The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-30
PLATFORM OF THE OHIO
DEMOCRACY


RESOLVED, That the Democracy Of Ohio
congratulate the country on the improved
aspect Of political affairs as evidenced by
the State elections OF 1867, aud that they
look forward with hope and confidence I,
the result Of that momentous struggle upon
which they are about to enter, aud upon
which depends, in SO great q degree, that
future peace and prosperity Of the Union.
REsOLvED, That, unalterably opposed Ia
the doctrines which lead TO consolidation
we renew with unhagging zeal and increas
ed energy, our attachment to that political
creed which has ever been so staunchly ad-
hei ed to by our organization through days
Of trouble and disaster, AB well as good for
tune and prosperity, which was thus ex-
pressed by Thomas Jefferson Equal and
exact justice 10 all men, Of whatever state
or persuasion-religious or political-peace,
commerce and honest friendship with all
nations, entangling alliances with none
the support of the State Governments in ali
their rights, us the most competent admin
istration ofour domestic concerns and the
surest bulwark against anti-rcl ublican ten
dencicej the preservation OF the General
Government in its whole constitutional vigor
as the sheet anchor of pcace ut home and
safety abroad jealous care Of the rights
ofeleclions by the people and the supre-
macy Of the civil over the military author
ity."
RESOLVED, That We condemn the logisla-
tive usurpations Of Congress and particular
ly the several acts of reconstruction So
called, as violative ofthe Constitutional
compact between the States, andSas utterly
subversive OF eyory principle OF self gov
ernment that distinguishes free people.
RESOLVED, That We are opposed to any
measures which recognize the integrity of
the Union was ever broken-that any OF
its members were ever Out-and tina: we
determincdly insist that the Southern
States, no longer being in insurrcction, or
at war, with the Federal Government, are
entitled IN the full State recognition and
constitutional representation in Congress,
and the electoral colleges given to all the
States, and this denial of il to them by
Congress, aud its efforts to dictate to them
by military force government for them
arc unconstitutional, revolutionary and
despOlic.
KrsoLvED, That wo are opposed, both in
principle and policy, to negro suffrage /
that the State of Ohio-having by tho EN-
phatic majority of 90, 900 rejected it for her
self-is pternly opposed to its forced impo-
stion upon other States, and that we slig-
matiIod such an imposition by the Federal
Government us II most base usurpation.
RESOLVED, That the practical effect of the
so-culed Reconstruction acts Of Congress Is
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 the hands Of a
barbarous people, and that it would newt
ably lead either to Il war Of races or TO the
Africanzation OF the South.
RESOLVED, That notwithstanding the enoT-
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 terms OF the sew
eral acts Of Congress, under which the bonds
representing the debt were issued, but not
otherwise, aud We are opposed to any plan
for extending tho times Of payment, thus
Increasing the amount of gold interest TO
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 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 Cove
ment for their issue, and that by the
withdrawal of the monopoly, granted
to tho 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
reproach 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 a subject
always subject that we on the CON
trary maintain that an individual can,
by emigration and residence in another