Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-06
Platform adopted by the Union Demo.
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party OF iealty to free government and fratcr-
nal devotion TO the rights Of the States Of the
Union, and OF unwavering fidelity to the laws, the
Constitution, the Union, and the counry-readr
to maintain them by all proper means and t
every sacrifice
And whereas, The country is now defending il
self against war without Justification or deceu.
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable combine
! tons claiming to represent the people of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is manlteStly a war for the invasion of
our National Capital: for the overthrow Of our
National Governments the oppression of the loyal
States the subjugatiOn of the Union Il war to
humble in the dust our National flag; to wrench
| from the American people their constitutional
| rights of determining for themselves their own
policy, foreign and domestic, and to blot them out
from the class Of the great powers of the world
And whereas such war, aggressive in its
character, and so deadly in its purposes, forces
upon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
stlnct OF seltpreseryatlon, or worthy OF an exist
ence as a nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
! Convention,
l. That at this time, when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, indificr-
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
cowardicc, if not premeditatcd dlsloyaltv.
9. That the people of California in the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the land,
and will hail with JOY an honorable adjustment IN
| the future; at the same time they are aB0re all
MiHgS, TOR tie UNION, the Country and the Flag
against all assailants-no matter who they are,
whence they come Or 2CiM 1rhdt D0lcei. dltaeI
B. That in this great crisis of the American ma
ton and name our State will always, as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional ubli-
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern
ment, and, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at Washington IN
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this most unjustfablc and un-
natural war.
4. That in the name Of the loyal people of Calf
fUrna, we demand Of the General Government
by all its power, to protect their lives and proper
ty on the high seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the pratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would iutIct destruction on
both.
s. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues,
to distract the people, to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sOrdid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name ofan American citizen.
6. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due TO the Federal Government; that the right
Estate secession is a-tangerous heresy, ineyita-
bly, destructive of our form OF Government.
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will of
majorihes is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constitu-
dutnOTles, uIiucl all anu at All
hazards in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless of what party may be in power.
s. That Governments are political Organiza-
tons, armed with cuercive 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 coerclve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.
9. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the Cx-
istence of sectional political parties in the couu-
try, on3 founded upon auti-slayery, the other
pro-slayery, 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 party to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour of our countrvs trial and
rallying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation
10. That as Calfornians, we appeal to the whole
people OF California, without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with us
by our country aud our flag, that al may know
that the great Union Democratic party Of Cslitor
nia is the overpowerng majority ofher citizens