Year: 1861

WHERE'S, The Democratic party has ever been
the party fealty to free government and frater.
nal devotion TO the rights of the States Of the
Union, and of unwavering fidelity to the laws the
Constitution, the Union, and the country-readv
to maintain them by all proper means aud
every sacrifice


And whereas, The country is now defending il
self against war without justification, or decen,
excuse; waged upon it by reasonable comblna
tons claiming to represent the people Of certain
States claiming to have seeded from the Union
which is mantcstly 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 a war to
humble in the dust our National flag; to wrench
from the American people their constitutional
rights of determining for themselves their own
policy, foreign and domestic, and 10 blot them out
from the class 0fthe great powers of the world


And 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 common in
stinct of selfpreseYation, or worthy of an exist
ence as a nation


Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by this
Convention,


l. That at this fine, when the country is resist
ing war OF oppression and destruction, inditf
enee is impossible to the patriot, and neutrality is
cowardice, if not premeditated dlsloyaIty


2. That the people of California in the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the land
and will hail with joy an honorable adj dustment in
the future; at the same time they are, db0re all
things, for tie UNION, the Country and the Flag
against all assailants-no matter who they are,
whence they come, or WiM What potcey arnaol


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
80.
either against this most unjustifable aud un-
natural war.


4. That in the name Of the loyal people of Cali
fornia, we demand of the General Government,
by all its power to protect their lives and proper
ty on the hlgh seas, between this coast and the
Atlantic, from the piratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would inaict destruction on
both.


5. That in the present overwhelming crisis, be
who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues,
TO distract the people, o. to wrest from their hon.
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worthy
the name OF an American citizen.


G. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the right
Of State secession is dangerous heresy, nevita-
bly, destructive of our form of Government.


z. That obedience to the constitutional will OF
majortes is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments that we will uphold the constitu-



hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless Of what party may be in power.


s. That Governments are political organza-
tons, armed with cOercve 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 coercve
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
stence of sectional political parties in the coun-
try, one founded upon anti-slavery, the other
pToslavery, 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
ocratic party to take 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 Callfornians, we appeal to the whole
people Of California, without distinction of party
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with us
by our country aud our aag that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party OF Cslitor-
MIA Is the overPowernc majority her citizens.