Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-24
Platform adopted by the Union Demo.
cratic State Convention of 1861.


WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party of ealty to free government and trater-
nal devotion to the rights of the States of the
Union, and OF unUaverng fidelity to the laws, the
Constitution the Union, and the country--ready
to maintain them BY al proper means and t
every sacrifice . ,.,,.
And whereas, The country is nov DEF, lding it
self against war without justification, or decent
excuse; waeed upon it by reasonable combna,
! tions claiming to represent the people of certain
States claiming TO have seeded from the Union
which is maniiesty war for the invasion d
our National Capital; for the overthrow of oul
| National Government the oppression of the Iowa
States the subjugation of the Union a 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, forces
upon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
stnct of scltpreseryatlon, or worthy of an exist
ence as a nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolve By this
Convention,
|. That at this time when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, iudiiler-
ence is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is
cowardice, if not premeditated disloyalty.
2. That the people Of California in the past baye
been most anxious for peace throughout the land,
and will hail with Joy an honorable adjustment in
the future; at the same time they are, aJ0ye aU
things, t0r tie UNION, the Country md the Flag
against all assailants-no matter who they are,
whence they come or t0M s0hat po15er armed.
8. That in this great crisis Of the American ma
ton and name our State will always, as hereto
fore, faithfully discharge her Constitutional obli-
cations to the Union and the Federal Govern
ment and, as in duty bound, will earnestly sus-
tain the constituted authorities at Washington in
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this rost unusti6able aud un-
natural war.
T. That in the name of the loyal people OF Cali
fGrnia, we demand Of the General Government,
by all its power to protect their lives and proper
ty on the high seas, between this coast ard the
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would inhict destruction or
both.
5. That in the present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek. by reviving past partisl issues,
to distract the people, to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sOrdid partisan
advantage is not true 10 the country, nor worthy
the name ian American citizen.
g. That we hold that our param mt allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
of State secession is dangerous heresy, inevita-
DIV destructive of our 'orm Of Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional will OF
majorhes is the only safeguard of Republican,
Governments that we will uphold the constitu-
ted authorities, under all circumstances and at all
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere regardless Of what party may be IN power.
S. That Governments political organiza-
tons, armed with coerciye power, without which
they cannot exist that it is not only no assump-
tion of authority upon the part of Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such coercye
power in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.
o. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the ex
istence of sectional political parties in the couu-
try, one founded upon anti-sIavery, the other
pfo,slavery, both equally anti Democratic and de-
structiye of the peace, harmony and prosperity of
the country; that it Is the duty of the Union Dem
ocratic arty to take strong conservative posi-
ton in this the hour of our country's trial. and
ralying around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front to all sectional agitation.
10. That as Calfornians, we appeal to the whole
people of California, without distinction { party
or reference to partisan issues, TO stand with us
by our country and our flag. that all may know
That the great Union Democratic party OF Caliior-
mia is the oyerpowerng majority fhsr citizens.