Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-08
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic state Convention OF 1861.


WHEREAS, The Democratic party hes ever been
toe PARTY ff,ay tu ire, " vtrumeut and frater-
nal devotion to the rights of ihc States e The
Union, aud Of unvaveurC f1elity {. 'hc laws the
Const tuition, the Uucu ard The corntry-readv
to maintain them by all proper n'eans aud az
eyerv sacrifice
Aud whereas. The country is row Offending IL
sef against war without insticatiop, or decent
excuse; waged upon IL by treasonahle combna-
uons claiming To represent the people of certain
States claiming 10 bnye seeded ian the Union
which Is munestiv War tor The fuvasion of
oUr National Capital: f the overthrow If our
National Government the oppression OF the loyal
states the subiugatlun ut the Union a war to
humble in the aust our National flag; to wrench
from the American people their constitutional
rights Of determining tuI themselves ihelr own
policy, foreign and domestic, and 70 blot u en- out
from the class Of the great powcrs OF the world
And whereas such vGr, 50 aggressive IN its
character and deadly IN rs purposes, rces
upon the country an isSne which can be met but
in one way by any people having the comm, in
stinct Of self preservation, or worthy Of an exist
encc as Il natIon;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by ths
Convention,
/. That at this time. when he country is resist
ing war ofoppr sson and de, rucion. md fer
euce is lmposs b, to thc patro., and neutrality IS
CUWHrdCc, # not premedliaied dIslUyalty.
g That the people ui California in the past have
been most anxious for peace thr'u- u-hout the land,
and Wiil hail with joy am hunorabea adjustnent in
the future; nj the same time they are, ob1re ell
Things, Tor tie UNION, the Country and the Flag,
against all assalmuts-no matter who they are,
whcnc thcy come. az 1riM acbat po3rer agNed.
9. That IN ths great crisis Of the American M
ton and name our state will always, as heretu-
fore faithfully discharge hsT Constitutional obl-
cations t. the Uriuu aud the Federal Govern
meut. md, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at Washington Il
all measures ueces-,'rv tn defend and protect
either ngalust this most rujusuHable uld un-
natural Wur.
I. That in ae name of the loyal people OF Cai;-
Grnla, we demand IF thn General Government,
Ly all lis power, to protect Their lives and proper
/ ~ 90 the high seas, between tins coast and the
Atlantic, from the piratical nug which already
thraetsps injury, aud would ruiict destruction OF
both.
5. That IN the present overwhelming crisis. he
who would seek. by rcviyinE past pjrtist issues,
To disrac, the p.o le o. ~ wrcst from their hon
/ est and pafriuticTeVptior some sordid partisan
advantage, Is moi true To- the country, nor worthy
/ the name ut an American citizen.
q. That we hold that uar paramount allegiance
is due To the Federal Government that the right
of State secession IS dangerous h,gesy, inevita-
/ blv destructive Of our inrm of Guyrrmeaf
Z. That atade"cc tp the constitutional will uf
maioriues is the only Safeguard nf Republican
! Guvernments; that wc viii uphold the cunstitu-
ted authorities, undcrull circumstances and at all
sphere, regardless ui what party may be in power.
/ 8. That Governments are political organizl-
tions, armed with coeTcive power, without which
they cannot exist that II * not only no assuu,p-
I tlon # authority upon the part Of Governments,
! but their positive duty ~ exercise such cuercIve
/ power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or dune>t rebellion.
6. That We trace the causes through which the
present rebellion hls reen accomplished, to the ex-
lsence Of sectional political parties IN the coun-
try, one founded upon &nti'>iagpyy, the other
pro slavery, both oln'llv anti Dtnucr tic and de-
structve Ut the peace, harmon, aud prosperity Of
the country; thai it IS the duty ~ tn Union Dem
crntic arty ~ take II s'-puZ conservative posi-
tlon IN this the hour q lr con try's trial and
rAIlying aTnund our National Flgr present an
unbroken front 70 all cc,ional % Z at.09
20. That aS Caliioriians, we ap eil to the whole
people OF California without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues, 10 stand with us
BY oar country and our flag. that all may know
hat the great Union Deinocr tic psrJy Of Califor-
MIA is the overpowering majority Of her citizens.