Year: 1863

Constitution and the laws that the
Democrats owe. They have the same
interest to maintain free government
to protect liberty,to be secure in Their
houses, persons and property, that
Democrats have. 1t is neither their
interest nor ours that dospotism or
anarchy should prevail; and if they
wish to avert both, let them see to it
IN time that they give no occasion for
either. We will do our duty, let them
to do theirs.


In view of the circumstances that
have brought us together, we hereby
resolve:


RESOLUTIONS.


|. That the will of the people is
the foundation of all free government.
That to give effect to this will, free
thought, free speech and free press
are absolutely Indispensable. With
out free discussion, there is no GER
tainty Of sound Judgment; without
sound judgment there can be no wise
government.


.. That it is as inherent and con-
stitutional right Of the people TO dis
cuss all measures of their govern
ment, and to approve or disapprove
as to their best judgment seems right.
That they have like right to pro-
pose and advocate that policy which
i'll their Judgment is best, and to an
que and vote against whatever policy
seems to them 10 violate the Consti-
tuition, to impair their liberties, or to
be detrimental to their welfare.


,. That these and all other rights,
guaranteed to them by their constitu-
tions, are their rights in time of war
as well as in time of peace; and of far
more value and necessity in war than
in peace. For in peace liberty, secur-
ity and property are seldom endanger.
ed; in war, they are ever in peril.


4. That we now say to all whom
it may concern, not by way of threat,
but calmly and firmly, that we will
not surrender these rights, nor sub
init to their forclble violation. We
will obey the laws ourselves, and all
Others must obey them.


D. That there is manifest differ.
ence between the administration oi
the Government and the Government
itself. The Government consists ol
the civil and political institutions ere
ated by the Constitution, and to il
the people owe allegiance. The Ad-
mihistration are but the agents Of the
people, subject to their approval ol
condemnation, according to the merit
or demerit Of their acts.


g. That in the exercise of the
right to differ with the Federal Exec
utive, we enter our solemn protest
against the proclamation Of the Pres
ident of the United States, dated the
first day Of January, one thousand
eight hundred and siXty-three, 10y
which he assumes to emancipate slaves
in certain States, holding the same to
be unwise, unconstitutional and void.


I. That we declare our detcrmin-
ed opposition to a system Of enamel
patton by thG States upon cGmpensa-
tion to be made out Of the treasury OF
the United States, as burdensome up
on the people, unjust in its very nature,
and wholly without warrant Of the Con-
sJitution.


8. That we declare that the pow
er which has recently been assumed
by the President Of the United States
whereby under the guise Of military
necessity he has proclaimed and eX-
tended-or asserts the right to pro
claim or eXtend--martal law oyer
States where war does not exist, and
has suspended the writ of habeas cor
pus, is unwarranted by the Constitu-
ton, and it's tendency is to subordi-
nate civil to military authority, and to
subvert our system Of free govern
ment


8. That we deem it proper further
TO declare that we, together with the
truly loyal people Of the State, would
hil with pleasure and delight any
manifestations Of desire on the part
of the seeded States to return to theil
allegiance to the government of the
Union, and in such event we would
cordially and earnestly cooperate
with them in the restoration of peace
and the procurement Of such proper
guarantees as would give security tc
all their interests and rights.


10. That the soldiers composing
our armies merit the warmest thanks
of the nation Their country called
and nobly did they respond. Living
they shall know nations's gratitude
wounded, a nations care; and dying
they shall live in our memories, ane