The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-15
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOC-
RACY OF OHIO, ADOPTED
JANUARY 8, 1868.

JANUARY 8, 1868.
Resolued, 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 o the result of
that momentous struggle, and upon
which depends, in SO great a degree,
the future peace and prosperity of the
Union.
RcsolUed, That, unalterably oppos-
d to the doctrines which lead 10 con-
solidation, we renew with unfagging
zeal and increased energy, our attach
ment to that political creed which has
ever been SO staunchIy adhered to by
our organization through days of troub-
lie and disaster, as well as good fortune
and prosperity, which was thus ex-
pressed by Thomas Jefferson "Equal
and exact justice TO all men, of what
ever state or persuasion-religious or
political-peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all nations, %entaneling
alliances with none; the support Of the
State Government in all their rights,
as the most competent administration
of our domestic concerns and the sur
est bulwark against anti-republiedp
tendencies ; the preservation of the
General Government in its whole con-
stitutional vigor as the sheet anchor of
peace at home and safety abroad /; a
jealous care of the rights of elections
by the people; and the supremacy of
the civil over the military authority"
Resozced, Thai we condemn the
legislative usurpations of Congress,
and particularly the several acts Of re-
construction so called, as violative of
the Constitutional compact between
the States, and as utterly subersive of
every principle of self government
that distinguishes a free people.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed tc
any measures which recognize that
the integrity of the Union was ever
broken-that any CT its members were
ever out, and that we determinedly re
sist that the Southern States no longer
being in instruction, or at war, with
the Federal Government, are entitled
to the full State recognition and con-
stitrtional representation in Congress,
and the electoral colleges giveE to all
the States, and the denial Of it to them
by Congress, and its efforts to dictate
by military force a government for
them are unconstitutional, revolution
airy and ~despotic.
Reso7ved, That we are opposed both
in principle and policy, to negro suf
frage ; that the State Of Ohio-having
by the emphatic majority of so 900 re
jected il for herself 1t is sternly op-
posed to its forced imposition upon
: other States, and that we stigmatize
such an imposition by the Federal
Government as a most base usurpa-
ton.
ResozUed, That the practical effect
Congress is to deliver over ten States
to the political and social control of ne
groes aud to place the lives. liberties
and fortunes of the Whites residing
therein, in the hands of a barbaIous
people, an that it would inevitable
lead either war of races or to the
Africanizauon of the South.
Resolved, That Notwithstanding the
enormous and conceded frauds in the
creation of the public debt, the faith
of the country is pledged to its pay
ment, principal and interest, accord
ing to the terms of the several acts Of
Congress, under which the bonds rep
~resenting the debt were issued, but
not otherwise, and we are opposed to
any plan for extending the times of
payment, thus increasing the amount
of gold interest to moro than the prin-
cipal, or to any declaration by Congress
that the principal is payable in gold,
which would virtually add more than
a thousand millions to the bnrthen Of
the debt, and TO the whole insane Fl
n%ancial policy Of which these measures
are a part.
Resolved That, neither forgetting
nor denying our ancient faith that
gold and silver coin form the currency
of the Constitution, VIC 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 caa be accomplished without an
undue or dangerous increase of paper
money, now the only circulating medi-
UNI, 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 a favored class in gold, while
discharging its debts to all others i'm
Guiding pensions to widows and SOL
diers, in an inferior currency.
ResoL0ed, 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.
Rcsoived, That al the property Of
the country, including the Govern
ment bonds, which receives the equal
protection of the Government, should
bear an equal share in its burthens.
Resolced, That we Indignantly reject
the principle derived from the feudal
: system-that the masses of the people
belong TO the Governments under
which they live, which 10 another form
is contended for by the monarchies of
, Europe, Including Great Britain,
a-oo n enI1aoE olYo-c n cnhionf-that