The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-07-05
Platform Of the Ohio Democracy.
ADOPTED JUNE 1, 1870.
The Tariff and Internal Rove
nue. Swindles.
THE LAND J0DBERS DENOUNCED.
The following platform Of principles
was adopted at Columbus on the lst day
Of June:
ftATFoRM AND REsoLUTIoNs

was adopted at Columbus on the lst day
Of June:
!, PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS:
The Democracy OF Ohio coming to-
gether in the spirit of devotion to the
doctrines and faith of free representative
government, and relying for success upon
discussion and the intelligence of the
people, deem the present Convention a
fitting occasion 20 reasseft the following
time -honored principles of the Democrat
lie party:
That the federal Government is one of
I-limited powers derived solely from the
constitution; that the grants-of power
made therein ought to be strictly con-
strued by all the dependents and agents
Of the Government, and that tits inexpe-
dient and dangerous to exercise doubtful
powers;
That the constitution of the United
States is founded on the Fundamental
principle of the entire and absolute
equality of all the States of the Union,
and it is not competent for Congress to
| impose upon them any conditions or re-
|strictions in respect to their internal
concerns which the Federal Constitution
has not imposed;
That the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and sanctioned in the Consti-
tuition, which make ours the land of lib
erty and the asylum of the oppressed Of
every nation, have ever been cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith, and
every attempt to abridge the privileges of
becoming citizens, and the owners of sol !
among us, ought to be resisted with the
same spirit which swept the alien and Sc
dition laws from the statute books;
And, in order that We may more dis
tinctly declare our views of the measures
and policy of the present administration,
RESOLVED, That we denounce the pres
ent tariff, as we'll as the substitute lately
introduced in the House Of Representa-.
tiyes by the Committee on Ways and
Means, as gigantic robbery Of the labor
and industry Of the country; that they
are solely designated to advance the inter-
est of a few thousand monopolies, and
that they should no longer be submitted
to, and that no candidate for Congress,
nor for any other Office, is worthy Of sup
port who is not ir favor Of low revenue
tariff, which closely approximates to free
trade; that in the arrangement of any
revenue tariff, all the necessaries of life
should be absolutely free Of duty.
Resolred, That the internal revenue
system of the United States is unendur-
able in its oppressive exactious; that it
should be immediately remodcled; that
its anLoyauces of stamps and licenses
and taxes upon sales and incomes should
be abolished. That the tax itself should
be collected by the State and county Of
ficials; and that the multiplication of Of
icers is wholly unnecessary, except to
eat out the resources of the taxpayers;
and that we pledge ourselves to effect a
thorough reform in this particular. We
denounce the profigacy in the present
administration of the Federal Govern
nent, the corruption which has entered
all the official stations, the fayori'ism
which overlooking fitness for Office has
appointed to positions of public trust the
friends or tools of those who control the
public patronage, and the imbecility
which directs the dostinies of the Repub-
lie, without an apparent purpose. and
manages its affairs with such embarrass-
ment aud disaster to tho material inter-
ests of the people at home, and with
such disregard Of the rights and liberties
of its citizens abroad,
RcsoIped. That land monopoly is one
of the great evils of our. couhtry and
against the spirit of our institutions; that
the whole Of our public lands ought to
be held as sacred trust to secure home
steads for actual settlers; We, therefore,
denounce the recent action of Congress
lin making grants to mammoth railroad
corporations which are already too power
full and may become dangerous to free
people.
Rcsolred, That we regard the act re-
Gently passed by Congress to enforce the
l"Fifteenth Amendment, as uuconstitu-
tional, unjust and oppressive; an invasion
of the rights Of the States, snbversiye OF
the best interests of the people, and there
fore demand its unconditional repeal.
That the power Of the Federal Gov
ernment to assess and collect taxes on the
Bonds of the United States is clear and
unquestioned; and we demand of Con-
eress, that share of taxation equal to
the fair average amount levied in each
State on money loaned, shall be assessed
land collected from all investments In
Bonds;
Rcsolued, That we are opposed to the
system Of National Banks, and demand
the immediate repeal Of the law creating
them, and that in place of the notes OF
such banks. treasury notes of the United
States should be substituted.
Rcsolrrd, That the Democracy of Ohio
]sympathise with the efforts Of all people
struggling for self-goyernment, and that
we denounce the trucking of the Fed
leral Administration to Great Britain and
Spain, and the efforts of the party in
power to reduce whole States in our
Union to condition Of yassalage to the
General Government.
Resploed, That the thanks Of the De-
mocracy of Ohio are extended to. oul
Senator, Allen e. Thurman, and the
Democratic Representatives in Congress
who, though in small minority, have
bravely contended for the principles ol
Democracy and the interests Of the peo.
lple,
Rcsolucd, That upon the foregoing plat
f,rm mn invita- an the elentari of Ohio