Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-06
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic state Convention Of 1861

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the pnrty of ttbl'v tJ free government and trater.
nal devotion tu the rights of the States Of the
Union. and Of uuvaverng EdelitT TO the laws, the
Constitution the Union aud the counlry-ready
TO maintain them by all proper means and at
every sacrifice
And whereas. The country is now d Tending Il.
self against war without justiicatiou or decent
excuse; waCed upon it by reasonable combina-
uon9 claiming 20 represent the people of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which ID uanilest,y q war for the invasion Of
our Aat.eua, Capital. for the overthrow Of our
National Government the oppression of the loyal
States the suhiugation Of the Union a war 10
humble in the dust our National flag; 10 wrench
from the American PEI pie their constitutional
rights Of determining fr themselves their own
policy, foreign aud domestic, aud 10 blot them ou.
from the class Of the great powers of the world;
And whereas such war So aggressive in its
character and So deadly IN te purposes, forces
upon the country an issue vh ch can he met hut
in one way by any people harng the common in
shnot Of self lfpreservaton, or worthy Of an exist
eucr as q nation
Thercf'ro, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention.
l. That at this tine. when the country is resist
ing war Of oppr sslon and destruction, ind iter-
cuCe is impOss De % the patriot and neutrality IL
coward ce, if not rremed dltated dslovaltv.
9. That the people Il California in the past have
been most anxious f4rpcace throughout the land,
and VIII hail with joy an honorable justment in
the future; at the same time they are, G6ore ntI
t5iBqs, fer NE UNov, the Country and the lag,
against al! aesaiants-uo matter Who they are,
whence they come. o' 'ciN 9Hbat poacer armed
2. ih0t in this great crisis Of the American ma
ton 'ud name cur State will always as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
CATIONS to the Union and the Federal Govern
mcni, and as i'm duty bound will earnestly sus-
tam the cor stItuted authorities at Washington IN
all measures necessary to defend aud protec:
either against this most unjrstifable aud un.
natural war.
L. That Ia tie name Of lhe loyal people Of Cali
flrnio we demand Of the Genecal Government
Gy all .ts "1vec to protect their lives and proper,
ty on the nigh seas, between tl-s coast and the
Atlantic, from the piraucil Gag which already
threatens injury. and would iLhict destruction or
both ..
.. ~hat in tine present overwhelming crisis, he
Vho would seek, by rcyying past partisan issues
t,dstrac, the p-of ie. o. 10 wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is moi true to The country, nor worthy
The name otan American citizen.
6. That we hold that our paramoNnt allegiance
is due TO the Federal Government that the right
ufShie secession is a dangerous heresy irevta-
bly, destructive of our form Of Government
T. That obedience to the constitutional will of
maioriues is the only safeguard &C Republican
Gurcrumeuts; that We vii uphold the consttu-
ted authorities under all circumstances and at all
hazards in ntlutsiring Federal Jurisdiction in its
! sphere regardless ~ w'lat petty Tay be in power
/ g. That Governments are political organizl-
| tons, armed with coercve power, without which
they cannot exist; thai i is not only no assump-
| ton Of authority upon the part of Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such coerclve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either lorc!gn invasion or domestic ebcllion.
9. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, TO the ex.
stsucc Of sectional political parties in the coun-
try. one founded upon anti-siavery, the other
proslarrlv. both equally anti Democratic and de-
structire ol the peace, harmony and prosperity of
the country; TINT i ls the duty Of the Union Dem.
ocraic arty 10 take a strong conservative posi-
ton IN this the honr Of onr countrys trial, and
ra'lYinC around our National Flag, present ar
unbroken front 20 al sectional agitation.
TO- That ns Cahfornians. we appeal to the whole
people Of California, without distinction of party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with us
by orr country aud our Gag, that all may know
Jhat the great Union Denocr tic party Of Califor
MA is the ovefppwcrlng majority OF her citizens.