Year: 1862

been Tor the zion and the Consultation. The
inauguration Of the rebellion could not turn
them from their principles. nor the triumph ol
Republicanism sedGce them from their allegi
ance. Firm in their adherence and devotion
to the Union and Constitution. they so declared
in the last campaign. and so they viii declare
now.


Were the Republican and Breckinridge or
CARNATIONS 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 Unior
ground, like that put forth By the Democracy
last year? II they all mean Union, why not
have all the committees meet together upon q
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 hot
bed of treason and rebellion Do the Breck
lnridge sympathizers suppose they can seduce





resolutions favoring a 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 a
union with the Democracy let them adopt the
Union platform of last year.


Wepubish 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-
vention 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
and 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 al every sacrifice:


And whereas The country is now defending
itself against a 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 Unon-wtieh is manfesty 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 right of determin-
ing 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 com
mon instincts of selfpreservatiOn or worthy of
an existence as nation;


Therefore, be it unanimously resolved by
this Committee,


l. That at this time, when the country is re-
sisting with all its might war Of invasion and
destruction, Indifference is impossible to the
patriot, and neutrality is cowardice, if not pre-
meditated disloyaiiy-


,. 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 against all assailants-
no matter who they are, whence they come, or
plth lrtGt p0lcer armed.


3. That in this great crisis of the American
nation and name, our State will always as
heretofore faithfully discharge her constitu-
tional obligations to the Union and the Federal
Government, and as in duty bound, will earn
estly sustain the constituted authorities at
Washington IN all measures necessary to defend
and protect either against this most uniustifa-
BILE and unnatural war.


A. 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 coast
and the Atlantic, from the piratical flag which
already threatens injury, and would ntllct de-
structon on both.


). 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
ana palrlolc ueVOlOn some SOrdld 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 heresv,
inevitably destructive 10 our form of Govern
ment.


:. That obedience to the constitutional will
of majorities is the only safeguard of Republ-
can Governments that we will uphold the
constituted authorities, under all circumstances,
aud at all hazards, in maintaining Federal
jurisdiction in any sphere, regardless of what
party may be in power.


s. That Governments are political organiza-
tons. armed with coercive power, without
which they cannot exist; that il is not only
no assumption Of authority on the part of Gov
eruments. bat their positive duty to exercise
such coercive 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
the country, one founded upon anti-savery, the
other pro-slavery. both anti. Democratic and