Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-04-06
A roR OF

The first regular convention OF the
Republican party in the State Of Ill.
inois occurred at Bloomington May
%, 1856. Abraham was a delegate.
The delegates in the main were self.
constituted, as rarely any OF those in
attendance had IN organized constit-
uency Of any proportions behind
them. All tint was fashionable and
respectable in that day eschewed the
fanatics who believed in the abolition
Of slavery.
The committee on resolutions, at
the convention, found themselves,
after hours Of discussion, unable to
agree, and at last they sent for Lin
coin. He suggested that all could
unite on the principles Of the Declar-
alton OF independence and hostility
to the extension OF slavery. Let u.s.
said he, lin building our new party,
make our cornerstone the Declare
ton of Independence; let US build on
this rock and the gates OF hell shall
not prevail agai,s. IS The problem
was mastered. and tho convention
adopted the following:
Resolved, That we hold, in accord
ance with the opinions and practices
of all the great, statesmen OF all par
ties for the first sixty years az tho adj
ministratlon OF the government, that
under tho Constitution, Congrees
possesses full power to prohibit
slavery in the territories, and that
while We will maintain all constitu-
tional rights OF the South, we also
hold that justice, humanity, the priu-
ciples Of freedom, as expressed in IL
Declaration OF Independence and Il
national Constitution, and the purity
8nd perpetuity OF our government,
require that that power should be ex-
erted to prevent the extension Of
slavery into territories heretofore
free,T
The Bloomington convention con-
cluded its work by choosing dele
gates to the national Republican con-
ton to be held at Philadelphia the
following month, for the nomination
of candidates for the Presidency and
Vice Presidency OF the United States
And thus was organized the Repub-
can party in Illinois, which revolu.
tionized the State ana elected Lin.
coin to the Presidency. Lincoln's
speech to this convention has been
rarely equaled. Never says IL Of
the delegates, ~was an audience more
completely electrified by human
%eloquence. Again and again during
the delivery the audience sprang to
their feet md by long and continued
cheers expressed how deeply the
speaker had aroused them
The people of Bloomington seem to
have had but little sympathy with
the convention. A few days later
Herndon and Lincoln tried to hold a
ratification meeting, but only three
persons wore present Lincoln,
Herndon and John Pain. -When
Lincoln came into the court room
where the meeting was to be held
says Herndon, "there was nj express
sion Of sadness and amusement on
his face. He walked to the stand and
mounted it in n kind OF n mockery,
mirth and sadness all combined and
said: Gentleman, this meeting ia
larger thun l thought it would be. |
knew that Herndon and myself would
come, but I did not know anyone else
would be here; and yet another has
como, You, John Pain. These are sad
times and seem out OF joint. All
seems dead, dead, dead; but the age
is not yet dead; it liveth rs SURE az
u Maker liyeth: Under all this
seeming want Of life and motion til
world does move nevertheless. BE
hopeful. And now let us adjourn
and appeal TO the people,"