The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-04-28
Of the Democracy of
Ohio, Adopted at Columbus, JAM
uarY 8. 1865.

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 unAagging 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 well 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 Isupport 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 selfgoyernment that dis
tinguishes free people.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
of the Union 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 all the States;
and that the denial of it to them by Congress
and its efforts to 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 mp
on the other States, and that we stigmatize
such an imposition by the Federal Govern
ment as most base usurpation.
RESOLVED, That the practical effect Of the
so.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 |
war of races or to the Africanization Of th,
South.
| RESOLVED, That notwithstanding the enor
nous and conceded frauds in the creation o
the public debt, the faith of the country l
pledged to its payment principal and inter
est, according to the terms of the several act
of Congress under which the banks repre-
senting the debt were issued, but not other
wise; and we are opposed to any plan TO
extending the times Of payment, thus In
ereasing the amount of gold interest to NOR
than principal, or to any declaration sby Con
gress that the principal is payable IN gold
which would virtually add more than thou
sand millions TO the burthen Of the debt, an
to the whole insane financial policy OF Bhic
these measures are a part.
RESOLVED, That neither forgetting or deny
| ing an ancient faith that gold and silver col
form the currency of the country, We de
clare that the fve-twenty bonds should b
paid in the same currency received by th
1 Government for their issue, and that, by tn
withdrawal of the monopoly granted to th
National banks, this result can be accomplis
ed without an undue or dangerous increas
of paper money, now the only circulatir
medium, thus relieving our people from Il
burden of debt, the tendency Of which
always to corrupt and enslave, and our Gov
ernment from the reproach of paying II
vored class In gold, while discharging its deb
to all others, including pensions to widow
and soldiers. in an inferior currency.
RESOLVED, That the plan violates no la
impairs no contract, breaks no faith, and, IL
stead of retarding return to specie pay
lment. is the shortest, because the only sa
way Of reaching that end,
RESOLVED. That all the property Of u
lcountry, including the Government BON
which receives the equal protection Of Il
IGoyerument should bear an equal share
, its burdens,
RESOLVED, That We iadignantly reject Il
principle derived from the feudal system,th
1.-THE masses of the people belong to the COVER
lments under which they live. which, In a
other form, is contended for by the monarch
,dof Europe, including Great Britain, that once
subject always subject. That We, on y
lcontrary, maintain that an individual ca
Iby emigration and residence in another cou
TRY, foreswear his previous allegiance, 81
Ibe admitted into all the civil and polite
[lrights of his new home-that American ci
. liens, by adoption and naturalization, are el
! titled to, all the rights, as between US al
! foreign powers which can be claimed by o.
Inative-born citizens, and that it is the duty.
the Federal Government to protect and mai
tain them by every means within its powe
RESOLVED, That the people will sustain Al
ldrew Johnson, President of the United State
lin the struggle with Congressional usnrpati'
and that we pledge the Democracy Of Ohio
support him in all constitutional measur
, to relieve the white people of the South fro
the negro governments now being impos
upon them.
6 RssoLyED, That the fortitude and gallant
of our soldiers in the recent civil war, in d
!. lfense of the Unien, entities. them to t
|. gratitude of the country, and they shou
ever be RENE mbered by it in its bounties.
RESOLVED, That the Democracy of the cou
try have neither the purpose nor desire
lre-establish slavery, nor to assume any p,
ton of the debts Of. the States lately in
bellion