The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-06
PLATFORM OF THE OHIO
DEMOCRACY

kEhOLNHDt Ihat the Democracy OF Ohio
congratulate the country on the improved
aspect Of political affairs ns evidenced by
the State elections OF 1867, and that they
look forward with hope and confidence to
the result Of that momcnious struggle upon
which they arc about to enter, aud upon
which depends, in so great degree, that
future peace und prosperity Of the Union.
RESOLVED, That, unNlterably opposed TO
the doctrines which lead TO Consolidation,
We renew with unhagging zeal and incrcas-
ed energy, our attachment TO that political
creed which has ever been so staunchly ad-
hefod TO by our organisation through days
Of trouble and disnster, 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
or ersuasion--rcligiOus or politicsl-pcace,
commerce and honest friendship with all
nations, cutanglmg alliances with mono
the support Of the State Governments in all
their rights, as tho most competent admin
istration oiOur dOmcstic concerns and tho
surost bulwdrk against Nnti-rcl ublcen tcn-
deDciesi the preservation Of the General
Government in its whole constitutional vigor
rs the sheet anchor Of peace at homo and
safety abroad Il Jealous care of the rights
ofolections by the people and the suprc-
macy OF the civil over tho military author
ity."
RESOLVED, That Wo condemn tho logisla-
tive usurpations OF Congress and particular
ly the several acts Of recOnstruction SO
called, as violatiyo oftho Constitutional
compact between the States, and as utterly
subyersiyc of every principle of self gov
ernment that distinguishes free people,
RESOLVED, That We arc opposed TO any
measures which recognize the integrity of
the Union was ever brokcn-that any OF
It's members were ever out-and tina. we
dctcrmincdly insist that tho Southern
States, 10 longer being ia insurrcction, or
at war, with tie Federal Government, are
entitled Ia tho full State recognition and
constitutional representation IN Congress,
and the electoral colleges given to all the
States, aud this denial of IL to them by
Congress, and its efforts to dictate TO them
by military force Il government for them
are unconstitutional, revolutionary and
dospoic.
RESOLVED, That We are opposed, both in
principle and policy, TO negro suffrage !
that the State OF Ohio-haying by tho en-
phatic majority of 80 900 rejected it for her
self-is stsrnly opposed TO its forced impo-
sition upon other States, and that we slig-
matzed such an imposition by the Federal
Government as IL most base usurpaton.
RESOLVED, That the practical effect of the
so-callcd Reconstruction acts Of Congress 10
to deliver over ten States to the political
and social control of Negroes and to place
the lives, liberties, and fortunes OF the
whites residing therein, in tho hands of II
barbarous people, and that II would newt
ably lead either to war Of races or 10 the
Authorization of the South.
RESOLVED, That Notwithstanding tho enor-
nous and conceded frauds in the creation
Of the public debt, the faith of the country
is pledged to its payment, principal and
interest, according to the torms ol the sev.
eral acts OF Congress, under which the bonds
representing the debt were issued, but not
otherwise, and we are opposed to any plan
for extending the times Of payment, thus
more than the principal, or to any de-
claration by Congress that the princi-
pal is payable in gold, which would
virtually add more than n thousand
millions to the burthen of the debt,
and to the whole insane financial policy
Of which these measures are part
RESOLVED, That neither forgetting or
denying our ancient faiths that gold
and silver coin for the currency of the
Constitution, we declare that the five
twenty bonds should be paid in the
same currency received by the Govern
ment for their issue, and that by the
withdrawal of the monopoly, granted
to the national banks this result can
be accomplished without an undue or
dangerous increase of paper money,
now the only circulating medium, thus
relieving our people from the burthen
of debt, the tendency of which is al
ways corrupt, and our Government from
rcproach of saving a favored class in
gold, while discharging its debts to all
others, including pensions to widows,
and soldiers in an inferior currency.
RESOLVED, That this plan violates no
law, impairs no contract, breaks no
faith, and instead of retarding a return
to specie payment, is the shortest be.
cause the only safe way ofreaching that
end.
RESOLVED, That all the property of
the country, including the Government
bonds, which receives the the equal
protection of the Government, should
bear an equal share in its burthens.
RESOLVED, 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 in another form is con-
tended for by the monarchies Of Europe
including Great Britain, once asubject
always subject that we on the con
irary maintain that an individual can,
by emigration and residence in another