The Placer herald., 1864-07-02
DEMOCRATIC STATE PLATFORM.
Adopted Mt San Francisco. MAY. 1854.


Resolved, That the Democracy of the State Of
California are in favor OF an unalterable adhe-
renee to the Constitution of the United States
with all the guarantees Of civil liberty, unim-
paired.
Resolved, That we are in favor of the restor-
alton and preservation of the whole American
Union and that we recognize to its fullest exten
the right and duty of the Government to resist
by every constitutional mode rebellion or insur
rection against is lawful supremacy but we re-
cognize the right solely for the purpose of restor-
ing its constitutional authority, and for other
purpose whatever
RESOLVED, That it is the duty of the State of
California, as member of the Union, to yield
obedience to all constitutional Acts of Congress
and the Federal Executive, and that any party,
who shall endeavOr to incite instruction or re-
bellon within her borders or disafection and
discord among her people, is traitor to the
best interests.
Resolved That the aim and object of the Dem
ocratic party is to preserve the Federal Union,
and the rights of the several States unimpaired,
and they hereby declare that they do not con-
slider the Administration usurpation of eXtraor-
binary and dangerous powers granted by the
constitution the subversion of the civil by
military law in States not in insurrectionary re-
belion-the arbitrary military arrest, imprison-
ment, trial and sentence Of American citizens in
such States where civil law exists in full force
and vigor-the suppression OF freedom of speech
and of the press-the open and avowed disre-
gard of State rights-the fanatcal attempt TO
place the negro on social and political equality
with the white race-and the employment of I'M
usual test oaths-as calculated to preserve or
restore a union of the several States or perpet-
uate Government deriving its just powers from
the consent of the governed.
Resolved, That we are opposed to all secret
political organizations and societies rs dangerous
to the liberties OF the people, and destructive Of
q republican form of government.
Resolved, That we claim and demand as ina
lienabe rights, freedom Of thought. freedom OF
speech and freedom of the press. and further de-
clare that government agents should be at all
times be held at a strict accountability to the
people, and that all errors of such agents should
be liable to the full and free exercise of untram-
meled popular discussion for the purpose of cor
rection by the ballot box.
Resolved. That we denounce and unqualifedly
condemn the Emancip patton Proclamation of the
President of the United States, as tending to
protract indefinitely civil war, excite servile in
surrection, and inevitably close the door forever
to a restoration of a union of these States.
Resoired That we disapprove of all Congress
sional laws tending to substitute paper cur
rency in California in place of our own metallic
circulating medium.
Resolved, That the spirit and meaning of the
Democratic Platform of this State are comprised
in the words, The Constitution as it is, and the
Union as it was"
RESOLVED, That IN the opinion OF this conven-
ton, the war as at present conducted by the Abo-
lition party is not prosecuted in a manner to re-
store the Union, (nor with any expectation that it
will have that resu) on the contrary. the object
of those in power is simply to abolish slavery,
and in the event that they succeed in this, to rev.
olutionize the Government, and establish cen
traized power utterly subversive of the rights OF
the States under the constitution. and that we
therefore hope and believe that the National con-
vention will pledge the Democratic party to Il
restoration Of peace upon just and honorable
terms
Resolved. That the Democratic party of this
State are opposed to the taxation Of the mines by
the Federal Government, believing that it will
tend materially to repress the energy and enter
prise with which the mining population are now
developing the resources Of the country-be det-
rmental to the best interests of the State, and in
many instances will be simply an oppressive bur-
den upon unproductive labor.
ReS0iped That the increase of the State tax by
the last Republican Legislature, and their extrav-
agant appropriation of public money, when til,
people were already overburthened with National
taxation, is conclusive evidence of the unftness
of that party to control our State legislation.