Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-17
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic state Convention of 1861.

! WHEREAS The Democratic party has ever been
the party Of fealty to free government and frater-
nal devotion to the rights Of the States Of the
Union, and u 1nWavorlng fidelity TO the laws the
Constitution, ,he Union, and the couutrv-reaGy
to maintain them by all proper means and t
every sucriiice
And whereas, The country is now dc Tending IL
! self against a war without Justification or decent
| excuse; waged upon it by reasonable combna-
1 tons ciaHuing ~ represent the people of certain
4 States claiming to have seeded from tie Union
! which is mdnltesty u war for the invasion of
1 our National Capital: for the overthrow Of our
National Government the oppression Of the loyal
! States Tie aroiugaton Of tic Union a Tar to
! humble IN the dust our National flag; TO wrench
! from the Amercan people their constitutional
| rights Of determining for themselves their own
| policy foreign aud 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 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 selfpreselvatlon or worthy Of exist
euce 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, indfer-
ence Is impossible to the patriot ANA neutrality is
cowardIce, if not premedated dlsloyaty.
?. That the people Of California in the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the land.
the future; at the same time they are, aJose aiL
MiHgS, far tie UNION the Country and the Flag.
against all ussailauts--uo matter who they are,
whence they come or cjH aohut potoer armef.
3. That IN this great crisis of the American ma
ton aud name our State will always as hcreto-
fore faithfully discharge her Constitutional obll.
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern-
meut, and, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at W Washington N
all measures necessary to defend and protect
aI,-f ~
natural war.
4. That in the name Of the loyal people Of Cali
| frnia, we demand Of the General Government
by all lis power, to protect their lives aud proper
ty on the high seas, between this coast and tho
Atlantic from the piratical flag which already
threatens injury and would iahlct destruction on
both.
s. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek. by revying past partisan issues.
to distract the peoF le, or to wrest rom their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name otau American citizen.
s. That We hold that our paramount allegiance
IS due to the Federal Government; that the right
Of state secession is dangerous heresy, ineylta-
bly, destructive Of our 'orm Of Government.
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will of
majortes is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constitu-
ted authorities under all circumstances, and at all
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in it's
sphtIt lesaruIees ui Wuat party may he IN power.
$. That Governments are political organiZa-
tons, armed with coerclve 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 coercive
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion OF domestic rebellion
g. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has teen accomplished, to the ex-
istence Of sectional political palties in the coun-
try one founded upon anti,s slavery the other
pro slavery both equally anti Democratic and de-
structive Of the peace, harmony and prosperity of
the country that IL Is the duty OF the Union Dem
ocratc larty to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour ofour country's trial and
ralying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation
10. That as Calltornans We apI eil Is the whos
people Of California, without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues. To stand with US
by our country aud our flag, that all may know
that tue great Union Democratic party of Oalltur.
nj is the oyerpo Fering majority OF Der clhzeus.