Daily national Democrat., 1861-07-30
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party of I, atty to tree government and rater
nal devotion 10 the rights Of the States If the
Union, and Of uuNNveriug Gdelity to the laws, the
Constitution, the Union, and the cOuntrv--rcady
to maintain them by all proper means aud at
every sacrifice
Aud whereas, The country is now defending it.
self against war without justltication or decent
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable combma-
tions claiming to represent the people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which Is ndh,ieojif war ior the invasion Of
our National Capital: for the overthrow If our
Sn,ional Government Che oppression Of the loyal
States the sublugaton cf the Union a war to
humble in the dust our National fig 10 wrench
! from the American people their cnustituti0ual
! 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 80 deadly in its purposes, frees
upon the country an issue which can be met but
III one way by any people having the common in
stlnct OF self preservation or worthy Of an exist
ence rs nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
!. That at this time. when the country is resist
ing a war OF oppression and destruction differ
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
coward ce, if not premrditat ID dsloyalty
2. That the people Of lifo MA in the past have
been most anxious for peace throug hout the land
the future; at the same time they ere, d62gs all
things, for the UNION the Country and the tlag
against all assallants-nO matter who they are
whence they come or eoiH what poloer drmel.
3. That in this great crisis Of the American ma
ton and name or State viii always, as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional ob.
cations to the Union aud the Federal Govern
ment and as in duty bound, will earnestly sus.
tam the constituted authorities ut Washington n
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this most unjustidab!e aud un-
natural war.
4. 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
ty on the high seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would inflct destruction on
both
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis he
who would seek. by reviving past partisan issues,
70 distract the Deof le O. 70 wrcst from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
&dvantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name OF an American citizen.
8. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
ls due to the Federal Government that the right
OF State secession is dangerous heresy, inevita-
bly, destructive Of our form of Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional will Of
maJortles Is the only safeguard Of Republican
Goyernments that we will uphold tie constitu-
ted authorities, under all circumstances and at all
sphere regardless Of what party may be in power.
8. That Governments are political organiza-
tons, armed with coercve 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 coercve
power, in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic ebelon.
.. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the ex.
stence of sectional political parties in the coun-
try, one founded upon anti.slavery, the other
pro slavery, both equally ant-D Democratic and de-
structve OF the peace, harmony and prosperity Of
the country; tnat it Is the duty of the Union Dem
ocratlc ..arty TO take strong Conservative posi-.
ton IN this the hour of our country's trial and
rallying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation.
10. That as Callfornans, we appeal to the whole
people OF California, without distinction If party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with US
by our country aud our eag that ell may know
that the great Union Delnocr tic party Of Caltor-
MIA is the overpowering minority Of her citizens.