Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-15
Platform adopted by the Union Demo-
cratic State Convention OF 1861.

| WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party Of atty to free government and rater.
nal devotion the rights Of the States Of tie
Union, and Of un"avcring fidelity to the laws. the
Constitution, the Uuiuu. and the country-ready
to maintain them hy al proper means aud at
every sacrifice
Aud whereas The country is no7v defending IT,
self against war without Justification or decent
excuse; waged upon it 10y reasonable combna-
tons claiming 10 represent the people of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which Is mHnifestY a war for the invasion of
our National Capital: for the overthrow Of utIr
NatonHl Government the oppression Of the luyal
States the sabjugation of the Union Al war tp
humble IN the dust our National flag TO wrench
from the American people their constitutional
rights of determining for themselves Their own
pulley, foreign and domestic, and IL blot them out
from the class If the great powers Of the world;
And whereas such war, so aggressive m its
character, and 50 deadly in It's purposes, frees
upon the country an Issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the commln n in
stnct OF preservation, or worthy Of an exist
ence as II natlon
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
l. That at this time. when the country is resist.
ing war OF oppression and destruction, indiffer.
euce is impossible to the patriot and neutrality is
cowardce, if not premedifated dsioyalty.
2. That the people of C.Iiiorna in the past have
been most anxious for peace thruu. hOut the land
and will hail with joy AN honorable djustment in
the future; at the same time they are mare uU
things, TOR tie UNION, the Country and the lag,
against all asSalliHts--no matter who they are
whence they come 0r WiH wlat gurey aineA
3. That in this great crisis of the American ma
ton and name our State will always, as hereto
fore faithfully discharge her Constitutional 0bli-
cations to the Union aud the Federal Govern
ment, ana, as in duty bound. will earnestly sus-
tam the constituted authorities at Washingtnn n
all ua IA, 1af.pt a,I
either against this most unjGstifablc and un-
uatural war.
d. That in the name Of the loyal people Of CALI
iornia, demand Of the General Government,
by all its power, to protect their lives and proper
ty on the hi IN seas between tins coast and the |
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
threatens INJURY, aud would lu1ct destruction on
both.
D. That in The present overwhelming crisis, he
who would seek, by reyiving past partisan issuas
to distract the peo e ~ to wrest from their hon
est aud patriotic devotion some sordId partisan
advantage, Is uot true Ia the country, nor worthy
the name an American citizen.
6. That we hold that oar paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
If State secession is IA dangerous heresv, inevta-
bly, destructive of our orm Of Government
Z. That obedience to the constitutional will Of
uaiorlues Is the only Safeguard Of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the cunstitu.
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless If what party may be in power
<. That Governments are political Organlzi- |
tiOns, armed with cuercve power, without which !
they cannot exist that it Is not only no asSump-
ton If authority upon The part of Governments, !
but their p sItive duty la exercise such coerclve |
power, in order to maintain themselves against |
either tuteIgn lnvHsinn ur donest iehellun.
o. That we trace the clu>eS through which the |
present rebellionhls oeen nccompshed, Ia the ex |
istenee Of sectional political parties in the coun-
try, one founded upon anti.>lavery. the other |
proslayery, buth equally anti Democratic and de.
>truetiye Of the peace harmony aud prosperity nt |
the country; thar il Is the duty of the Union Dem
ocrdtic arty Ia take strong Conservative posi-
ton IN this the hour of our couniry's trial, and |
rallying around our National Flag, present an |
unbroken front to all sectional agtiton.
10. That as Calfurnians, we appeal To the whole /
people Of California, without distinction of party |
or reference TO partisan issues 10 stand with US
by our country and our aag. that all may know
hat the great Union Deinucr tic party of Calfur- |
MIA is the overpowerng majority fher citizens.