Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-08
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
From the State Journal. J

1t is known that when Wisconsin
was admitted as one of the States in
the Union in 1848, it was under
Democratic rule. That party was
largely in the majority and had
every thing in its own way. In the
fall of 1648 the Free Soil party ex-
hibited, under the lead of Van Bu-
rem, considerable strength. AT one
time during the campaign of that
year, the friends of this new move-
ment were quite confident of carry
ing the State; but the result proved
their mistake, and the old bunker
or Cass party triumphed in Wiscon-
sin. The accessions to the Free
Soil party of that year, from the old
Democratic ranks, principally went
back to their old friends in the next
campaign. Still the Free Soil or
anti.slavery movement was not quiet.
ed. The subject was strongly agi-
tated and the South became alarmed.
The two great parties of the count
try-Whig and Democratic were al
so alarmed. The Wing party had
always inclined to anti slavery prin.
ciples. while the Democratic party
yielded entire svbserv ency to the
South. The compromise measures
of 1850, had the effe 1t 70 divide, to a
| considerable extent, the Wing party
| in the North. The two factions
we're known as the "Sllver Greys"
| and the "Wooley Heads" the latter
boiug strongly anti.s avery, ard
| deadly hostile to the extension OF
| the "peculiar institution" into free
territory. In 1852, the National
Conventions of tho two great parties
were held, and in their platforms,
both yielded to the demands of the
South, so far as this question of
slavery was concerned. The candi-
dates were Scott and Pierce, the lat
ter succeeding by large majority.
The anti.slavery sentiment in the
Wing party was so strong that it
could net be trusted by the South
and it was SO strong it could not it
self survive the platform of 1852
That campaign was fought without
heart on the part of large portion
of the Wing party, and of course
lost. In Wisconsin the Wing party
never rallied afterwards. This state.
ment seems proper as showing the
condition of political affairs prior to
the organization of the Republican
Party in this State, which for the
past eighteen years has been the rul-
ing party, and which surrenders it's
power to-day to what is called Re-
form party, but what III reality,as is
seems to US, is nothing but the old
Democratic party revived. Of this,
time will determine.
10 tho campaign of 1853, Mr.. Bar
stow was the Democratic candidate
for Governor. He was opposed by a
combination of the Wing and Free
Soil parties, on a peoples Ticket, y
headed by E. D. Holton. The Dem.
ocratic ticket succeeded. In June,
1854, call was issued for "Peoples'
mass State Convention, to be comr
posed of all men opposed to the re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise, the
extension of slavery, and the rule OF
the slave power" to meet at Madi-
son, on the 18th of July, "to take
such measures as may be deemed
necessary to prevent the future en-
croachments of the slave power, TO
repeal all compromises in favor OF
slavery, and to establish the princi-
plies of freedom as the rule of the
State and National governments. y
The convention was held and largely
attended by men of all the old poiti-
ical parties who were ready to res
sist the demands Of the slave power.
1t was then the Republican party OF
Wisconsin was organized, and the
following condensed platform was
adopted with great unanimity:
Resolued, That the repeated and long con-
! tinued encroachments of the Slave power,
eliminating at last in the repeal of the law
of freedom in al the hitherto unorganized
territory OF the Union, forces upon US the
conviction that there is no escape from the al
tentative of Freedom or Slavery, as a political
issue which is to determine whether the fu-
ture administration of the Government shall
| be devoted to the one or the other.
Resolved, That we accept this issue, foi ced
upon US by the slave power, and in the de-
tense of freedom, will cooperate and be
known as Republicans. pledged TO the accom-
pllshnent of the following purposes:
To bring the administration of the Gov
eminent back to the control or frst princ-
pies.
To restore Nebraska and Kansas 10 the po-
| sition of free territories.
To the repeal and entire abrogation of the
Fugitive Slave Act.
To restrict slavery TO the States in which it
exists.
To prohibit the admission of any more
Slave States in the Union.
To exclude slavery from all the territories
| over which the General Government has ex-
elusive jurisdiction, And TO resist the acqui-
sition Of any more territory unless the porhb-
ition Of slavery therein forever shall have
been first provided for.
RESOLVED, That in fuTtherance of these pur-
| poses, we will use such constitutional and
lawful means as shall seem best adapted 10
their accomplishment: and that we will sup
port no man for office under the General or
State Governments, who is not positively and
fully committed to the support of these prn-
ciples, and whose personal character and con-
duet is not a guaranty that be is reliable.
The new party took into its ranks
the entire Free Soii party, q large
portion of the Wing party, and a
| considerable number of the LIBERAL
minded mem bers of the Democratic
party; thus forming stror compel
itor with the once powerful and the
then railing party n the State. The
campaign OF that fall was warmly
| contested G. c.. Washburn and
Charles Billinghurst, Republicans,
and Daniel Wells. Democrat, were
elected to Congress the State Sen.
ate had small Democratic majority,
and the Assembly was carried by
the new party, so that in Joint ballot
the Republicans had one majority.
| This vas the commencement of Re-
publican power in Wisconsin, and it
was only partial; the State officers
being all Democrats, and that party