The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-04

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 all such
CO. operating with us as friends and brothers.
Platform of tine Democracy of
Ohio, Adopted at Columbus, Jam
uary 8. lS6S.
REsoLvHp, 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 moInentous 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 eonsolida-
tion. We renew with unfagging zeal and
increased energy our attachment to that po-
litical creed which has ever been so 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.p 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-pubiic 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
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
every principle of self-government that dis
tinguishes free people.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
Of the Union W 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 insurrection or at war with
the Federal Government, are entitled to the
full State reorganization in Congress and in
the Electoral Colleges given to allthe States;
and that the denial of 1t to them by Congress
and its efforts to dictate by military force a
government for them are unconstitutional
revolutionary and despotio,
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
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.
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
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 are opposed to any plan for
extending the times of payment, thus in
creasing the amount of gold interest to more
than principal, or to any declaration lby Con-
gress that the principal is payable in gold,
which would virtually add more than thou
sand millions to the burthsn of the debt, and
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 coin
form the currency of the country, we de-
clare that the flve-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 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 is
always to corrupt and enslave, and our Gov
ernment 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.
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
way Of reaching that end,
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,i contended for by the monarchies
of Europe Including Great Britain, that once
subject always subject. That we, on the
contrary, maintain that an individual can,
by emigration and residence in another coun.
try, foreswear his previous allegiance, and
be admitted into all the civil and political
rights of his new home-that American cit
izens, by adoption and naturalization, are en-
titled to, all the rights, as between us and
foreign powers which can be claimed by our
citizens, and that it is the duty Of
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, entitles'' them to the
gratitude of the country, snd they should
ever be remembered by it in its bounties.
RESOLVED, That the Democracy of the coun-
Try have neither the purpose nor desire to
re-establish slavery, nor to assume any por-
lion of the debts of the States lately in re-
oellion