Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-06-08
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
The following resolutions were
adopted at the Democratic State
Convention, held at Columbus, O.,
Thursdsy. June lst, 1871:


Thursday, June 1st, 1871:
Resolred. By the Democracy Of Ohio, /. That de
nouncing the extraordinary means by whlch
they were brought about, we recognize as ae-
complished facts the three amendments, in TACT,
70 the constitution recently declared adopted,
and the same as no longer POLITICAL issues DE-
fore the country.
Z. We demand thst the rule Of strict con-
struction, as proclaimed by the emocratlc
fathers. accepted By the statesmen OF ali parulSs
previous to the war, and embodied IN the Io,h
amendment to the constitution, De rlsorous5H
applied to the constitution as it now Is, lnclud-
ing the three recent amendments aooNe REFER,
red to. and insist that these amendments snaii
not he held to have in any respect altered or
modified the original theory and character OF
the federal government. hut only 10 have en-
larged the powers delegated to 1t. and 10 that
extent and no more to have abridged the re-
served rights OF the states, and that as thus
construed the democratic party pledges lJseli
to the full. faithful and absolute execution and
enforcement of the constitution as II now IS, 50
as to secure equal rights 10 all persons under IL
without distinction Of race, color or condltlon:
5. That the absolute equality Of each and
every state within the union IS a fnndamentai
principle Of the federal government
4. That We viii always cherish and uphold
the American system of state and local govern
rienrs for state and local purposes, and gen
eral government for general purposes only
and are unalterably opposed to all attempts at
| Capitalization and consolidation of power IN
the hands Of the general government, and the
form Of usurpation by any department of that
government; and. further, that We adhere
firmly 10 the principle OF maintaining per
feet Independence between the coordinate de-
partments Of the government-the legislative,
the executive and the judiciary-condemnlng
all encroachments by one upon the functions oil
the Others.
5. While the fundamental law, as expressed
| in the constitution, is necessarily permanent,
until abrogated as prescribed by that Instru-
| ment, all legislation is in its nature and pnr-
tam -v- md a.
| fication or repeal. at the Will of majority OF
| the people, expressed through the law making
power. and that the pretense that any act OF
congress not executed or spent or any legls-
lative policy. Is an absolute fnallty Is totally
| inconsistent with the whole theory OF republl-
can government, and that it is the unquestion,
| tionable right of the people. of themselves and
| through their representatives, at each success
| sive election and in each successive congress-
| to judge of what legislation is necessary and
/ proper or appropriate TO carry into execution
| or enforce the constitutional powers, rights
| and duties Of the federal goyernn, oHt
d. That an Instance Of eInlnently appro-
pirate legislation of the 18th amendment, we
demand now of congress universal amnesty.
:. That while We denounce all riotous COM
binatiOns and cons nspiracies against the law, or
10 disturb the peace in the south or elsewhere,
and demand of all good citizens their utmost
influence to put all such down. We also de
pounce the act commonly called the bayOnet
bill recently passed by congress and the more
recent act commonly called the ku-kluN bill.
extending by its terms to every state, as enact
ed. for no other purpose than TO complete the
Capitalization of all power in the hands OF the
general government, establish military des-
| potism, and thus perpetuate the present ad-
ministration without regard to the wish OF the
people, and not only utterly inconsistent with
| the whole theory and character Of the federal
government, and revolutionary and dangerous
| in their character, but in direct conflict with
the spirit and letter OF the constitution, lnclud-
| ing the amendment which they pretend 10 en-
force.
s. That holding still to the good old demo
cratic doctrine of annexation or acquisition Of
| territory, We are yet totally opposed to the
scheme Of President Grant to acquire San Do
mingo as job, and by the means and for the
purposes evidently intended.
| 9. That we are in favor of a strictly revenue
tariff conformed to the theory and principles
Of all other just and wise tax laws, and opposed
| to the protection theory, sO-called.
| TO- That the profligate corruption and wanton
| extravaganza which peryade every department
| of the federal government; the sacrifice of the
| interests Of labor to aggrandize a handful of
aristocrats' the wicked delrIvatlon ol the Peo-
pie of their rightful heritage in the public
| lands which have been made gilt TO railroads
| and other monopolies: the payment of more
| than twenty -four rmillions premium during the
| administration of President Grant on govern
ment bonds. payable at par: the maintenance
| at an annual cost to the people of nearly thirty
millions of an unconstitutional oppression and
| eXorbitant system of banking whereby money
| is made scarce, and in truth high, are abuses
which call for wise and thorough remedies.
IL. That we are in favor of strict economy, of
|
| federal and state governments, of civil service
reform of the collection of the internal reve=
nue. by state authorities, and thereby return to
| honest labor the myriads of tax -gatherers VINO
afhict our land, and eat up its substance, and of
the speedy trial, conviction and punishment of
| the thieves who have stolen the taxes paid by
| the people.
| 1s. That while we reject reputation, we
| equally reject the proposition TO pay the bond
| holders more than the contract with them de-
mands; that if the bondholders have rights. so
| have the tax payers, and we insist upon Justice
being done TO both, that the creditor is entitled
to be paid in the same currency he loaned TO the
government; that when he loaned greenbacks
| he should be paid in greenbacks, unless the
| contract otherwise PROVIDES, ana when ne loan.
| ed gold he should be paid in gold: that to guard
| against too great an expansion, greenbacks
| should be made convertible into three per cent
bonds at the option of the note holders, said
bonds 10 be redeemed in greeDbacks on de-
mand: that the true method of returning to
| specie payment is TO make custom dues paya-
| BILE in legal tender currency. whether paper
money or gold; that such policy would secure
| a uniform currency, stop gambling in gold and
| thereby elevate the credit of the government. =
| l3. That with the watchwOrd of reform we
confidently go TO the country; that we believe
| the interests of the great body of the people
| are the same; that without regard to past polit-
ical association they are the friends of free gov
| ernment; that they are equally honest, brave
| and patriotic, and We appeal to them as to our
brothers and countrymen to aid us to obtain re-
| lief from the grieyous abuses which wrong and
| oppress every one except the wrong d0ers and
| oppressors themselves.
| Ia Upon state issues we resolve that we are
in favor of calling a convention as provided for
by article 16 sections, of the state constitution
We shall review these resolutions
in our columns at some future time,
and show cur readers the mischief
they are calculated to bring about.