The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-09
Resolutions of the Ohio Democracy,

That denouncing the extraordinary
means by which they were brought
about, we recognize us accomplished
facts the three amendments to the
constitution recently declared adopt
ed, and consider the same rs no Ion
ger political issues before the coun-
try.
I'd. We demand that the rule OF
strict construction, as proclaimed hy
the Democratic fathers and accepted
by the Statesmen Of all parties, be
vigorously applied to the Constitution
above referred to, and insist that
those amendments shall not be held
to have inNany respect altered or mod
ifed the original theory-an character
of the Federal Government, but only
to haye enlarged the powers delcgga-
ted to It, andto that extent and 10
moro to have abridged the reserved
rights of the States, and that as thus
construed, the Dem ocratic party pied.
ges itsolf to full, faithful and abso-
lutte execution and enforcement of the
Constitution as it now. is, 80 as to
secure equal rights to all persons un-
der it without distinction Of race.
color or condition.
Sd. That the absolute equality of
each and every State within the
Union is a fundamental principle Of
the Federal Government; that we
should always cherish and uphold the
American system of State and local
government, for State and local pur-
boses and the Gene, al Government for
for general purposes only, and are un-
altcrably opposed to all attempts at
centraisation or consolidation of
power in the hands of the General
Government, and moro especially
when such attempts are in the form of
usurpation by any department. OF
that Government -.
4th. That we adhere firmly to the
principle of maintaining perfect in
dependence between the coordinate
departments Of the Government, the
lecislative,s executive and judicial,
condemning alrencroachments by the
one upon The functions Of tho other
9Th While the fundamental law, as
expressed in the Constitution, IS nee
essarily paramount, until abrogate!di
as prescribed by that Instrument, all
legislation is, i'm its naturo and pur-
poses temporary, and subject TO
change, modification or repeal at tie
will Of the majority of tho people, as
expressed through the law-maklnS
power; and that the pretcnse that
any Act Of Congress not executed,
or any. legislative policy of party is
an absolute 6nality, is totally lncon-
sistent with The. whole theory Of gov
ernmeGt, and that it is the unques-
tionable right of the people, of them
selves and through their representa-.
tiyes at each successive election, and
in each successive Congress, to judge
what legislation is necessary, proper
or appropriate 10 carry into oXccu-
tion or enforce the central powers,
rights and duties Of the Federal
Government. +-.-.. , 49,
Tho above are the most important
of the resolutions adopted by a large,
majority of the Democratic Nom1na,
ting Convention, which mctat Coium-
bus, Ohio, on tho 1st. inst, and OF
which Geo. II. Pendleton, was chosen
President. The resolutions, as it
will be seen, fully endorse the Val
landiugham platform, recognizing
the new amendments, accepting the
Constitution as tits, and p!edging the
party to,carry cut all of its provisionF'
In this, it but-follows the lead of tho
Pennsylvania Democracy, as set forth
in the resolution adopted at the late
Harrisburg Conveution-"That we
recognize, the binding obligation of
all t5e provisions Of the Constitution
of the United States as. they now
exist, and we deprecate tho discus
sion of issues which have been settled
in the manner and by the authority
constitutionally appointed" and is
itself followed by the Democrats Of
Tennessee, and by,a very general en-
dorsement from the Dcmocracyevcry-
where. .t
Isthero any inconsistency in recog-
nizing now, as valid amendments OF
the Constitution, measures which
were proposed and passed by Radl-
calls and which were stoutly resisted
by the Democracy to the last? The
scheme of forcible emancipation
which was carried out by the Thlr-
tecnth Amendment was resisted as
a sweeping act Of confscation lcvelod
AGAINST the whole South-while the
prosctiption contained in the Four
teenth Amendment, and the central
izations embodied in the Fifteenth
Amendment, received the same un-
spariDg, opposition. They wore Wig
orously opposed as long as opposition
promised to the effective, but now
when they form cles,ofthc Federal
Constitution, and have sbeeomea a part
Of the law of the land, they have
ceased to be living issues and debate.