Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-11
OHIO DEMOCRACY.
Strong Resolutions Adopted
by the Democratic State
Convention.

tous struggle, upon which depends, in so
great degree, the future peace and
prosperity Of the Union.
Resolped, That unalteredly opposed to
doctrines which lead to consolidation,
we renew with unfagging zeal and energy
eur attachment to that political creed
which has ever been so stsunchly ad-
hered to by our organization through
days of trouble and disaster as good for
tune aud prosperity, which was thus ex.
pressed by Thomas Jefferson: Equal and
exact Justice to all men of whatever state
or persuasion, religious or political;
peace, commerce, and honest friendship
with all nations, entangling alliances
with none; the support of the govern
ment in all their rights as the most com
petent administration OF our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwark against
anti-republican tendencies; the reserva-
tion of general government in its whole
constitutional vigor as the sheetauchor
of peace at home and safety abroad a
jealous care of tie rights of elections by
the people, and the supremacy OF the
civil over the military authority.
Resolped, That we condemn the leg
islative usurpations of Congress, and
particularly the several acts of recon-
struction, so.called, as violetive of the
Constitution, compact between States,
and so utterly subversive of every prin-
ciple of self-government that distin-
gushes free people.
Resolued, That we are opposed 10 any
measures which recognize that the in
tegrity of the Union was ever broken;
that any of its members were ever out,
and that we determinedly insist that the
Southern States, no longer being in
insurrection or at war with the Federal
Government, are entitled to the full
State recognition and constitutional rep
resentstion in Congress and electoral
colleges given to all the States; and
that the denial of it to them by Con-
gress, and its efforts to dictate BY mill
tary force a government for them are
undoubtedly revolutionary and despotic.
Resolyed, That we are opposed both
in principle and in policy to negro
suffrage that the State of Ohio having,
by the emphatic majority of $4,000 re-
jected it for herself, is sternly opposed
to it's being forced upon other States
and we stigmatize such an imposition
by the Federal Government as most
base usurpation.
Resolued, That the practical effect Of
the so called reconstruction acts of Con.
gress is to deliver over ten States to the
political and social control of negroes,
and to place the lives, liberties and for
tunes Of whites residing therein into the
hands of barbarous people; and it
would inevitably lead to a war of races or
the Africanization of the South
Resolred, That notwithstanding enor-
nous and conceded frauds in the crea-
ton of the public debt, the faith of the
country is pledged to its payment, prin-
cipal and interest, according to the terms
of the several acts of Congress under
which the bonds representing the debts
we're issued, but not otherwise; and we
are opposed to any plan for xten1ing
the times Of payment, thus increasing
the amount Of gold interestto more than
the principal, or to any declaration by
Congress that the principalis is not payable
in gold, which would virtually add more
than a hundred millions to the burden of
the debt on the people and opposed to
the insane policy of which these mea-
sures are part
Resolued, That neither forgetting nor
denying our ancient faith, that gold and
silver coins form the currency received
by the Government for their issue, and
that by the withdrawal of the monopoly
granted to the national banks this result
can be accomplished without an undue
or dangerous increase of paper money,
now the only circulating medium, thus
relieving cur people from the burden of
debt, the tendency of which is always
to corrupt and enslave, and our Govern
ment from the reproach of paying
favored class in gold, while dischsrging
its debts to all others, including pensions
to widows and soldiers, in an inferior
currency.
Resoired, That this plan violates no
law, impairs no contract, breaks no faith,
and instead of retarding a return to
specie payments, is the shortest, because
the only safe way of reaching that end.
Resolred, That all the property of the
country, including the Government
bonds, which receives the equal protec-
tion Of the Government, should bear an
equal share in its burdens.
Resolred, That we Indignantly reject
the principle derived from the feudsl !
system that the masses of the people |
belong to the government under which |
they live, which in another form is con
tended for by the monarchies Of Europe,
including Great Britain-oRce a subject |
always a subject; that we, on the con-
trary, maintain an individual can, by |
emigration and residence in another
country, forswear his allegiance and be
admitted into all the civil and political
rights of bis new home; that American
by adoption and naturalization,
are entitled to all the rights as between
the United States and fc-e;sn rcge=s
that can be claimed by our native born
citizens: and it is the duty Of the Fed
eral Government 10 protect and maiutain
them BY every means within its power
Resolred, That the people will sustain
Andrew johnson, President Of the United
States, in his struggle with Congress
sional usurpation, and that We pledge
the Democracy Of Ohio to support him
in all constitutional measures TO relieve
The white people Of the South from the
negro government now being imposed
upon them.
Rssolued, That the fortitude and gal
lantry Of our soldiers in the recent civil
war in defense Of the nation entitle them
10 the gratitude Of the country, and they
should ever be remembered BY Il IN It's
bouutiA
Resoired, That the Democracy Of the
eountry have neither the purpose nor
desire TO re-esiablish slavery or assume
apv portion Of the debts Of the States
lately in rebellion.
The committee on State Convention