Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-23
Platform adopted by the Union Demo
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever beer
the party oftealty to free government and frator
nal devotion to the rights Of the States of TIE
Union, and OF unwavering fidelity 60 the laws. tn,
Constitution, the Union, and the country-read'
to maintain them by all proper means and {
every sacrifice
And whereas. The country is now defending it
self against war without iustl.ication or drccn.
excuse; waged upon it by treasonable combine
tons claiming to represent the people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Uulur
which is mQnlestly a war for the invasion q
our National Capital for the overthrow Of ouI
National Government; the oppression Of the Iowa
States the subugaton of the Union a war ia
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 SO aggressive in its
character, and so deadly in its purposes, f rces
upon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
stlnct OF selfpreseryaton, 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, iudflcr-
ence Is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
cowardlce, if not premedtated dsloyalty.
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 adj djustment in
the future; at the same time they are, a60ce all
things, far tie UNION, the Country and the Elag,
against all assallants-no matter who they are,
whence they come. ar CiM 10lat p0lgef a1Hle2
8. That in this great crisis Of the American ma
ton and name our State will always, as hereto.
fore faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern.
ment, and, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tain the constituted authorities at Washington in
either against this most unjusufable aud uu.
natural war.
A. That in the name Of the lova people Of Cali.
fornia, 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 piratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would inflct destruction on
both.
s. That in the present overwhelming crisis. he
who would seek, by reviying past partisan issues,
to distract the peol le 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.
s. That we hold that our paramount allariance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
Of State secession is dangerous hcresy, ineyita-
bly, destructive of our lorm of Government
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will of
maorlhes Is the only Safeguard Of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constitu-
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless Of what party may be in power
8. That Governments are political organiza-
tions, armed with coercive 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 coercve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic ebelliou
9. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished to the ex-
isence OF sectional political parties in the couu-
try, one founded upon anti-slayery, the other
pro-savery, both equally anti Democratic and de-
structire OF the peace, harmony and prosperity Of
the country; that it Is the duty of the Union DEM
ocratic party to take a strong conservative posi.
ton IN this the hour ofour countrys trial, and
allying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation.
10. That as Calitornans, we appeal to the whole
people OF California, without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues to stand with us
by our country and our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party of CaliEir-
MA Is the oYerporuriuS majority ther citizens