The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-05-31

now DelOnSlnS 10 Ine Oldle 0ON-
ernments. There is nothing more
striking in our history than the at
tachment of our ancestors to local
selfgovernment. 1t was this feel
ing, more than any other, that led
them to confine the powers of the
Federal Government to matters of
general concern, leaving to the
State Governments exclusive juris.
dictiOn over everything of a local
or domestic character. And so far
did they carry this spirit, thateven
in the States an administrative,
and, in some cases, a quasi legisla-
tive power, has always been con-
ferred upon their various civil di-
visions. Thus we have boards of
County Commissioners for counties,
of trustees for townships, of direc-
tors for school districts, while eve
ry municipal corporation, from the
largest city to the smallest village,
has its council, enacting laws un-
der the name of ordinances, to
regulate matters of local concern.
This is the true spirit and idea Of
our Republican institutions, and
never was anything better devised
to secure good Government, to ed
ucate the people in the science
and practice of political power, and
to preserve their liberties and free
institutions. Opposed to this idea
of local self-government, is that of
a consolidated central power, a
huge, unrestricted, supreme and
irresistible National Government.
This was the favorite idea of q Ger
tain class of politicians at an early
day; but was decisively defeated in
the Convention that framed the
Federal Constitution, and was so
repugnant to the feelings, sentl-
ments and habits of the American
people, that it was not until our
late terrible civil war gave rise to
the exercise of "Imperial powers"
by the General Government Ito
use Mr.. Stewards language, and to
the creation of an immense nation
al debt, that any one dared to re-
vive the scheme. But no one can
now doubt that it has been revived
or that the Radical leaders in Con-
gress are straining every nerve to
carry it into effect. ..
One of the means employed for
this purpose consists Of amend
ments to the Constitution, and one
of their chief reasons for exclud-
ing the Southern States from rep
resentation in Congress is, that in
their absence, propositions to
amend may be adopted, that, were
they represented, would surely fail.
Gentlemen, | need not say to
you, educated as you have been in
the Democratic faith, that such a
consolidated Government as these
men are striving to establish, would
be one of the worst and most cor
rupt of despotisms; and that if the
people wish to preserve their lib
critics and their substance, to have
good laws, equal rights and light
taxation, they must never surren-
der their admirable system of To-
cal self-government au
The Platform.
/. Resolved, That the Democra-
cy of Ohio will adhere in the pres
ent and in the future, as in the
past, with unfaltering fidelity and
irmness to the organization of the
Democratic party, and to its an
cient and well settled principles as
enunciated by Thomas Jefferson,
the great Apostle of American
Democracy, and as acknowledged
and accepted by the party from
the foundation of the Government;
and especially of equal taxation,
and Of representation of all States
subject to taxation.
2. Resolved, That the one great
question of the day is the IMMEDI-
ATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RESTORATION
OF ALL THE STATES TO THE EXERCISE
OF THEIR RIGHTS WITHIN TIE FEEDER
AL UNION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION;
and that we will cordially and act
lively support Andrew Johnson, as
President Of the United States, in
all necessary and proper means to
carry out his policy as directed to
that end; and especially in secur-
ing immediate representation in
the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, to the eleven States
from which it is now unconstitu-
tionally and arbitrarily withheld,
unless on the degrading condition
Of inferiority in the Union, and Of
negro political and civil equality
anforced hv tha Federa1 Govarn-