The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-05-25
vaIlandigham's Plato rm.

heir Convention at Dayton, Thursday last
o choose delegates to represent them in the
coming Stale Convention Mr.. ValIandigham
IS the Chairman of the Committee on resolutions
reported n series of resolutions drafted by him
which he supported by prepared speech We
reprint below the platform and speech, notwith-
standing their extreme length, for the edifica-
ton OF our readers:
Whereas, The Democratic party OF 1871 is
made up of men who, duriOg the late war, as
also for 4 time since entertained totally differ
ent opinions, and supported totally opposite
measures. as to the questions and issues of those
whereas, 1t is reasonable to assume that
these same men still entertain, to a large ex-
tent, their several opinions, and would. II IN
like circumstances, support again substantially
the same measures; and
Whereas, 4 rational liberation among men
resolved to unite in present common compro-
mise does not require the surrender IN any par
ticllIar OF former opinions OF any acknowledge
ment of error as to measures supported; there
fore
Resolved. ~ the Democrats of Montgomery
First-That. agreeing to disagree in all
spects as TO the past. we cordially unite upon
vite all men of the Republican party, who be-
lieve now upon present issues as we believed to
basis Of ne perfect equality with every member of
the Democratic party.
Second-That, waiytng all dInerences OF opin-
ion N to the extraordinary means by which
they were brought about, we accept the natural
and legitimate results of the war so far as Waged
for its oStensible purpose, to maintain the Unlon
and constitutional rights and powers of the fed
eral government, including the three several
amendments de facto to the constitution recent
ly declared adopted as settlement in tact of all
the issues of the war, and acquiesce in the same
as no longer issues before the country
Third-rhat. thus burying out eff sight all
that is of the dead past namely, the right of
secession. slavery. inequality before the law,
and political inequality, and, now that recon-
struction is complete, and representation with
in the Union restored to all the states, waving
aca ccompiished, we demand that the vital and
long established rule of strict construction, as
proclaimed by the Democratic fathers, accept
ed by the statesmen of all parties previous to
the war, and embodied in the tenth Amendment
to the Constitution, be vigorously applied TO the
constitution as it is. including the three recent
amendments above referred to, and insist that
these amendments shall not be held TO have IN
any respect altered or modified the original the
ory and character of the federal government rs
designed and taught by its founders, and re-
oSrt ~ ,ba G1nttd States bnt oDiv fo have en-
larged the powers delegated to it, and to that
extent and no more to have abridged the re-
served rights of the States, and that as thus
construed according to these ancient and well
established rules the Democratic party pledges
itself to faithful and absolute execution and
enforcement of the Constitution it now is so
as to secure equal rights to all persons, without
FonrthNThat the absolute equality of each
and every State within the Union is a funda-
mental principle OF the federal government, and
that no department of that government has
power to expel q State from the Union, or to
deprive it, under any preteXt whatever, OF It's
equal rights therein, including especially the
right OF the fullest complete representation in
Congress and in the Electoral College.
Fifth-That we will cherish and uphold the
American system of state and local self gov
ernment for state and local purposes, and gem
eral government for general purposes only, and
are unalterably opposed to all attempts at GEN.
tralization and Consolidation of power in the
hands of the general government and more
pecially when such attempts are in the form of
rsurpation by any department of that govern
ment; and. further, that we adhere firmly to the
principle of maintaining perfect independence
between the coordinate departments of that
Government, the Legislative, the Executive and
Judicial, condemning all encroachments by
Sixth-That, outside of fundamental law, all
legislation is in its nature and purposes tempo
rary, and subject to change, modification or re-
peal at the will of a majority of the people. ex-
pressed through the law making power, and
That the pretense that any act OF congress not
executed and spent, any legislative policy of
a party, is an absolute fnality, is totally incon
sistent with the theory of republican govern
the people, of themselves and through their
representatives at each successive election and
legislation is necessary and proper appro-
pirate to carry into execution or enforcement
the constitutional powers, rights and duties of
the Federal Government.
