Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-04
Platform adopted by the Union Dcmo-
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS The Democratic party has ever beon
the party ofieaIty to free government and frator-
nal devotion to the rights Of the States Of the
Union, and OF unwaycrng fidelity to the ai"s the
Constitution, the Union and tle countgy-rauiv
to maintain them by al proper ,ieans and t
every sacrifice
And whereas, Tie country is now defending it
| self against war without justification, or decent
excuse; Wagcd upon it by reasonable combma
| 1uns claiming to- represent the people Of certain
4 States claiming to have seeded from the Union
| which is ,Ianif2Stlv war for the invasion OF
oW National Cap,tal for the overthrow Of oll
>ational Government; the oppression Of the loya
| States the sHbjHgitan Of the Union war to
/ humble in the dust oug National flag; to wrench
4 from the american people their constitutional
| rights Of determining tar themselves thei' o%n
policy, foreign and domestic and blot them out
| from the class of the great powers Of the world;
And whereas such war, SO aggressive in its
character, aud 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
stinct of sctprescryation, or worthy Of an exist
encc as a nation
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
/ Convention,
| l. That at this time, when the country is resist
I ing war Of oppression and destruction ind. fer
| ence is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is
/ coWardjco, if not prcmedatod dIslOyalty.
.. 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 thu are, d6ora UI
| HiagN for Me UNION, the Country and the Flag,
against all assailant5-no matter who they are,
whence they come, r1rW what 1v1rsr a}3ae}.
! 3. That in this great crisis Of the American no-
! ton and name our State will always, as hereto
/ fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
! cations to the Union and she Federal Govern
ment and, as in duty bound, VIII earnestly sus-
| tam the constituted authorities 1T Washington in
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this most unjustihablo and uu-
natural war.
4. That in the name Of the loyal people Of Cali
faruia, 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 piratcal flag which already
threatens injury, and would iniilct destruction on
both.
.. Thai in the present overwhelming crisis, he
/ howou1l seek, by reyiyiug past partisan issues
to distract the people, TO wrcst from their hou-
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
The name otan American citizen.
g. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due TO the Federal Government; that the right
of State secession Is a dangerous herCsy peYlta-
Diy destructive Of our 'onn OF Government.
z. That obedience 20 the constitutional win Of
maiolihcs is the only Safeguard Of Republican
Governments; that we viii uphold the coustltn-
ted authorities under alt circumstances, and at all
ndEAIUS, III mann tanning GeuCid IlHuCtlOI III ttS
sphere, regardless OF what party may bel power.
S. That Governments are political organza-
tioua armed with coerciye power without which
they cannot exist that it Is not only no assump-
tion 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.
q. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion Las Lcenaccomp.iahed to the oX
isteucc of sectional political parties in the coun-
trv one founded upon antislavory, the other
plo.slu,cry, both equally anti Democratic and dc
.tructivc Of THE peace harmony and prosperity of
the country; that il Is the duty ct die Union Dem
ocratic party TO take strong conservative posi-
ton IN this the hour of our cuuutrys trial and
rallying around our National Flag, present an
uubrohen front 10 all sectional agitation.
10. That as CalItorujanS, we appeal to the whole
people OF California without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand Wlth Us
by our country aud our Dag that all may know
th.t tbe great Union Democratic party Of Callior-
MA Is the oysrpuHerng mfion'y OF hel tltUens-