The Ohio Democratic Platform

At the Ohio Democratie State Con"eiition, held at Columbas, on tlio lst of June, inst., the folio wing resolutions, reported by Gen. G. W. Morgax, from a committee of nineteen, but two meiubcrs disentiag, veré adopted by a vote of 365 to 139 : Hemdeed, By tlie Democracy of Ohio : 1. That, denouncing tho extraordinary rnoans by whioli they weré brought about we reoognize as accomplislied faeta the three amendments in fact to the Constitution reoently deelared adopted, and the samo as no longor politieal issues before the country. 2. We demand that tho rule of striot construction as rjroclahned by the Democratie fathers, aecepted by tho statesmen of all parties previous to the war and embodied in the tenth ainendment to the Constitution, be rigorously applied now to the Constitution as it is, iucluding tho three recent amendmeiits aboye referred to, and insist that these aniendinents phall not be held to have in any respect altered or modified the original theory and char aeter of the Federal goverimient, but .only to have enlarged the powers delugatad to it, and to that oxteut and no more to have abridged the reserved rightj of the States, and that as tlius construed the Democratie party pledges stself to the full, faithful and absolute execution and enforcement of the Constitution as it now Í8, so as to secure equal rights to all persons under it without distinction of race, color or condition. 3. That the absolute oquality of each and every State within the Union is a fundamental principio of the Federal government. 4. That we will always cherish and uphold the Amoricaii system of State and local government for State and looal purposes and a general government for general purposes only, and are unutterably opposed to all attempts at centralization and cousolidation of power in the hands of the general governinent, and tho more especially wh-en such attempts are in the farm of usurpation by any department of ïat government ; and further that we dhere firmly to the principie of main.aining a perfect independence between ie co-ordinate departments of tho govrnment - the legislative, tho executive nd tho judicial - condemning all cfi-' roachments by one upon the fuiictions of ie others. ó. While the fundamental law as exressod in the Constitution is nccessarily ermanent until abrogated as presciibcd jy that instrument, all leislation is in s nature .and purposes temporary and ubjeot to chango, ínoditíeation or repeal t the will of a majority of the people ex)ressed through the law-making power, nd that the pretense that one act of Conjress not executed in spirit, or any legisative policy of a party, is an absolute nality, is totaliy inconsistent with the vholo theory of republicaii govermuent, nd that it is tho unquestionable right of ie people, of themselves and through leir ropresentatives at each successive ection, and at oach successive Congress, ,o judge of what regulation is necessary nd. proper or appropriate to carry into xecution to enforce the constitutional owcrs, rights and duties of tho Federal government. G. That as an instance of eminently apjropriato legisla tion under the fourteenth inendment we demand now of Congres niversal amnesty. 7. That whilo we denounco all riotous ombinations and conspiracies agiúnst law or to disturb the poac'e, in the South or elsewhere, and demand of all good citizens their utmost influence to put all such down, we also denounce the act conimonly called the bayonot bill, rocently passed by Congress, and the more recent act conmionly called the Ku-Klux bill, extending by its terms to every State, as euacted for no o+her purposo than to complete the centralization of all powers in che hands of the general govornment, establish a military despotism and thus pci-petuato the. present administration without i'ogard to the will of the people, as not only utterly inconsistent with the whole theory and character of the Federal government and revolutionary and dangerous in their character, but in direct conflict with the spirit and letter of the Constitution, including the amendments which they pretend to esforcé. 8. That holding still to the good old Democratie doctrine of annexation or acquisition of territory, we are vet totaliy opposed to the sclieme of President Grant to acquire San Domingo as a job, and by tlie mcans and for the purposes intonded. 9. That we are in favor of a strietly revenue taiiir', eonfovincd to tho theory and principies of all other just and wise tax laws, and opposed to the protcetive theory, so-called. 10. That tho proflígate corruption and wanton extravagance whioli perrade every department of the Federal government ; the sacrifico of the interests of labor to aggrandize a haiidful of aristocrats ; the wioked leinivatioii of tho people of their rightful heritage in the public lands, which have been made a gift to railroads and other monopolies; tho páyment of more than $24,000,000 premium during the administration of President Grant on government bonds payable at par; the maintenanee, at an an annual cost to tho people of noarly $150,000,000, of an unconstitutional, oppressive and extortionate system of banking, whereby ïuiMoy is made scarce and iuturest hiuii, are abuses which cali for wise and thorough remedies. 11. That wo are in favor of strict economy, of a large rediibtion in Iho expondiures of the Federal and State governncuts, of civil service reform, of the colecticn of interiial rèvanue by the State tuthorities, and thereby returniilg tohons1 labor the myüacts of tax gathevers who afflict our land ánct éatiip its substance, and of the spocdy tvial, eonviction uul puni.shiücnt of the tliicvrs wJio liave stolen taxes paid by the pcople. 12. ïhat while wii ïrjf'c.t repudiation we equally roject the proposition to pay the bondholders more than the contiact with theni demands ; if bondholders have rights so have taxpayers, nul 4re insist inioii iustico being donetobotli ; that the ereditor is entitlod to be paid in the same currency he loáhed to the government ; that whon ho loaned réënbaeks he should be paid greenbaeVs, miless fche contract otherwwe provides, and whon ho loaned gold he should be givon gold ; to gaard against too great an expansión grecnbacks tshould be ruado oónvertible hito thrce pet OBnt. bonus at tlio option of tlio íiote-holdern, said bonds to b(í rodeamed. ií gr#önbackg un domuiid; that tho truc inothod ol' rptupaing to specio payment is to malee custom dues payabla in legal tender curreney, wliethor paper money or gold ; that sne.h a policy wonld secure a uniform curreney, stop gambling in gold, and thorcby eievate the credit of the goTernincnt. 13. That with the watehivord of reform we conlidently go to tbc country ; tha we believe the interests of tl.e great. bod; of the people are the same; that withou regard to past politieal assbeïations they aro the friends of free goverranent ; tha they are equally honest, brave and patri otio, and we appèal to thern as to ou brothers and countiymen to aitftis to ob tain relief irom the gi-ievousabutea whicl wrong and oppress every one excejjt tlie wrongdoers and oppressors themsilves. 14. Upon State issues we resolve that we are in favor of calling a couvention as provided for by artiole 16, section 3, of the State Constitution.