Seventh-That, as an instance of eminently
appropriate legislation under the Fourteenth
Amendment, in the name of wisdom, justice
and republican government, and to secure uni
versal political rights and equality among both
the white and colored people of the United
States to the end that we may have peace at
last we call now as well on behalf of the North
as of the south, upon Congress for universal
Eighth-That we are in favor of the payment
of the public debt at the earliest practicable
moment consistent with moderate taxation
More effecIually to secure and hasten payment,
we demand the strictest honesty and economy
in every part of the administi alton of the gov
Ninth-That we are in favor of such revenue
reform as will greatly simplify the manner of
and reduce the number OF Oricers engaged in
collecting and dIsbursing the revenue, and
largely diminish the now enormous expense to
| the government, and the annoyance and vexa-
ton attending the same, and, further, will
make the burdens Of taxation equal, uniform
and just, and no greater than the necessities OF
TenthNThat we are in favor of searching
| and adequate reform in the civil service of the
government, so as to secure faithfulness, homes
5y and efficiency in all its branches, and in eve
| ry officer and appointee connected with 1t.
Eleventh-Tha5 we are in favor of o strictly
revenue tariff. conformed to the theory and
practice of all other just and wise tax laws.
| Twelfth-That all taxation ought to be based
| on wealth instead of popularity, and every per-
son should be required to contribute to the sup
| port of tho government in proportion TO the
| amount and not in reference to the character of
| his property.
sound currency, and that true policy requires as
| speedy return to that basis as practicable,
without distress to the debtor class of people.
Fourteenth-There is no necessary or irre-
pressible conflict between labor and capital
that without capital or consolidated wealth no
|
| the just and equal protection of the laws; and
that all men, whether acting individually or in
corporations. are entitled to the right by fair
and honest means, and not for purposes of
wrong or oppression, to SO use their property as
to increase and consoli late it to the utmost eX-
tent within their power But conceding all this,
we declare our cordial sympathy and co-opera-
tion with the producers and working men of
the country, who make and move ali capital,
| and who only seek by just and necessary means
/ to project themselves against the oppressive ex-
| actions of capital and TO ameliorate their CON
/ Il nd hai
Fifteenth-That we are totally and resolutely
opposed to the grant of any more OF the public
States. to corporations for railroads or o. otbeI her
purposes, holding that these lands ought to be
| devoted as homesteads to actual settlers or SOL
diers, and to individuals at a price SO low as to
induce speedy occupation and settlement
Sixteenth-That. holding to the good old Dem
ocratin doctrine of annexation acquisition OF
| territory, are yet totally opposed to the
scheme of President Grant to acquire San Do
mingo as job, and by such means and for such
purposes evidently intended, and accept the is.
sue he has rendered in his late message submit
ting the subject to the decision of the people
Seventeenth-That the act commonly called
| the " Bayonet Bill.'' recently passed by Con-
gress. amendatory to the act of May 81 1850 and
1 supplementary to the act of July ID, 1870, each
and all intended and SO contriyed as to interfere
with and practically subvert free elections in
control through military power, whensoeyel
| called FORTH of the President and commander
val forces of the United States. and the % more
recent act of Congress commonly called the
" Ku klux Bill !" extending by terms to every
State, intermeddling with the exclusively local
concerns of every state. authorizing the -Presi.
dent. upon the existence of such q state oi
things, to be ascertained and determined by
! himself in the exercise of his sole judgment tS
suspend the writ of habeas corpus in time OF
peace, and march the standing army into any
State and declare martial law therein at his
own mere will and pleasure. thus subverting
the entire civil power, legislative, executive
and Judicial OF such State, deferring freedom OF
sembling of the people, and subjecting every
person to military arrest trial and execution
| were enacted for no other purpose than to com
plete the Capitalization of all power in the
| hands of the general government, establish
military despotism, and perpetuate the present
! administration without regard to the viii of the
| people, and are not only inconsistent with the
whole theory and character of the federal gov
| and rpyOu6, onary and ~,