The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-07-20
ORIGIN oFFHuRnPUnaluaN PAR.
~ OF IOWA. %EN

| - s@ W.
Tho Republican party Of Iowa was
organized ut a Convention held at
Iowa City, which was then the
Capital, on tho 22d Of February, the
anniversary Of Washington's Birth.
day, in 1856. The Convention met
under the following call, which was
first published in tho Mt. Pleasant
Observer, and thence into all tho ia.
pers ofthe State which favored the
movement:
TO THE CITIZENS OF IOWA:
Believing that . largo majority of
the citizens of Iowa are opposed to
tho political principles of the present
Administration, and to the introduce
ton of slavery into territory now
free, and also that made free BY the
Compromise of 1920; and that the
party styling itself tho democratic
Party" arc striving to make slavery
a great national institution, contrary
to tho principles laid down in the
Declaration Of Independence and the
Constitution as taughtby the Fathers
Of the Republic wo would call upon
all such free citizens to meet in Con-
vention, at Iowa City, on tho 22d
day Of February, for the purpose OF
organizing Republican party, to
make common cause with similar
party already formed in several of
tho States of the Union.
MANY CITIZENS.
JANUARY 3, 1856.
OF the proceedings Of tho Conven-
ton, and the manner in which the
psrty was organized, the Burlington
Hack Eye has tho following account:
When the Convention met, Philip
Veile was chosen President, with
Luke Palmer, d. 8. Davis, Henry
remple, w. W. Woods, B. +. Talbot,
G. r. Kelsey, J. w. Cattell and e. ri.
Williams, Vice-Presidents and ]. r..
Lane, N. M. Hubbard, J. b. Stewart,
q. G. Nourso, Secretaries. Some.
thing over fifty counties were repre-
scented. The platform adopted con-
sisted of ten ringing resolutions, re-
affirming the fundamental truths of
the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution of the u. S., and
denouncing the efforts of tho Domo-
cratic party to make slavery national
and freedom sectional. Among the
Committee on Resolutions we're
Francis Springer, Samuel A. Rice, A.
II. MoCrary, Hiram Price, Fitz
Henry Warren, }. w. Cattell, ]. B.
Howell, VIM. M. Stone, Jacob Butler,
and other prominent citizens. On
tho Committee to draft an address to
the people Of tho State, were J. B.
Grinnoll, J. A. Parvin, s. J. Kirk
wood, and Alvin Sanders. The State
Central Committee consisted Of A. J.
Stevens, j. p. Grantham, w. Il.
Miller, John Casady. and s. M. Bal
lard. The Presidential Electors
chosen were Reuben Noble, Henry
O'Conrer, Daniel F. Miller, and VIM
NJ. Stone. The delegates to the
National Republican Convention
were +. Springer, S. d. Carpenter,
+. II. Warren, H. A. Witt, JOS. W.
Caldwell, J. Ii. b. Armstrong, J. B.
Howell, and Il. Mayno. For State
officers the following nominations
were made: Secretary of State
Elijah Sells Auditor, John Pattee
Treasurer, NJ. l.. Morris; Attorney
General, Samuel A. Rice. Tho Con.
vention adjourned "with nine hearty
cheers for the success OF tho Kepub
lican cause
The State election that year was
held in August, aud the Republicans
carried the State by about 5000
majority, which they increased in
November for Fremont to something
over 1000. From that year to this
our State and very large majority
of tho counties composing it have
been in the hands, politically speak.
ing, of the Republicans. The affairs
OF no State in the Union, have been
! so judiciously, economically, or pa.
triorically administered, as have
those of Iowa. No State has pros.
pered moro, no State has brighter
prospects today. We point TO il
with pride as q living exempli6cation
OF the wisdom, tho Justice and the
prudence Of q continuous Republican,
/ administration.