Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-18
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic State Convention of 1861.


WHERrAs The Democratic party has ever been
the pefy Of !eaty 10 free government and frater-
nal devotion TO the rights Of the States Of the
Union, and Of unWaverlng fidelity to the laws the
| Constitution, the Union. and the country-readY
to maintain them hy all proper means and
every sacrice
And whereas. The country is now defendinrt.
sell against war without Justification, or decent
excuse; waged upon il by reasonable combrna-
! tons claiming 10 represent the people of certain
States claiming tn have seeded from the Union
| which is tuJuitesty war for the invasion Of
our National Capital: for the overthrow of our
National Government the oppression Of the loyal
! states the subjugatlou Of the Union 9 war 10
! humble IN the dust our National lag; to wrench
! from the American penpie their constitutional
! rights CT determining for themselves their own
policy, foreign aud domestic and To blot item ou,
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, frces
upon the country in Issue which can be met bat
in one way by any people having the comrcr in.
stnct OF sell preservation, or worthy Of an exist.
ence as nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
/. That at this time when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, ind fer
eucc is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality ia
C0wardlce, if not premedltated dlslovattv.
9. That the people If California in the pust have
been most anxious for peace throughout the lrnd,
and VIII hail witb joy an honorable ad djustment il
the future; at the same time they are dbOss al
hi0gS, far tic UNION, the Country and the + lag,
against all aSsailauts-no matter who they are,
whenc they come, 0r agiM chat p0ager armed.
3. That m this great crisis ut tie American ns.
ton and name our State will always, as hereto.
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional ob!i
cations 10 the Union aud the Federal Govero,
ment aud, 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 unjustdabIe aud
natural war.
4. That ia TIE name of the loyal people of Cali.
brnia, we demand Of the General Government.
by all its power TO protect their lives and proper.
tV on the bigh seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the pratica flag which already
threatens injury and would iudict destruction on
both.
s. That in the present overwhelming crisis, hs
who would seek, by revivng past partisan N issuOs
to distract the peo e, o. 10 wrest from their hou.
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name Of an American citizen.
6. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the ripht
Estate secession is u dangerous htresy inevta-
bly, destructive of our orm of Government.
7. That obedience TO the constitutional will Of
malonues Is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constitu.
ted authorities under all circumstances and at ~
hazards in maintaining Federal jurisdiction IN it's
sphere, regardless Of what party may be in power.
8. That Governments are political orgauiza.
tons, armed with coercive power, without which
they cannot exist; that 1t Is not only no assump-
ton Of authority upon the part OF Governments,
but their pustve duty 10 exercise such coercvs
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign INVASION or domestic rebellion.
8. That we truce the causes through which the
present rebellion has besn accomplished, tp The ex.
istence of sectional political pa. ties in TIE CO IN.
try, one founded upon antiS avery, { e other
pro slavery, both equally anti Democratic and de.
structive OF the peace. harmony and prosperity Of
the country that it Is the duty Of the Union Dem.
ocratic .iarty 10 take strong conservative posi-
tinn in this the hour of our countrys trial, and
railying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front TO all sectional agitation.
10. That as Cahiurnians, we appeal to the whols
people Of California, without distinction nf party
or reference to partisan issues. 10 stand with us
by our country and our tag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party OF Califo-.
mis- is toe ovsrpNverirg majority Qf her citlzsns