The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-27
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
ADOPTED BY THE
Democratic State Convention
HELD IN
Columbus, August "a, 1865.
HELD IN

| REPORI OF The CONMlTTEE UN 6ESOLU-
TIoNs.
Hon. A. G. THURMAN, Chairman of
the Committee on Resolutions, submitted
the following Report, which was unani-
mously adopted by the Convention:
1. Resolued, That the Federal Gov
ernment exists only by virtue of the Fed
eral Constitution, and possesses no powers
not granted by that instrument.
! 2. ResoIUed, That the experience of
the last four years has demonstrated, in
an eminent degree, the wisdom of our
forefathers in insisting upon strict con-
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. ResoZued, That the reserved rights
of the States are essential to the existence
of 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 Government-the inevita
BILE consequences of which would be to
make that Government the most despOtic,
corrupt and oppressive in the world.
| 4. ResoEUed, 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.
s. Rcsozced, 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 of every
State in the Union, and an effort to over
throw the Government ordained by the
Constitution.
6. Resolved, 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. Resozced, 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-
frage.
8. Resozued, 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 will
prove failures; and all such attempts ever
have proved, and ever will prove, injuri
Gus to both races.
9. Resolced, That this Government was
made by white men, and so far as we have
the power to preserve it, it shall continue
to be a Government of white men.
TO- Resolued, That under the rule Of
Abolitionlsm, and especially under the
recent military orders in Kentucky, the
emigration Of negroes into Ohio is a
growing evil, and in order that white Ia
Dor should be protected against negro la
Dor, and the people against negro pauper
ism, it is the duty of the Legislature to
discourage negro emigration into our
State.
IL. ResolUed, That the war having
ceased, it is the duty of the Governments,
State and Federal, and of every citizen,to
strive to heal the wounds inflicted by it;
and to bring about fraternal feeling be-
tween the people of the different sections
of the Republic.
H. Resolped, That the valor and for
titdde of our troops have never been sur
passed ,and their patriotic devotion to their
country con never be obliterated from our
memories.
| 49, ResozUed, That we regard ma
tional debt as a national curse, and in view
of our immense debts, Federal and State,
and of the enormous expenditures of our
Federal and State Governments, we de-
mand an exercise Of the most rigid econ
omy by both; that all taxation by either
shall be perfectly fair and equitable; that
public expenditure shall be reduced to the
lowest peace standard consistent with the
public safety; that useless offices, civil
and military, shall be abolished, and un-
necessary officers dispensed with; and that
the Tariff and Internal Revenue laws shall
be reduced to the exact revenue point
sufficient for the Government, economi-
ieally and honestly administered.
a. Resolued, That we most explicitly
condemn the policy of the party in power
in creating thousands of millions Of Gov.
ernment stocks, and attempting to exhon
crate the holders thereof from all obliga
ton to pay their just proportion of taxes