Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-26
Platform adopted by TIE Union Demo
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS The Democratic party has ever been
the party OF teaItv TO free government ard frater-
nal devotion To the rights Of the States If the
Union, and Of unwaycriug fidelity to the laws thp
Constitution, the Union, and the country ready
to maintain them by all proper means aud
every sacrifice
And whereas, The country is nowG,rrtinril
sell against war without iuSticatiOu, or con-.
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable cnubua
/ tons claiming to represent the people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which Is manitesty war for the invasion OF
our National Capital: for the overthrow of our
Nauonal Governments the oppression Of the loyal
States the subiugation Of tie Union Il 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 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, frcts
upon the country an issue which can be met bat
in one way by any people having the common in
ence as nation
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
!. That at this .r'c. when the country i3 resist.
ing war OF oppression and destruction, indIfer-
euCe is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality ia
cowardIce, II not premeditated disloyalty.
.. That the people Of California in the past haze
been most anxious for peace throughout the land
and VIII hail with joy an honorabeadju djustmeut In
the future; at the same time they are. dBoge nh
Mi79S, fOr tie UNION, the Country and the Flap
against all assallunts-no matter who they are
whence they come, ar 1riH lch0i po,eer 0ymed
3. That in this great crisis of the American ma
ton and name our State win always. as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Copstiiutional obli
cations to the Union aud the Federal Govern
mcnt and as in duty bound win earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities ut Wu,hiugt9n m
fh a. O.
either against tbs most uujustiiiable and un-
natural war.
.. That in the name Of the loyal people of Cali
fornia, we demand of the General Government
by all its power to protect their lives and proper
" on the high seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the pratica flag which already
threatens injury and would uilct destruction on
both.
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis he
who would seek, by reyiying past partlsa issues.
to distract the people, o. to wIest from their hon.
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country nor worthy
the name OF an American citizen.
Is. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due 70 the Federal Government: that the right
Of State secession is dangerous heresy, ineyita-
BIZ destructive Of our .orm Of Government.
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will Of
majoruos is the only safeguard Of Republican
Goyernmentsj that we will uphold the cunstitu.
ted authorities, under all circumstances and at all
hazards IN maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere regardless Of what party may be in power
3. That Governments are political orgauiZl-
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 cuercjve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.
9. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished to the eX-
istence Of sectional political parties in the eouu-
try, one founded upon auti-sayery, tue other
pro-sAvery, both equally anti Democratic and de-
structive OF the peace harmony and prosperity Of
the country; that it Is the duty OF the Unon Dem.
ocratic arty to take a strong conservative posi-
ton IN this the hour of our country's trial, and
rtlying around our National Flag, present an
Gnbroken front to all sectional agitation.
10. That rs CaItorniansTwe appeal to the whole
people ot California, without distinction of party
or reference to partisan issues to stand with Us
by our country aud our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party Of c !.t1r
nla Is the oVeriuAc.ns majority nj her oi'Izeus