The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-06-09
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

ReSolUed, by the Democracy of Ohio
| /. That denouncing the extraordinary mean:
by which they were brought about, we recog.
nize as accomplished facts, three severa
amendments to the Constitution, recently de-
clared adopted, and regard the same as nc
longer political issues before the country.
2. We demand that the rule of STRICT
CONSTRUCTION, as proclaimed by the Demo
cratic fathers, accepted by the statesmen of al
parties previous to the war, and embodied il
| the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, be
vigorously applied now to the Constitution as
| it Is, including the three recent amendments
above referred TO, and insist that these amend.
ments shall not be held to have in any respect
altered or modified the original theory and
character of the Federal Governments but
only to have enlarged the powers delegated tc
It; and 10 that extent, and no more to have
abridged the reserved rights of the States
and that, as thus construed, the Democratic
party pledges itself to the full, faithful and
absolute execution and enforcement of the
Constitution as it now is, so as to secure equal
rights to all persons under it, without distinc-
ton Of race, color or condition.
3. That absolute equality of each and every
State within the Union, is q fundamental
principle of the Federal Government.
4. That we will always cherish and uphold
the American system Of State and local gov
ernment, for State and local purposes, and a
General Government for general purposes
only; and are unalterably opposed to all at
tempts at Capitalization and consolidation OF
power in the hands of the General Govern
ment; and the more especially when such at
tempts are in the form of usurpation by any
department Of that Government And, fur
ther, that we adhere firmly to the principle of
maintaining perfect Independence between
the coordinate department of that Govern
ment, the Legislative, the Executive and the
Judicial, eondemning all encroachments by
one upon the functions of the other
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 pur-
pose, temporary, and subject to change, modi-
hcahon, or repeal at the viii OF majority of
the people, expressed through the law making
power; and that the pretense that any act of
Congress not executed and spent, or any legis-
lative policy of party, is an absolute fnality,
Is totally inconsistent with tAe whole theory
Of republican government, and that it is the
unquestionable right of the people themselves,
and through their representatives, at each sue
cessive election, and III each successive Con-
gress, to judge of what legislation is necessary
and proper or appropriate to carry into execu-
ton or enforce the constitutional powers,
rights, and duties of the Federal Government.
6. That, as an instance of eminently ap-
propriate legislation under the Fourteenth
we demand now of Congress
universal amnesty.
Z. That while we denounce all riotous com
binadons and conspiracies against law or to
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-
nounce the act commonly called the "Bayonet
Bill" recently passed by Congress; and the
more recent act commonly called the "Ku
Klux Bill" extending by its terms, to every
State; as enacted for no other purpose than to
complste the centralzation of all power IN the
hands Of the 6eaeTel Government, establish a
military despotism, and thus perpetuate the
present administration without regard to the
will Of the people, and as not only utterly in
consistent with the whole theory and nature
Of the Federal Government, and Revolutionary
and dangerous IN their nature, but in direct
conflict with the spirit and letter of the Con-
including the amendments which
they pretend to enforce.
s. That, holding still TO the good old Dem
ocratic doctrine of annexation or acquisitions
Of territory, we are yet totally opposed to the
scheme of President Grant, to acquire San
Domingo as a 'job," and by the means and
for the purposes evidently intended
8. That we are in favor of a strictly rev.
snue tariff, conformed to the theory and prin-
,iples of all other just and wise tax laws, and
opposed to the protective" theory, SO called.
10. That the prohigate corruption and
vanton extrayegance which pervade every
department. of the federal government: the
acrifce of the interests of labor to aggrandize
handful of aristocrats; the wicked
deprivation of the people of their rightful her
tage in the public lands, which have been |
made a gift to railway and other monopolists;
he payment of more than twenty -four millions |
premium, during the admins traction of Presi-
lent Grant, on government bonds payable at |
,ar; the maintenance at an annual cost to the |
,eople of nearly thirty millions, of an mcon- |
titutional, oppressive and extortionate system |
f banking, whereby money is made scarce
nd interest high, are abuses which call for |
Tise and thorough remedies.
IL. That we are in favor of strict economy;
T large reduction in the expenditures of the
federal and State Governments; Of civil ser
ice reform; of the collection of the internal
evenue by state authorities, and return to
onest labor, the myriads of tax-gatherers who,
Ike the frogs and locusts of Egypt, afiict our
and and eat up its substance
II. That while we reject Reputation, we
qually reject the proposition to pay the bond
olders more than the contract with them do,