Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-20
Platform adopted By the Union Demo.
cratie saatc CONVENTION OF 1861.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party uiilalty to free government and trller-
nal devotion 60 The rights Of lie States Of the
Union and Of unwayering fidelity to the laws, the
Constitution, the Union. and the country-readv
TO manlan them by all proper means and
every sacrifice
And whereas, The country is now dcitndiugit 10
self against war without Justification, or deceu.
excuse; waccd upon it by reasonable combua
uNns ciaunlug To represent the people Of certain
States claiming ia have seeded from the Uuiou
which is mau't1st)y war for the invasion of
our National Capital: for the overthrow Of our
| National Governments the oppression Of the l0val
states the suhlugat.0n Of tie Union 4 war 10
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 10 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 forces
upon the country an issue which can be met but
IN one way BY any people having the common in
aimct ot se!fprcseiyation, or worthy Of an exist
ence as q nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
l. That at this tirno. when the country Is resist
ing war Of oppression and de>tructjon, iudiIj.r-
euce is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
coward'ce, if not prcmtd!tQted dl,oyAiy.
?. That the people Of California In the past have
been most anxious iorpcacc throughout the Itud.
and viii hail with joy an honorlbeadiust in
tha future; ut the s8me time -v are. oH.rl az
ti0H, tor tie UNoN, tho Country and the Flag.
against all assallauts-uo natter WHO they are
whence they come, orrM l1l1t pol",r ame{
3. That in this Crelt crisis uf the American ma
ton and name our State will always, As heretn-
fore faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern
meut and, as in duty bound. will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities mt Washington IN
all measures necessary tp defend and protect
either against this most uniustiGable AID uu-
natural war.
q. That in the name Of the loval people Of Cali.
lornja, we demand Of the General Government
W AL lbs power, TO protect their lives and proper
~ on tte high seas between this coast and the
Atlantic, from The ri5atool fag which already
threatens injury, and would iLtiict destruction on
both.
8. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek by rcviyinc past partisan issues,
TO diract the people, o. to Vrtst from their hoG-
est and patriotic devotion some sOrdd partisan
advantage, is no, true to the country, nor worthy
the name ofan American citizen.
q, That we bold that our paramount allegiance
| is due to the Federal Government; that the right
ofSwte secession is a dangerous hgrysy, ineyita-
bly, destructive Of our orm Of Government
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will OF
maj Jrihe7 is the only safeguard Of Republican
| Goverumcuts; that we will uphold the consttu-
ted authorities under all circumstances, and al al
hazards, 30 maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless ofWhat party may be in power.
s. That Governments are political orgauiz1-
uous armed with c0cFcNe power, without which
they cannot exist; that it is not only no assuma.
tion ot authority upon the part of Governments,
hit their " sitye duty to exercise such cocrc.ya
power, in order to maintain themselves arainst
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.
9. That we trace the causes through which tho
present rebellion has teeuaccomplShe1, To the e2t
istence Of sectional political parties in the couu
try, one founded upon auti-slayerv, the othe1
proslavery both equally anti Democratic and dc
structiye of the peace, harmony and prosperity o
the country; that Is the duty OF the Union Dem
/ ocratic rarty to take a strlng conservative posi-
4 ton IN this the hour ofour couutrys trial, apC
mlIyine around our National Flag, present al
unbrolou front to all sectional agitation.
/ 10. That as Cahiornians, we appeal 20 the Who'll,
+ people OF California, without distinction Of party
or reference TO partisan issues. TO stand with u
( by our country and our Aag. that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party Of Calitor
ma is the overpowelug majority other citizens.