The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-18

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struggle for the liberties of the people, and
that to all such, to whatever party they may
have heretofore belonged, we extend the
right hand of fellowship, and hail sill such
|oo-operating with rs as friends and brothers.
Platform Of the Democracy Of
Ohio, Adopted at Columbus, Jam
uary 8. 1S6S.
REsoLvEr, That the Democracy Of Ohio
congratulate the country upon the improved
aspect of political affairs, as evidenced by
the State elections Of 1857, and that they
look forward with hope and confidence to the
result of that momentous struggle upon which
they are about to enter and upon which de-
pends, in SO great degree, the future peace
and prosperity Of the Union.
RESOLVED, That we are unalterably oppo-
sed to the doctrine which leads to consolida-
ton. We renew with unhagging zeal and
increased energy our attachment to that po-
litical creed which has ever been 30 stanchly
adhered to BY our organization through days
Of trouble and disaster as we'll as good for
tune and prosperity, which was thus ex-
pressed by Thomas Jefferson: "Equal and
exact justice to all men Of whatever state,
religion or politics. Peace, commerce and
honest friendship with all nations, entang-
| ling alliances with none." The isupport of
the State governments in lltheir. rights, as
the most competent administrators Of our
domestic concerns and the surest bulwark
against anti-pubiio tendencies, the preserva-
tion Of the General Government in its whole
constitutional vigor as the sheet anchor Of
peace at home and safety abroad; and jealous
care Of the rights Of the electors by the peo-
| pie, and supremacy Of the civil over the mill.
tarJ authority.
RESOLVED, That we consider the legislative
usurpations Of Congress, and particularly
the several acts Of reconstruction 80 called
as violative Of the constitutional compact
between the States, and utterly subversive Of
every principle Of selfgovernment that dis
tinguishes free people.
| RESOLVED, That we are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
Of the Union as ever broken--that any of
its members were ever out; and that we de-
termidly insist that tie Southern States, no
longer being in iusurrection or at war with
the Federal Government, are entitled to the
full State Reorganization in Congress and in
the Electoral Colleges given TO all the States;
and that the denial of it to them by Congress
and its efforts to dictate by military force q
government for them are unconstitutional
Revolutionary and despotic,
| RESOLVED, That a&e are opposed both in
principle and policy to negro suffrage; that
the State Of Ohio, having by the emphatic
majority of $4,000 rejected it for herself, is
sternly opposed to its forced imposition up
on the other States, and that we stigmatize
such an imposition by the Federal Govern
ment as most base usurpation.
| RESOLVED, That the practical effect Of the
so-ealled Reconstruction Acts Of Congress is
to deliver over ten States to the political and
social control of negroes to place The lives
liberties and fortunes of the whites residing
there into the hands of barbarous people
and that it would inevitably lead to either a
war of races or to the Africanization of the
South. 4fIf.it
RESOLVED, That notwithstanding the enor-
nous and conceded frauds in the creation OF
the public debt, the faith of the country is
pledged to its payment principal and inter
4 est, according to the terms Of the several acts
OF Congress under which the banks repre-
senting the debt were issued, but not othsr-
wise; and We are opposed to any plan for
extending the times Of payment, thus in
creasing the amount Of gold interest 10 more
than principal, or to any declaration lby Con-
i gress that the principal Is payable in gold
which would virtually add more than thou
sand millions to the burthen Of the debt, and
to the whole insane financial policy OF which
these measures are part.
4 RESOLVED, That neither forgetting or deny
1 ing an ancient faith that gold and silver coir
form the currency Of the country, We de-
clare that the fve-twenty bonds should be
paid in the same currency received by the
lGovernment for their issue, and that, by the
/ withdrawal Of the monopoly granted to the
4 National banks, this result can be accomplish
/, ed without an undue or dangerous increase
i of paper money, now the only circulating
medium, thus relieving our people from the
burden OF debt, the tendency Of which IL
always to corrupt and ,enslave, and our Gov
ernment from the reproach OF paying IA
yored class in gold, whils discharging It's debts
to all others, including pensions to widows
and soldiers, In an inferior currency.
Il RESOLVED, That the plan violates no law
impairs no contract, breaks no faith, and, in
stead Of retarding . return to specie pay
ment, is the shortest, because the only safe
iway Of reaching that end,
\ RESOLVED, That all the property Of the
country, including the Government bonds
4 which receives the equal protection of the
lGovernment should bear an equal share In
its burdens,
RESOLVED, That We Indignantly reject the
lplinciple derived from the feudal system, that
the masses of the people belong to the govern.
ments under which they live. which, in an.
other form,is contended for by the monarchies
of Europe, ,ipcluding Great Britain, that once 9
subject always subject. That We, on the
|centrary, maintain that an individual can
by emigration and residence in another coun.
Itry, foreswear his previous allegiance, and
be admitted into all the civil and political
rights of his new home-that American cit.
liens, by adoption and naturalization, are en-
titled to, all the rights, as between us and
foreign powers which can be claimed by oul
native-born citizens, and that it is the duty si
the Federal Government to protect and main.
tain them by every means within its power,
RESOLVED, That the people will sustain An
drew Johnson, President of the United States
in the struggle with Congressional 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 governments. now being imposed
upon them.
Resolved, That the fortitude and gallantry
of our soldiers in the recent civil war, in de-
Tense of the Union, entities. them to the
gratitude of the country, and they should
ever be remembered by it in its bounties.
RESOLVED, That the Democracy of the ooun-
try have neither the purpose nor desire tc
re-establish slavery, nor to assume any por-
tion of the debts of the States lately In re-
bellion