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

WHEREAS The Democratic party has ever been
the party fieatY to free government and frutor-
nal devotion tothe rights Of the States Of the
Union, and Of nWavcring fidelity to the laws, the
Constitution, the Union, and the country ready
to maintain them by all proper means and
every sacrifice
And Whereas Tho country is now dcf.ndncit
self against war without Justification, or d,ccu
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable combua
tuns claiming to represent the people of certain
States claiming TO have seeded from the Union
| which is manestly war for the invasion Of
/ our National Capital: for the overthrow Of our
| National Government; the oppression OF the loyal
| States the subiugation of the Union 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 ofthc great powers Of the world;
And whereas such war SO aggressive in its
character, and so deadly in its purposes, frees
upon the country an issue which can be Ect but
in one way by any people having the common in
stiuct OF fsclEprc5ervaton, Or Wutthy oi an exist
cnce as nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
l. That at this time when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, iuditeT-
| enCe is impossible To the patriot and neutrality is
coward'ce, if not premedltated dISlovalty.
.. That the people oi California IN the past have
been most anxious for peace thruuehou, Che land,
anu W III udll WIN JOY dii H'filt l
the future; at the same time they are, o57se al
Hinqs, f1r the UNION, the Country and the lag,
against all assaihuts--n no matter who they are,
wheucr they come ar uiH lrda' p2,rcr arD,eL
3. That in this great Crisis OF the American ma
ton aud name our State viii always, as hlrgto-
fore faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
cations TO the Union and the Federal Govern
mcut and as in duty bound will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at Washington IN
all measures neces 'ary to defend and protect
either against this most unjusuiiab!e and un-
natural war.
A. That in the name Of the loyal people Of Cali
fprnia, we demand Of the General Government,
bv all its power, to protect their lives and proper
" ON the high seas, between this coast and the
/ Atlantic from the piratcal flag which already
threatens injury, and would nhct destruction on
both.
,. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek, bv reviyiug past partisan ssugs
to distract the poor lc o. to wTcst from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordld partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
| the name ofan American citizen
s. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
| is due to the Federal Government; that Che right
/ Of State secession is dangerous hercsy, inevta
| bly, destructive Of our orm Of Government.
! :. That obedience to the constitutional VIII OF
naioriues is the only safeguard of Republican
Goyernments that we viii uphold the consttu-
ted authorities, underall circumstances, and az all
| hazards in maintaining Federal jurisdiction IN It's
sphere regardless Of what party may be in power
S. That Governments are political organiz4
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 coerciye
power in order 10 maintain themselves against
! either foreign INVASION or domestic rebellion.
g. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, TO the ex-
istenc6 Of sectional political parties in the coun-
try one founded upon auti-sIavery, the other
pToslavery both equally antnemocratjc aud de-
structiye Of the peace harmony aud prosperity OF
the country; that it Is the duty of the Union Dem
ocratic party to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour Of our country's trial, aud
rallying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation.
TO- That as Calturnians we appeal to the whole
people Of California, without distinction OF party
or reference to partisan issues 10 stand with us
by our country aud our flag that all may know
tha, the great Union Democratic party OF 'aliior-
MA Is the oyerpowerrng majority ot her cUi2ens.