The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-04-21
Platform of the Democracy of
Ohio, Adopted at Columbus, JAN
uary 8. IS6S.

oAA Ga kSOos
REsoLvEp, That the Democracy of Ohio
congratulate the country upon the improved
spect of political affairs, as evidenced by
he State elections Of 1867, and that they
ook forward with hope and confidence to the
esult of that momentous struggle upon which
hey are about to enter and upon which de-
,ends, in SO great degree, the future peace
Ind prosperity of the Union.
RESOLVED, That We are unalterably oppo-
sed to the doctrine which leads to consolida-
lion. We renew with unhagging zeal and
energy our attachment to that po-
itical creed which has ever been so stanehly
adhered to by our organization through days
of trouble and disaster as well as good for
tune and prosperity, which was thus ex-s
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-pubiic tendencies, the preserva-
ton 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
usarpstions of Congress, and particularly
the several acts Of reconstruction so called
"a yiolative Of the constitutional compact
between the States, and utterly subversive of
every principle Of seifgoyernment that dis
tinguishes free people.
RESOLVED, That We are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
of the Union " rs 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 OF 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 thatth denial Of 1t to them by Congress
and its efortsto dictate by military force a
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 most base usuFpation.
RESOLVED, That the practical effect of the
so-called 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 .he 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 iby Con-
gress that the principal is payable in gold,
which would virtually add more than thou
sand milhors to the burthen of the debt, and
to the whole insane financial policy of which
these measures are part.
RESOLVED, That neither forgetting ordeny-
ing an ancient faith that gold and silver coin
form the currency of the country, we de-
clare 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 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
eminent from the reproach of paying IA
yofed class in gold, while discharging its debts
to ali 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 II
its burdens,
RESOLVED, That We Indignantly reject the
principle derived from the feudai 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 9
subject always a 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 oul
native-born 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-
fense of the Unien, 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 coun-
try have neither the purpose nor desire to
re-establish slavery, nor to assume any por.
ton of the debts of the States lately in re-
bellion