Daily national Democrat., 1861-07-28
Platform adopted by tho Union Demo
cratic State Convention Of 1861.

WnEREAs, The Democratic party has ever been
tue parry otitauy t. free gov erumeut aud iratcr-
nal devotion 70 the rights of the States ttNe
Union, and Of uoWayeriug fidelity TO the laws, the
Constitution, The Uuoui and the country ready
% m#iu'~i1 them aJ @H proper mclug aLd d.
every sacrifice
Ala whereas, The country isnovl.f-ustoe e
self against war without Justification. or d.y,at
excuse; wug1t upon il By treosurGhs com5ua.
aHns claiming t1 represent the peop,- If certain
State -,.,a..ag &. have a,-. '-@ l.l ,., Union
which IS man.t--tly q war for DO, ,n,tsl,n Ot
ON Nation. Capital: fc ,he overthrow Of oW
National Government; th- c"p.as.,uA oi -, llygl
States tho sublu~a,i.n o.! the Union. a var {,
/ huIl5t the dust o5t National laE; to wrench
! tro'n tha American people their constitutional
! rights Of determining for themselves their own
policy foreign and .Ae5,.J, and 10 blot them out
from the c'asa cf the great powers Of tae world;
And whereas sue" war so aggressive m ijs
character and so deadly IN It's purposes. frees
upon the country au lssGe which can be met bUt
in one way by any people having the common iu-
s'lnct oi iseliprescfFA;ion, or worthy Ol an exist
enee as 2 nation
Therefore, belt unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
/. That 10 .his dime, when the country is resist.
ing war Cl oppression aud destruction, ind Il y.
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
cuwardcc, il not pramrdiatod disloyaitv
:. That the people Of California in the past have
been most au1i0u> peace throughout the Land
and VIII hail with joy an honorable adjustment in
Tie future; at the same time they are, oJols u12
Mjbas for Hie UN1oN, the Country and tur Flag,
against all assallants-no matter who tAey a!c,
whence tliey come. o" 1riHt ir.Yt H #r,F Ur..-l.
8. That 10 this great crisis O.. the American na-
ton and name our State whi aiways, rs hereto.
tole, faithfully discharge Ecr Constitutional obi-
cations t. the Onion and the Federal Govern.
ment, and, as in duty bound will earnestly sus.
tam the constituted authorities at Washington m
oil
either against this most unjustita5!e auG uu-
natural war.
4. That 10 the name Of III. 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 hgh seas between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the pjratcal FAC which already
threatens injury, and would inlct destruction on
both.
.. That in the present ovcrwhcming crisis he
who would seek, Icy reyying past partis.u issues,
to distract the peoI e, o. to Wrcst FROM their hon.
est and patriotic devotion some sordd partisan
advantage is got true to ihe country, nor worthy
the name OiGl American citizen.
{. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
- due to the Federal Goyernment that the right
Of State secession is dangerous heresy, iucy.ta-
bly, destructive Of our form Of Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional will Of
mGlorlucs Is the only Safeguard Of Republican
Goyernments that we will uphold the constitu-
hazards, in minimizing Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardesru! what pa. IS may be in power.
9. That Governments are political organizl-
tons, armed with coerc.ge power, without which
they cannot exist that il is not only no assuup-
ton Of authority upon the part Of Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such coerclve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign Invasion or domestic rebellion.
0. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the ex
lstence Of sectIona! political parties in the couu-
try, one founded upon aut.s,arery, the other
pro-savery, both equally Democratic and de-
strucuve OF the peace, harmony and prosperity Of
the country; that it the duty Of the Union Dem
ocratic arty to take stroug conservative posi-
tion IN this the hour Of our couut.ys trial and
raIlylng around onr National Flag, present an
unbroken front 20 all sectional agitation.
10. That as Calilornidus, we appeal to the whole
people Of California without distinction Of party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with us
by our country and onr Gag that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party Of Califor-
MA is the overpowering majority other citizens.