Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-22
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic State Convention of 1901

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party Of featy to free government and fratcr-
nal devotion to the rights of the States of the
Union, and Of uDwaveIing fidelity to the laws the
Constitution, the Union, aud the. counuy-ready
to maintain them by all proper means and t
And whereas, The country is now defending il
self against war without justification, or decent
excuse; waged upon it by treasonable eOmbina
tlons claiming to represent the people OF certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
! which is manfestly war for the invasion Of
our National Capital for the overthrow of our
National Government the oppression Of the loya
| States the subjugatiOn Of the Union /; war to
| humble in the dust our National flag; TO wrench
from the American people their constitutional
rights of determining for thenselves their own
policy, foreign and domestic, and 10 blot them out
from the class Of the great powers of the world;
And whereas such war, SO aggres siye in its
character, and 50 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
stnct Of selfpreseryation, or worthy Of an exist
ence as a 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
enoo is impossible 10 the patriot, aud neutrality is
cowardicc, If not premeditated disloyalty.
2. That the people Of California in the past have
DeGu IINNl dllAlOuS peace tuIOuHibhl the ldUu
and will hail with joy an honorable adjustment in
the tuture at the same time they are, ab9Us all
MjhQs, tor tile UNION, the COuntry and the Flag
against all assailants-no matter who they are
whence they come, or NTH s0hat poa0er armed.
3. That in this great crisis Of the American ma
ton and name our State will always, as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional obi
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern
ment and, as in duty bound will earnestly sus-
tain the constituted authorities at Washington in
all measures necessary TO defend and protect
either against this most uni ustltable aud un-
natural war.
d. That IN tie name of the loyal 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 infict destruction on
both.
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis be
who would seek, by reviving past partsan issues,
TO distract the people, o. TO wrest from their hon.
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name 0fan 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, inevita-
bly, destructive of our iorm of Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional will OF
maiorues is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the consttu-
ted authorities, under all circumstances, and 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 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 coercIve
power n order TO maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.
8. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished to the ex-
!stence of sectional political parties in the coun-
try, one founded upon anti-7lavery, 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 Jarty to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour of our countrys trial, and
ralyipg around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation.
10. That as Californians, we appeal to the whole
people of California without distinction ni party
or reference to partisan issues. To stand with US
by our country aud our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party Of Caliior-
nia is the oYerpo owering majority other ci..zens.