The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-07-21

have heretofore belonged, we extend the
right hand Of fellowship, and hail all such
CO. operating with us as friends and brothers,
Platform of the Democracy of
Ohio, Adopted at Columbus, Jam
uary 8, 1865.
RRsoLvEp, That the Democracy Of Ohio
congratulate the country upon the improved
aspect of political affairs, as evidenced by
the State elections of 1867, 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-
tion. We renew with unfagging zeal and
increased energy our attachment to that po-
litical creed which has ever been SO stanohly
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 support of
the State governments in all their 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 asthe sheet anchor Of
peace at home and SAT- abroad; and jealous
care of the rights of the electors by the peo.
pie, and supremacy of the civil over the mill
tary authority.
RESOLVED, That we consider the Legislative
usurpations of Congress, and particularly
the several acts of reconstruction SO called
as violative Of the constitutional compact
between the States, and utterly subversive Of
leyery principle of self-government that dis
/ tinguishes q free people.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
of the Union as ever broken-that any of
ltermidly insist that tie Southern States, no
longer being in insurrection 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 1t to them by Congress
and its efforts to dictate by military force a
4 government for them are unconstitutional
Revolutionary and despotic,
RESOLVED. That we 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 a most base usurpation.
/ RESOLVED, That the practical effect of the
lso-ealled Reconstruction Acts Of Congress ID
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 q
war of races or to the Africanization of the
South. So
/ RESOLVED, That Notwithstanding the enof
nous and conceded frauds in the creation ol
the public debt, the faith of the country ID
pledged to its payment principal and inter.
est, according to the terms of the several acts
of Congress under which the banks repre-
senting The debt were issued, but not other
wise; and we aye opposed to any plan fol
extending the times of payment, thus in
creasing the amount Of gold interest to more
than principal, or to any declaration iby Con-
gress that the principal is payable in gold
which would virtually add more than thou
4 sand millions to the burthen of the debt, and
d to the whole insane financial policy Of which
these measures are part. -.
RESOLVED, That neither forgetting or deny
ing an ancient faith that gold and silver coir
form the currency Of the country, we de.
clare that the fve-twenty bonds should bt
paid In the same 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 accomplish
ed without an undue or dangerous increase
of paper money, now the only circulating
medium, thus relieving our people from the
burden of debt, the tendency of which II
always to corrupt and enslave, and our Gov
eminent from the reproach of paying IA
vored class in gold, while discharging its debts
to all others, including pensions to widows
and soldiers, in an inferior currency.
I RESOLVED, That the plan violates no law
impairs no contract, breaks no faith, and, in
stead of retarding a return to specie pay
ment, is the shortest, because the only safe
way Of reaching that end,
q RESOLVED, That all the property of the
country, including the Government bonds
which receives the equal protection OF the
Government should bear an equal share in
its burdens,
RESOLVED, That We Indignantly reject the
principle 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 lis contended for by the monarchies
of Europe, including Great Britain, that once a