Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-08
Platform Adopted by the Union DcE.oa
cratic State Convention Of 1861.

/
| WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever beer
the party offialty to free government and frater
nal devotion to the rights of the States Of The
Union, and OF unwavering fidelity to the laws the
Constitution, the Uuon, and the country-ready
80 maintain them by all proper means and at
every sacrifice
And whereas. The country is now defending it.
self against war without jnstfication or decent
excuse; waCed upon it by reasonable combine
tions claiming TO represent the people of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is mauiiesiy war for The inyasiun of
our National Capital for the overthrow of our
National Government the oppression o. the loyal
| States the s0bjugaton Of the Union a war to
humble in the dust or" National flag; to wrench
! from the American people their constitutional
rights OF determining for themselves their own
policy, foreign and domestic, and 10 blot them out
from the class OF the great powers Of the world
And whereas such war, so aggressive IN its
! character, and so deadly in its purposes, flrces
! upon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
stlnct OF seltpreservaton, or worthy Of an exist
cnce a nation
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved By this
Convcntion
!. That al this time. when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, ndiffer-
ence is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is
cowardlce, if not premediiated dlsoyalty.
2. That the people Of California in the past have
and will hail with joy an honorable adjustment in
The future at the same time they are, a62ro all
things fer tie UNION, the Country and the lag,
against all assallan.s--no matter who they are,
whence they come. or WITH 5c40t po5tey 0ynled
3. That in this great crisis Of the American ma
tion and name our State will always as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
gltions to the Union ard the Federal Govern
ment and, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at Washington N
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this most uf5usifabe aud un-
natural war.
4. That in the name of the loyal people Of Cali
rlrnla, we demand Of the General Government
by all its power, to protect their lives and proper
y on the G.-h seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the pratical Gag which already
threatens injury, aud would inhict destruction on
both
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis, be
who won!d seek. by reyiving past partisan issu9s,
10 distract the peoi lie, o. 10 wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name fan American citizen.
8. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
Of State secession is dangerous heresy inevta-
bly, destructive of our form OF Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional will of
majoriues is the only safeguard Of Republican
Governments; that we wil! uphold the cpnstitu-
teQ duluOTlltS, uNueI All CiIIuiltNttto, tu. ~ an
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere regardless Of what party may be in power
3. That Governments are political Organiza-
tions, armed with coeroive power, without which
they cannot exist that it IS not only no assump-
ton Of authority upon the part of Governments,
but Their positive duty to exercise such coercve
power, in order 10 maintain themselves against
either foleign INVASION or domestic ebellion.
O. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the ex
istence of sectional political parties in the cuuu-
try, one founded upon anti-slavery, the other
pro slavery, both equally ant-Democratic and de-
structive of the peace, harmony and prosperity of
the country; that it Is the duty of the Union Dem
ocratic ,arty to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour Of our country's trial and
rallying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front 10 all sectional agitation
10. That as Californans, we appeal TO the whole
people OF California, without distinction of party
or reference to partisan issues to stand with US
by our country and our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Delnocr tic party Of Califor
MIA is the overpowering majority Of her citizens.