Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-03
Platform adopted by the Union Demo
cratic State Convention of 1861.

WHEREAS The Democratic party has ever been
the party Of ieay TO free government and frat. r.
nal devotion tothe rights of the States ti The
Union, and OF unwavcrng fidelity to the laws, the
Constitution, tie Union, and the couutry-rCatr
to maintain them by all proper means and
every sacrifice
And whereas The country Is nov 4 fsud,ngit
self against war without iuSuIcs'ou, or drccn,
eXcrsc "aged upon IL by trcasouobie c1m5la
tons claiming TO represent the people Of certain
State, claiming TO have seeded from the Union
| which is manlicsty n war for the invasion OF
| our National Capital: for the overthrow Of our
National Government the oppression of die loyal
| States the subiugation Of the Union % war To-
| humble in the dust oar National flag; 10 wrench
! from the American people their constitutional
rights Of determining for themselves their own
policy, foreign and domestic, and 70 blot them ont
from the class Of the great powers oi the world;
And whereas such war, so aggressive 10 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 seltPrcseryation, or worthy Of au exist
eucr as q nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,
/. That at this time. when the country is resist
ing war Of oppression and destruction, indlyr-
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality Is
cOwardce, if not premeditated dls,uyatv.
2. That the people oi California in the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout thc land,
aud viii hail with joy an honorable adjustment in
! the future; at the aauc time thev are, o50ge al.
| things, for the UNION, the Country and tae Flag,
/ against all assa,lauts--nO matter who they are,
whence they come Og' 1c,M 1gtat DwrrF clD,li.
/ 3. That in thus great crisi, Of the American ma
1 tOu and name our State will always, as hereto
foio, faithfully discharge her Cunsttutunai oblI-
cations t. the Union and the Federal Govern
ment, and, as in duty bound, viii earnestly sus-
| taia the constituted authorities at Washington IN
| all measures necessary to- defend and protect
either against this most utjusthdbie and W.
natural war.
!. That in The name Of the loyal people of Cali
forua, we demand Of the General Government
by all ts power, TO protect their lives and proper
ty on the nigh seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
threatens injury and would lutlct destruction on
/ both.
3. That in t,e present overwhelming crisis, he
| who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues,
TO distract the people, o. to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordld partisan
advantage, is not true 20 the country, nor worthy
the name OF an American citizen.
6. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
Of State secession is dangerous heresy, lnevlta
blv destructive Of our form Of Government.
7. That obedience to the constitutional viii OF
maorites is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we viii uphold the cOnstltl-
ted authorities under all circumstances, and at all
sphere, regardless Of what party may be in power
s. That Governments are political orgauizl-
tons armed with coercIve 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 90 exercise such coerclve
power in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign INVASION or domestic rebellion.
0. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, 70 the ex
! isence of sectional political parties in the couu-
try one founded upon auti.savery, the other
pro slavery, both equally anti Democratic and de-
structive OF the peace, harmony and prosperity Of
the country that it Is the duty o. tie Uniun Dem
ocratic party to take a 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 Cahfornians, we appeal to the whole
people Of California, without distinction ut party
or reference 70 partisan issues, 10 stand with Us
by our country and our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Democrats party of CalIi'T-
uls u tho empowering majority other cl'75ns.