The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-02-25
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY,
Rlatform OF the Democracy of
Ohio, Adopted az Columbus, Jam
~ 1870


uary 8, 1S6S.
REsoLyEp, That the Democracy of Ohio
eongratu lata the country upon the improved
aspect OF political affairs, as evidenced by
the State eIeotions of 1S67, and that they
look forward With bops and condolences to the
result Of that mgnentons struggle upon which
they are about to,enter and upon which de-.
ponds, in SO great degree, the future peace
sad prosperity of the Union.
RESOLVED, That we are uualterably oppo-
sed to the doctrine which leads TO consolida-
tion. We renew with nnflagsing zeal and
Increased energy cur attachment to that po-
litical creed which hasisver been so stanchly
adhered to by cur organization through days
Of trouble and disaster as well as good for
tune and sprospeFity, which was thus ex-
pressed by Thomas Jefferson "Equal and
exact justicetoi all man sofi whatever state,
religion OF politics: Peace, commerce and
honest friendship with all nations, entang-
ling alliances with none.a The rsupport of
the State governments in all their rights, as
the most competent administrators of our
domestic concerns and the surest Ibnlwark
against antfpubifC tendencies, the preserya-
ton the General Government in its whole
constitutional Sieor as the sheet anchor Of
psacssst home aud safety abroad; and jealous
care Of the rights Of the electors By the peo.
pie, and supremacy of the OWL over the mill
tary authority. 9s5
REsobyED, That we consider the legislative
ususpstions of Congress-, and particularly
the several acts of reconstruction SO called
&C siolatiVe Of the constitutional compact
between the States, and utterly sab7eEsive Of
every principle Of self government that dis
tinguishes 9 free people,
RRsoLEED, That We are opposed to any
measures which recognize that the integrity
Of the Union as ever brolzen--that any of
is members were ever out; and that we de-
ternidly insist that tie Southern States, no
longer heingin insurrectioR or at war with
the Federal Government, are. entitled TO the
fnll State reorganization in Congress and in
the Electoral Colleges given to all the, States;
and its efforts to dictate BY military force a
governmsht for them are unconstitutional,
revolutionary and despotic,
RRsoIyEp. That we are opposed both in
principle and policy tonegro suffrage; that
theState of Ohio, having by the emphatic
majority of $4,000 rejected it for herself, is
stsrnly opposed to its forced imposition mp
onlthe other States, and that we stigmatize
snch an imposition by the Federal Govern
meat as most base usurpation.
REsoLEED, That the practical effect of the
so=eallea Reconstruction Acts of Congress is
todsliFer 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 barbareus people
and that ii would inevitably lead to either a
war Of races or to the Africanization of the
South.
RhsoLgED; That Notwithstanding the enor-
nous and conceded frauds in the creation of
the public debt, the faith of the country is
pledged atekits payment principal and inter-
est, according to the terms of the several acts
of Congress under which the banks repre-
senting she 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 ts any declarationiby Con-
gress that the principal is payable in gold,
which would virtually add more than a thou
sand 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 deny
ing an sncient faith that gold and silver coin
Sssa .sa ~. .a,,t - t.,0 5. si,o~,a h
s,a.9 ass s.as sns -.se-smeng OonaS q Az y
pau ~ .ne ss.ns Sntlenos leVersu ~ .Lo .no
.sl a., sueal .ssne anu sns, az
M..;s-a, = - .,,,. -
Ia =
aslsAoas - uuaue :. se .O1a J..soo
pspeA &C.,, - :
- '-.as az. e.-e,,s .t ~ .rb;cl =
eoA e, :. : 80 sAs se - g. :
s.m ass ~ osl1aps " aAo sns,as, - aas !.
elnmsIs t1vn 'ne iep.ua.n :. psyas ~
oieu 0,aSs - sos.i .sso u'so: - -. -
al o.nefs' iAViuelns pehs.ons " 11'so"
sna soldiers, n an ,n'eI,ol eu.lenos
hhsoA7kDs Ihat lns piah Vloaa.ss no IAN
impairs no contraes, breaks no iaitn. ane IN
stead OF retafding return 10 Specie pay
ment, Is the shortest, because Inc only saie
way Of reaching that end,
RESOLVED. That az the property Of ths
country, snciuung the saoVernmens pono;
which receives the equal protection OF ths
Government should bear an equal share II
its burdens,
REsoLvED, That re Indignantly reject the
principle derived from the feudal system, thai
che masses OF the people belong to the govern
ments under which they live. which, IN an
other form, Is contendsd for by the nnonarchiel
Of Europe, including Great Britain, that once {
subject always subject. That we, on ths