The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-06
ORIGIN OF THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY
IN IOWA.

The Republican party of Iowa
dates its origin from a Convention
held at Iowa City, then the Capital
of the State, on the 22d OF February
1856. The Convention was held in
accordance with the following call,
first published in the Mt. Pleasant
ObServer, and copied generally by
the papers Of the State which favor
ed the movement.
TO THE CITIZENS OF IOWA:
Believing that large majority of the
citizens Of Iowa are opposed to the polit.
ical principles of the present Administra-
ton, and to the introduction of slavery
into territory now free, and also that made
free by the Compromise of 1920; aud that
the party styling itself the Democratic
Party" are striving to make slavery a
great national institution, contrary to the
principles laid down in the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution as
taught by the Fathers of the Republic;
we would call upon al such free citizens
to meet in Convention, at Iowa City, on
the 22d day of February for the purpose of
organizing Republican party, to make
common cause with a similar party already
formed in several of the other States of the
Union.
January 3, 1856. MANY CITIZENS.
When the Convention met, Philip
Velie was chosen President, with
Luke Palmer, ID. S. Davis, Henry
Temple, w. w. Woods, 3. J. Tai
bot, G. r. Kelsey, J. w. Cattell
and +. III. Williams Vice, Presidents;
and j. I. Lane, n. NJ. Hubbard, j.
b. Stewart, 6. G. Nourse, Secreta.
ries. Something over fifty counties
were represented. The platform
adopted consisted of ten ringing
resolutions, re. affirming the funda-
mental truths of the Declaration of
independence and the Constitution
Of the United States, and denounc-
ing the efforts Of the Democratic
party to make slavery national and
freedom sectional Among the
Committee on Resolutions were
Francis Springer, Samuel A. Rice,
A. III. McCrary, Hiram Price, Fitz
Henry Warren, j. w. Cattell, J. b.
Howell, VIM. M. Stone, Jacob But
Ter, and other prominent citizens. On
the Committee to draft an address to
the people of the State, were J. b.
Grinnell, J. A. Parvin, S. J. Kirk
wood, and Alvan Sanders. The
State Central Committee consisted
of A. j. Stevens, J. p. Grantham,
w. K. Miller, Jno. Casady, and 5.
M. Ballard. The Presidential Elec-
tors chosen were Reuben Noble,
Henry O'Connor, Daniel f. Miller,
and VIM. M. Stone. The Delegates
to the National Republican Conven.
ton were F. Springer, S. d. Car.
penter, f. III. Warren, II. !. Wilt,
Jos. w. Caldwell, J. III. b. Arm.
strong, j. b. Howell, and K. Mayne.
For State officers the following
nominations were made: Secretary
of State, Elijah Sells; Auditor, Jno.
Pattee; Treasurer, M. l.. Morris;
Attorney General. Samuel A. Rice.
The Convention adjourned "with
nine hearty cheers for the success of
the Republican cause"
The State election that year was
held in August, and the Republicans
carried the State by about 5000 ma
jority, which they increased in No
vember for Fremont to something
over 1000. From that year to this
our State and very large majority
of the counties composing it have
been in the hands, politically speak
ing, Of the Republicans. The af-
fairs of no State in the Union, have
been SO jndiciously, economically or
periodically administered as have
those of Iowa. No State has pros
pered more, no State has brighter
prospects to day. We point to it
with pride as living exemplifica-
ton of the wisdom, the justice and
the prudence of continuous Repub-
lican administration. --Haaokeye.