconstruction shall be at such time, and
upon such terms, as will give unquestioned
assurance of the peace and security, not
only of loyal people ofthe Rebel States, but
also Of the peace and prosperity OF the Fed
eTal Union" ......... I... -......t-i D.. .
Nothing was said, even inferentially,
about the Necessity of reduction of the ex-
penditures Of the Federal Government, or
about the necessity of equality in taxation.
The manifest object of their Platform was
to discourage the President in his work of
reorganization, and to enforce the idea OF
the elevation Of the freed slaves to politi-
cal equality with the Whites. These were
the only questions that rose into sufficient
Importance to attract their notice. To the
Consultation Of the United States they
deigned no reference. f'
On the oath of August the representatives
of the Ohio Democracy met in State Con-
vention here in Columbus. For ability
and respectability, no political assem-
bIage ever excelled it; and out of that
assemblage committee OF picked men
WIS selected to draft, Platform ex-
pressiVe of the views of the Convention.
Their work was ratified by unanimous
vote of the Convention and by one hundred
and ninety-ttree thousand voters on the
10th OF October. In these two ratifications,
the trainers of the Platform could alone
find d most substantial compliment. True,
they would have found more gratifying sat
isfaction In the election of the candidates
who where placed on that Platform;
but who can measure. their satisfac
tion in view of the incorporation
of its views into. the Presidents Mes
sage as views pre-eminentlv entitled
to the acceptance of the American people,
after they had been repudiated by ma
jority Of thirty thousand OF the voters of
Ohiop That the President has done so is
uhquestionable. He could not have made
the sentiments of his Message harmonize
more fully with the sentiments of that
Platform If he had given to it persistent
study with a view to such harmonization.
That Platform, declares that the Federal
Uaion exists alone by virtue of the
Federal Consultation; the Message asserts
the, same thing. That Platform declares
that the reserved rights Of the States are
ESSENTIAL to- the existence Of Republican
G5gernment and to the Liberties and pros
parity. Of the, people !, the, Message asserts
that nthe maintenance of the Union brings
with it the support OF the State Govern
mefits in an their rights" That Platform
declares in favor of the maintenance Of
State Rights; but nettin the sense they
have been construed by Nullitiers and Sc
cessionists, so does the Message. That
Platform declares "that their ordinances of
Secession being void, the so-called seeding
States are still in the Union as States, and
are, therefore. entitled to all the reserved
rightso of the States; and TO- their due rep
reseatation in Congress and to vote at
future elections OF President and Vice Pres
. ident; and any attempt Of the General
Government, or any department. thereof
to deprive them Of these rights would
be an assault npon the rights OF every
State, In the union, and an effort to over
thrOwilthe Government ordained By the
Cdnstitntion." The argument Of the Mes
sage Is aairhhtory Of this position. In
controvertibly it establishes the position
thaB the Southern Statesare entitled ''to re-
sume their placespin the two branches Of
the National Legislature;;" and, hence, for.
Congress to deny them thisright is "an as
sauItuponthe rights Of every State in the
Unfoh, and an effort to overthrow the Gov
ernmept ordained by the constitntion."
ThlsIs the logic, Of the Message as well as
the-logle ofthe Platform of the Ohio Dem-
ocracy. That Platform declares shat. 10
each State belongs the right to determine
for Itself the qualifications Of IFS electors,
and the General Government cannot, nor
can any depSrtment thereof, interfere, di-
rectly or,indi rectly, with the exercise Of
this right, without a palpRble violation Of
the Constitution, and of the reserved rights
ofsthe States" This Is the doctrine OF the
Message precisely. Itmakes q clinching
argument against Congress meddling with
the question: Of suffrage In any State, That
Platform protests against military rule.
The argument Of the Message is conclusive
against that. sort st off rRIa. That Platform,