Year: 1861

WHEREAS, The Democratic party has ever been
the party of fealty 10 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, aud the country-ready
60 maintain them by all proper means and at
every sacrifice


Aud whereas, The CO intry is now defending It,
self against war without justification, or decent
excuse waged upon it by reasonable combina-
tions 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
policy, 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
upon the country an issue which can be met but
in one way by any people having the common in
stinct Of selfpreservation, or worthy OF an exist
ence as a 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 premedtated disloyalty.


Q. That tie people of California in the past have
been most anxious for peace throughout the land,



the future; at the same time they are, Adore all
things, for The UNION, the Country and the Flag,
against all assailants-no matter who they are,
whence they come. or sciM Dhat pOeoer armed.


g. That in this great crisis of the American ma.
ton 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
all measures necessary to defend and protect
either against this most unIusthable and un'
natural war.


a. 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
" on the high seas, between this coast and tht
Atlantic, from the pratical flag which already
threatens injury, and would infict destruction Oh
both.


s. That in the present overwhelming crisis, h
who would seek, by reviving past partisan issues
20 distract the people, o. to wrest from their hon
est and patriotic devotion some sordid partisan
advantage, is not true to the country, nor worth.
the name ofan American citizen.


s. That we hold that our paramount allegiance
is due to the Federal Government; that the righ
of State secession is dangerous heresy, inevlta
bly destructive of our form of Government.


T. That obedience to the constitutional will OF
fnaiorites is the only safeguard of Republican
Governments; that we will uphold the c0nstltu-
ted authorities under all circumstances, and at all
hazards, in maintaining Federal jurisdiction in its
sphere, regardless of what party may be in power.


8. That Governments are political organiza-
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.


O. That we trace the causes through which the
present rebellion has been accomplished to the cx
istence of sectional political parties in the coun
try, one founded upon anti.slavery, the Other
pro.slavery, both equally ant-Democratic and de
structive Of the peace, harmony and prosperity o
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, anc
rallying around our National Flag, present al
uubroken front to oil sectional agitation.


10. That as Californans we appeal to the who'll
people Of California, without distinction of part
or reference to partisan issues, to stand with u
by our country and our flag, that all may know
that the great Union Democratic party of Caltoi
mia is the overpowerng majority of her citizens.