The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-07-13
Tie Ohio Platform.

the new Departure Platform adopted by the
Ohio Democracy, with which MIR. Vallan-
dighan's name is iuseparably identified The
omitted resolutions simply derounee The
Bayonet and Klu kIux enactments of congress.
and the general legislation Of the Radical PAR
ty. The practical sense that is infused into
these resolutions, is apparent to every reject
lug mind While not recognizing the legiii
macy of the mode of the adoption Of the 18th.
18th and / 9Th amendments to the constitution,
we take them as inexorable facts, and desiroto
deal with them as part Of the Fundamental
law Of the country Indeed, it is not SO much
the amendments themselves that excitcs hos
tility as the latitudiuous construction given
to the clause which provides for the enforce
mont of the 18th amendment. 1t is uader
that feature of the law that the two infamous
enactments Of which we complain were passed
No doubt when the enforcement clause was
conceived it contemplated just such legislation
as is represented by the Bayonct and ku-klux
bills. They wipe out all State rights, sub
ordinate the guaranteed immunities of distinct
sove1eignties to the domination of Congress
ional imperialism, and murder the very es-
sence of our system of government. The
s'ncW departure idea is to recognize merely
the amendments is, the freedom OF
slaves, the equality before the law OF the ne
groe, and his right to vote There is no OBJ
legation implied in this acknowledgment, to
endorse the unconstitutional and tyrannieal
legislation which reckless and corrupt Con-
.gressional majority have chosen to inflict upon
the country, designed for the oppression
and humiliation of the South. We wish to
see it wiped from the statute book, and the
constitutional anne nlments to stand upon their
merits. We desire to see them have a fair
trial, and we mean to earnestly and honestly
insist upon this.
The resolutions Of the Ohio Democracy are
explicit, and We favor their adoption by the
conservative party Of Virginia.
WHEREAS, the Democratic party of 1877 is
unadc up of men who, during the late war, as
also for time since, entertained different o.
plnions, and supported totally opposite meas
ures as to the questions and issues of those
times; and
WHEREAS, 1t is reasonable to assume these
same men still entertain, to large extent,
their several opinions and would, if in like
circumstances, support again substantially the
same measures; and
WHEREAS, A rational liberation among the
men resolved to unite in the present cenven-
,tion and compromise does not require the
surrender in any particular of former opinion
or any acknowledgment of error as to meas
ares supported,
Resolved, First, That, agreeing to disagree
in all respects as to the past, we cordially u
mite upon the living issue Of the day, and
hereby invite all men Of the Republican par
ty, who believe now upon the present issues
as we believe, to cooperate fully and active
ly with us upon the basis Of perfect equality
with every member of the Democratic party
Second That, waving all differences of
opinion as 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 ostensibe purpose, to maintain
the Union and Constitutional rights and pow
the three several amendments dc .facto to the
Constitution recently declared adopted as
settlement in fact Of all the issues of the war,
and to acquiesce in the same as no longer is
sues before the country.
Third That thus burying out of sight all
that is Of the dead past, namcly-the right
of secession, slavery, inequality, and now that
reconstruction is complete, and representa-
ton within the Union is restored to all the
States, sand waving all questions as to the means
by which it was accomplished, we demand
that vital and long established rule Of strict
construction as proclaimed by the Democrat
ic fathers, and accepted 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 the amend
ments shall not be held to have in any re-
spect TERED or modified the original theory
and character of the Federal Government, as
designed and taught by its founders, and re-
peatedly in our times affirmed by the Supreme
Court of the United States, but only to have
enlarged the powers delegated tc it, and to
that extent, and no more, to have abridged
the reserved rights of the States and that
as thus construed, according to these ancient
aud well established rules, the Democratic
party pledges itself to the faithful and ALSO
lutte execution and enforcement of the Con-
sttution|as it now $50 as to secure equal rights
to all persons without distinction Of race, col
or, or condition.
Fourth: That absolute equality of each and
every State within the Union is a fundament
al principle of the Federal Government, and
that no department. of the Government has
the power to expel a State from the Union, or
to deprive it, under any pretext whatever, of
its equal right therein, including, especially,
the right Of the fullest and completest repre-
sentation in congress and in the Electoral
Colleges.
Fifth: That we will cherish and uphold the
American system Of State and local self-gov
crnment for State and local purposes, and
general government for general purposes only
and are unalterably opposed to all attempts at
Capitalization and co soidation of power in
the hands Of the General Gov ernmcnt and
more especially when such attempts are in the
form Of ufp,tion by any par'mcnt of that
Government; and further, that we adhere
firmly to the principle Of maintaining a per-