The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-05-06
PLATFORM OF THE DEM0C- 4,
RAOY OF .OHf6,, ADoPTED1s
JANUARY 8, 1868.

OubO CouBI4tuSaO Sn0-cOuutIJ OpOu
che improved aspect of political affairs
rs evidenced by the State elections of
1867, and that they look forward with
hope 4nd dpafdenss % theSresult of
that moneSt6us struggle, and upon
which depends, in so great q degree,
the future peace ard prosperity of the
Union.
ResozRe@r That sunaltefably coPpos- 4
d to h6adctIines which lead 70 fob-
eolidarion, We renew with unfagging
zeal and increased energy, our attach
ment to that political creed which has
over been so staunehly 1Sdheredfto by
q organization through days Of trou5-
10 and disaster, ss well as good fortu: e
and prosperity, which was thus ex-
pressed by Thomas Jefferson i: nEqu; ]
and exactjustice to all men, Of what.
ever state or observation-disclosures or
politicaEApeace, commerce and honest
friendship. with all nations. entanghng
alliances with none; the support Of the
State Government in all their rights,
rs the most competent administration
Of our dome sic concerns and the sur
est buiWark against anfi-republicAn
tendencies; the reservation of the
General Government in its whole con-
stitutional vigor as the sheet anchor of
peace at home aad safety abroad "a
jealous care of the rights Of elections
by the people; and the supremacy Of
thc civil oyer the military autherity.i'rs
Resolped, That we condemn the
legislative usurpations of Congress,
and particularly The several pets OF re-
construction so called, as 1violative of
the Constitutional compact between
the States, and as utterly subersive of
every principle of self government
that distinguishes afree PEOPLE. D .,.ae7
Reeolved, That we are opposed to
any measures which recognize that
the Integrity of the Union was ever
brokeu-that anycefr its members were
ever out, and That we 'de~terminedly re-
sist that the Southern States no longer
being in Instruction, or at war, with
the Federal Government, are entitled
s~titEtional representation in Congress,
the States, and the denial of it to them
by CsngrssF and its efforts 70 dictate
BY military force a. fEovernment FOR
tnom are FeVOiutlOu-
airy and ~despotia.
Resolued, That we are opposed both
in principle and policy, to negro suf-
frage ; that tho State of Ohio-having
BY the emphatic majority of so 900 re-
jected it for herself it is sternly op-
posed to its forced imposition upon
other States, and that VIC stigmatize
such an imposition by the Federal
Government as a most base usurpa-
tion- 81 "a lift 5nNGI
ResolUed, That the. practical effect
of the so called Reconstruction act of
Congress ia to deliver over ten States
to the political and social control of me-
.groes and to place the lives. liberties
and fortunes Of the Whites residing
therein in fhe'd hands of a barburous
people, an MAT it would ipeyitable
lead either SsiWar of aces or to the
Authorization Of the South. -sy sdtfa.
RssolDed,, That Notwithstanding tho
enormous and conceded frauds in the
creation of the public debt, the faith
of the countryjApleaseaEto-its pnys
mcnfS princiPaE and eintercsts accord
ing to the terms Of the several acts Of
Congress, under which the bonds rep
r~cscnting the debt were issued, but
not Otherwise, and we arc opposed TO
any plan for extending the times of
payment, thus increasing the amount
of gold interest 10 m9ro1tban sfhe0 prin.
cipal, or to any declaration by Congress
that the principal is payable in gold,
which would virtually add moro than
a thousand il ions to the burthen of
Al. LIZ tx AZ 1911 e
%nancial policy Of which these measures
are q part.
RESOLVED HThat, neither forgetting
nor denying our ancient faith that
gold and silver coin form the currency
of the Constitution, we declare that
the fve-twenty bonds should be 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 re-
suit can DO accomplished without an.
undue or dangerous increase of paper
money nov the obIy circulating mddi-
um, thus relieving our people from the
burthen of a debt, the tendency of
which is always to corrupt and enslave.
and our Government from the reproach
of paying %afayoIcd class in gold, while
discbarging its debts to all others, jim
GLIDING pensions to widows and SOL
diers, in an inferior currency
Resolved, That this plan violates DO
law, imPairs no contract, breaks no
faith a1dJnsfead Of retardf1g afeturay
to spa payments, is the shortest
because the only safe way of reaching
that end.
RESOLVED, That al the property of
the country, including the Govern
ment bonds, which receives tie equal
protection of the fGoVerBment, should
bear an equal share in its. burthene.
ResozUed, That we Indignantly fr,jectt
thesprineip|e f~dcrivea1fromf the fepdal
system-that the masses of the people
belong to the Governments under
which they live, which in another form
Is contended for by the monarchies of
Europe, including Great Britain,
once q subieese @ ways AZ xptjaet-Ihat
We on the contrary maintain that an
individual can, by emigration and resi-
dence in another country, torswcar his
previous allegiance, and be admitted in
to all the civil aud political rights OF
his new tqme17sthat American ~citizensI
by adoption and natura 'ization are en-
titled tdDaIfT The rights as between us
n~1 ~ 1900 IL l.