The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-04
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS
X-Formation of the Republican Party
By FREDERIC ! HASKIM

1850 had settled the slavery question.
The election of 1852 had killed the
Wing party. The abolitionists were
discredited. There was a peace.
But the slavery issue was again to
be brought TO the fore, but not by
the Abolitionists. Uncle Toms
Cabin" appeared in 1852, and il Gre
ared great wave of anti-slavery SEN
timent at the north. The south cried
out in vain against its untruthfullness
Mrs. Stowe had caught the popular
chord at the north. AS Is nearly al
ways the case professional politicians
could not read the signs of the times.
The great Democratic victory OF 1852
was interpreted to mean that all eff.
tective opposition TO slavery extension
was dead. Senator Douglas OF Illi-
nois introduced in the senate the
famous Kansas-Nebraska bill, provid-
ing for the organization OF the terri
tory OF Nebraska and leaving the
question OF slavery to be determined
by the people Of the new territory
This, OF course, nullifed the Mis-
souri, compromise OF 1920 which pro-
vided that after Missouri was admit
ted no new slave state should exist
north OF the southern boundary of
Missouri. But the Kansas Nebraska
Dill was not enough. Douglas accept
er an amendment specifically repeal
ing the Missouri compromise. The
bill passed both houses after furious
debates and was signed by President
Pierce In May, 1854. The bill was a
distinct pro-slavery measure, yet II
was introduced by a northern sena-
tor, passed by a congress in both
houses OF which there Was a majority
OF northern men, and was signed by
a northern president.
A meeting of anti-slavery Wings
and Free Soil Democrats at Ripon.
wisconsin, in March. 1854, was the
hrst organized effort to form a new
party. New party movements and
political revolutions generally have
come out OF the west, and this was No
exception. The Ripon meeting result.
ed in the formal dissolution OF the
local committee composed OF three
Wings, one Free Soil Democrat. and
one Democrat. The name "Renuh-
iican' was then suggested. but mo,
adopted. A few months later ~
Jackson, Michigan, the new party was
formally launched Il did not insist
upon the name, but invited the coon.
Grafton OF all anti-slavery Wings ALI
free Soil Democrats. and all Dau.
ocrats opposed to the Douglas meas.
ures. The Democrats were I'm the ma.
Jorlty, so the campaign as II pro.
crossed grew into a battle between
the administration Democrats on ono
size and the anti-Nebraska coalition
on the other. The result was that
the new house OF REPRESENTATIVE
CHOSEN In 1854 was made IN Of *
democrats, 40 Know.Nothings. lbs
anti-Nebraska men and about 2o wbo
were undecided what party m ioin
When the same congress came N 90
end the party alignment was 1os d.
publicans, SO Democrats ana 40
Americans, or Know.NothinRs
IL was evident that no party could
reconcile its northern and sop,barn
members. They might be brorebt 80
vote for presidential candidate bn,
ther action In congress wouId he r,,Ie5
largely by sectional feeling Tho nor,h,
erners In both old parties ba1 Con,
promised with the southern wing NJ,
the great outburst OF public In9igna.
llon AGAINST the repeal OF the Mis-.
souri, Compromise made possible ~,
formation or purely sectional nar,y
"a party which had no southern vim
TO treat with. which expected no soptb,
erh votes, and which could therefore
ignore the south.
wo years later. In 1856 the neu,
republican party held It's first ma
tional convention and nominated for
me presidency General John q. Ere.
mont The know-nothings held tbeir
only national convention and named
Mlllard Fillmore. who was afterwards
endorsed by sad gathering of the
remnant OF the wings. The Demo.
Gratis nominated James Buchanan WIZ
was elected. The Democrats carried
I'VE free states-California. Illinois In.
diana, New Jersey and PennsvIvania
For the first time a sectional marty
had made great campaign. Fremont
getting ia electoral votes to IA for
Buchanan, and 3. those OF MARYLAND
for Fillmore The panuhiioan ,...,,