Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-20
Platform adopted by the Union Demo
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party oftealty to free government and frater
nal devotion to the rights of the States Of the
Union, and of unwavering fidelity to the laws the
Constitution, the Union, and the country ready
to maintain them by all proper means and
every sacrifice
And Whereas The country is now dcfendugit it
self against war without Justification, or drcent
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable combna
tions claiming to represent the people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is manitestiy war for the invasion of
our National Capital: for the overthrow of our
National Government; the oppression Of the loyal
| States the subjugatiOn of the Union a 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 the great powers of the world
And whereas such war, so 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
stnct of fself-preservation, or worthy Of All exist
ence a nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
l. That ut this time, when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction indifler-
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality 10
c0wardlCe if not premedated dlsOyalty.
2. That the people Of California in the past have
been most anxious for pence throughout the land,
and will hail with JOY an honorable adjustment in
the future; at the same time they are, dJo0e all
things, f0r tie UNION, the Country and the Flag
against all aSsaants-no matter who they are,
whence they come, Or ICiH g6at p02ger a1'0lsi.
3. 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 aud the Federal Govern.
ment, and as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tain the cor stltuted authorities at Washington IN
tttaa IN u,A t.,N
either against this most unjusttable aud uu-
natural war.
L. That in the 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 tue piratcal flag which already
threatens injury, and would inAct destruction on
both.
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues
to distract the people, o. 70 wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name OF an American citizen
&. 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 orm Of Government
z. That obedience to the constitutional will of
majorihes is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constitu-
ted authorities under all circumstances, aud at all
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless Of what party may be in power.
8. That Governments are political organZa-
tiOus armed with coercive power, without which
they cannot exist that II is not only no assump-
ton Of authority upon the part OF Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such cOeTclve
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 ex-
istence of sectional political parties in the couu-
try, one founded upon auti.savery, the other
rO-savery, 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
ocratc party to take a StrOug conservative posi-
ton IN this the hour of our country's trial aud
rallying around our National Flag, present an
uubrokeu front to all sectional agitation.
10 That US Calturnians, we appeal to the whole
people of California, without distinction of party
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 Cafur-
MA is the overpowerng majority Of ner citizens