Year: 1861

xrrvprAs The Democratic party has ever been
.hO marty of featy to free government and frater-
enG devotion to the rights of the States of the
IT;on and of unwaverng fidelity to the laws, the
CConstitution, the Union, and the country-ready
:" maintain them by all proper means and at
e'eSd "a whereas The country is now defending it.
.o1f AGAINST war without justification, or decent
Sense waged upon it by reasonable combna-
ems claiming to represent the people of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is manifestly war for the invasion of
our National Capital: for the overthrow of our
National Government the oppression OF the loyal
States the subjugatiOn of the Union war to
humble in the dust our National flag to wrench
from the American people their constitutional
RIGHTS of determining for themselves their own
nolicy, foreign and domestic, and to 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
unon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
ence 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, indiffer-
ence is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
cowardice, if not premeditated dsl0yalty.


2. That the people OF California i'll the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the land,
and will hail with joy an honorable adjustment in
she future; at the same time they are, ADORE all
things, for tie UNION, the Country and the Flag,
against all assailants-no matter who they are,
whence they come, or aoiM 0tat p0e0er armed.


3. That in this great crisis of the American ma
tion 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
Inrx. f,,t
either against this most unjustifable and un-
natural war;


l. That in the name Of the loyal people Of Cali
flrnia we demand of the General Government,
by all its power, to protect their lives and proper
" on the high seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
hreatens injury, and would inlct destruction ON
both.


5. That in the present Overwhelming crisis, ke
who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues,
10 distract the people to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
The name ofan American citizen.


s. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
Estate secession is dangerous heresy, inevta-
bly, destructive of our form of Government


7. That obedience to the constitutional will of
maoritcs is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the constiu-
leu auInOTtleS, uHueT al circumstances, anu dt All
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless 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 assump-
ton of authority upon the part of Governments,
but their positive duty to exercise such coerclve
power in order to maintain themselves against
either foreign invasion or domestic rebellion.


g. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished, to the ex-
stence of sectional political parties in the coun-
Try, one founded upon anti-slavery, 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 Of the Union Dem
ocrltic ,arty to take strong conservative posi-.
ton in this the hour of our country's trial, and
ralyug around our National Flag, present an
unbroken front TO all sectional agitation.


10. That as Caltornians, we appeal to the whole
people Of California without distinction of party
Or reference TO partisan issues to stand with us
by our country and our Rag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party of Calilor-
ma is the overpowering majority OF her citizens