The weekly Butte record., 1862-05-17
A Party for the Union.

Inauguration of the rebellion could not turn
them from their principles, nor the triumph of
RepubIicanism seduce them from their allegi-
ance Firm in their adherence and devotion
to the Union and Constitution. they so declared
10 the last campaign, and so they will declare
now.
Were the Republican and Breckinridge or
ganizations sincere in their public declarations
of loyalty TO the Union, in their expressed
desires for the supremacy of the Constitution,
and for the formation Of Union party in Cali
fornia, why not meet upon some common Union
ground, like that put forth By the Democracy
last year? II they ell mean Union, why not
have all the committees meet together upon
common Union ground and call Union Con
vention? Do the Republicans imagine that
they can seduce loyal Democrats into their
sectional organization, which has been the ho,
bed Of treason and rebellion? Do the Breck-
inrdge sympathizers suppose they can seduce
the loyal Democracy into an endorsement of
resolutions favoring recognition of the rebel
Government? If these parties are for the
Union let them proclaim it as the Democracy
of California did last year. If they desire
union with the Democracy let them adopt the
Onion platform of last year.
We publish the declarations of the California
Democracy OF last year, below. They viii
stand by it now. 1t is a common Union
ground upon which all are invited. They will
not change its essential declarations to please
the sectional sympathizers or views of any
party They will cooperate with no party
except upon the well defined Union grounds
occupied by such patriots as Holt, johnson,
and the declarations of the Democratic Con
ventiou of Rhode Island. Parties without
patriotism sufficient TO endorse these positions,
have no views in common with the National
Democracy:
WHEREAS, the Democratic party has ever
been the party of fealty to free government
ard fraternal devotion to the rights of states of
the Union, and of unwavering fidelity to the
laws, the Constitution, the Union and the
country-ready to maintain them by all proper
means and at every sacrifice:
And whereas, The country is now defending
itself against war without Justification, or
decent excuse waged upon it by reasonable
combinations claiming to represent the people
of certain States claiming to have seeded from
the Union-wtich is manifestly war for the
invasion OF our National Capital for the
overthrow of our National Government the
/ oppression of the loyal States the subiugation
of the Union war to humble in the dust our
National flag; to wrench from the American
people their constitutional right of determin-
/ ing for themselves their own policy foreign
aud domestic, and to blot them out from the
class of the great powers Of the world;
Aud 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 com
mon instincts of selfpreseryati0n, or worthy of
an existence as a nation;
Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by
this Committee,
l. That at this time. when the country is re-
ssting with all its might war of invasion and
destruction, Indifference is impossible to the
patriot, and neutrality is cowardice, if not pre-
medi,a,ed dis!oyal'y.
,. That the people of California in the past
have 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 abore oil things, for the Union the
Country and the Flag, az anst all assailants-
no matter who they are, whence they come, or
lChh lriiGt p0Icer armed.
3. That in this great crisis of the American
nation and name, our State will always. as
heretofore. faithfully discharge her constitu
st,,I tl,n ra1
Government, and as in dniy bound will earn
estly sustain the constituted authorities at
Washington IN all measures necessary to defend
and protect either against this most uujustifa-
BILE and unnatural war.
4. That in the name of the loyal people of
California, we demand of the General Govern
ment, by all its power, TO protect the lives and
property on the high seas, between this ceast
and the Atlantic, from the piratical flag which
already threatens injury and would infict de-
struction on both.
5. That all former partisan differences are
lost in the present overwhelming crisis; and
he who would seek, by reviving them, to dis
tract the people, or to wrest from their honest
and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor
worthy of the name of American citizen.
6. That we hold that our paramount allegi-
ance is due the Federal Government that the
right of State secession is a dangerous heresy,
inevitably destructive to our form Of Govern
ment.
:. That obedience TO the constitutional will
of majorities is the only safe guard of RepublI-
can Governments that we will uphold the
constituted authorities, under all circumstances,
and at all hazards, in maintaining Federal
Jurisdiction in any snhprp rerar,ilpSs of what
party may be in power.
s. That Governments are political organza-
tions. armed with coercive power. without
which they cannot exist; that it is not only
no assumption of authority on the part of Gov
ernments, but their positive duty to exercise
such coerciye power, in order to maintain
themselves against either foreign invasion or
domestic rebellion.
9. That we can trace causes through which
the present rebellion has been accomplished. to
the existence Of sectional political parties in