Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-26
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS The Democratic party las ever been
the party oftalv to free government and lrttcr-
nal devotion othe rights Of the States cf tie
Union, and OF nvavcrjug fidelity 10 the laws, the
Constitution, the Union, and the country ready
to maintain them by all lroncr means and
every sacrifice
Aud whereas, The country is BOW defending. it
self against war without justification, or drccu5
excuse; waged upon j. b. reasonable combiut
tons claiming to represent tho people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is maujicatlv . war for the invasion uf
| our National Capitals for the overthrow Of uur
! National Government; the oppression OF the loyal
| States the .uhiugtiou of tic Union a war to
! humble in the dust our National flag; 10 wrench
| from the American people their constitutional
rights Of determining tr themselves their own
policy foreign and duuIcStc and to blot them out
from the class Of the great powers If the world
And whereas such war so aggressive IN it's
character, and deadly in its purposes, frees
upon the country an ssue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common IN
stnct Of scIi.Wcserration, or worthy Of au exist
euce rs 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
ence is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is
cuWardce, i not premedtated dl-oyailv.
2. Lhat the people Of California In the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the aud,
and will hail with joy am honorable adjustment in
the future; at the same time they are, oIoce nh
things, far the UMoN, the Country and the Flag,
against all aSsatuts-uo matter who they are,
whence tIey come. or lciH uiut Jotr,r oluoi
3. That in this great crisis of the American ma
tjon and name our State viii always as uercto-
tule faithfully discharge her Constitutional ohii-
cations to the Union and the Federal Goyeru-
mcut and, in duty bound will earnestly sus-
tain the constituted Authorities at Washington in
all measures necessary to deicad AVID project
either against this most uijuatituble aDd uu-
natural war.
4. That in the name of tie loyal people Of Cali
iurnia, we demand OF the General Government,
by all it's power to protect their lives and proper
ty ON the high seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the piIaical flag which already
threatens injury, aGd " OulG i.A.Ct destruction on
both.
8. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek. by reviying past partisan issues,
to distract the ucor le, to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sOrdid partisan
advantage, is not true 70 the country, nor worthy
the name olan American citizen.
g. That We hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
If state secession is dangerous hgr,sy, iucyita-
bly, destructive of our orm of tGaveumeut
Z. That obedience 20 the constitutional wIl uI
maioriues is the only guard Of Republican
Governments; that we WN uphold the clustitu-
"a
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction ia its
sphere. regardles, Of what party may be in power
g. That Governments are political oiSaulZi
tons, armed with coerclve power without which
they cannot exist that II Is not only mo- a-Sump-
ton Of authority upon the part of Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such coorcve
power, in order To maintain themselves against
either foreign INVASION or domestic rebellion.
o. That we trace the causes through which the
present rcheliouhas accomplished, oihc rN-
isteuce Of sectional political parties IN tIe conn
trv one founded upon autl-,layery, tie other
pro.slavery both equally anti Dem, cratic aud de-
structivc Of the peace, harmony aud prosperity uf
the country that it 0, the duty of the Union Dem
ocratic larty to take u strong Conservative p0,i-
ton in this the hour of our cOuutry's trial, and
mllyiug around our National Flag, present AN
unbroken front TO all sectional agitation.
10. That us Callturnians, we appeal TO The whole
people of California, without distinction ct party
or reference to partisan issues, TO stand with u~
by our country aud our llg that all may know
Ihat the great Union Democr,uc party ct 'dituI-
Ma lie the empowering maj rity Of ber citizens.