Evening star., 1932-05-01

Address L CiephAne, secretary Republican
Association Washington. d. c."
THEN follow the platform and constitution,
the first platform and constitution Of the
Republican Association OF the District Of
Columbia which reads:
whereas by the repeal OF the eighth section
of the act for the admission of Missouri into
the Union the territories of Kansas and
Nebraska have been opened to the introduction
of slavery, and all the compromises, real or
imaginary upon that subject are thus violated
and annulled and deep dishonor inflicted upon
the age in which we live:
Now, therefore in cooperation with all
those throughout the land who oppose this
and other similar measures, which we deem
to be contrary to the spirit of the Constitution
and which are designed to extend and perpetu-
ate slavery, we do associate ourselves together
under the and title of
THE Republican Association of Washington
D. C.
And we adopt the following as our political
platform to wit:
First That Congress possesses no power
the institution of slavery in the several
States: but that outside of State jurisdiction,
the constitutional power of the Federal Gov
ernment shall be exerted to secure life, liberty
and happiness to all men; and therefore
Second. There should be neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except for the punish
ment of crime, in any of the territories of the
United States
Third. The people the rightful
of all political power; and all officers should,
as far practicable, be chosen by a direct
vote of the people.
Fourth. Candidates for political Offices
should be men of undoubted integrity and
sobriety, and pledged to support the principles
of this platform by all lawful and constitutional
means"
The informal meeting at Pittsburgh was held
as scheduled, and Lewis Clephane of this city
was made member of the National Execu-
tive Committee and the Committee on Perma-
nent Organization for the District of Columbia
Francis P. Blair at time editor of the
Globe, and whose country residence was just
over the District border line in Montgomery
County, Md, was made a member of the latter
committee for Maryland, and John Farley was
the Virginia representative.
Unfortunately the writer could not find
list of the members of the Republican Ass-cia-
tion Of this city as constituted in 1856 In
deed, 1t would no doubt prove quite interesting
to find the ancestors of some Of our present.
day Stanch Democrats serving in the ranks Of
the abolitionistS, or perhaps the fathers of some
of our leading Republicans serving under the
banner of the opposite political party But he
did find the names of the officers of this first
local association, and here they are DR.. E. M.
Jcslin, president Jacob Bigelow. first vice
president; Martin Buell., second vice president
Lewis Clephane. secretary; Daniel R. Goodoe,
corresponding secretary; H S. Brown, treas
urer and William Blanchard, D. l. Bishop and
I. Tudor M. D., directors.
THE regular meeting of the Republican Con-
vention was opened in Philadelphia June
II, 1856, and resulted in the nomination Of
Gen. John C. Fremont for President and Will
Liam L. Dayton for Vice President.
OF interest is an informal vote taken upon
this occasion to select the vice presidential
candidate, and in which Abraham Lincoln re-
ceived 81. On the formal vote which followed
William L. Dayton was declared nominated.
Mr.. Allison-probably cur old friend William
B. Nl1son-put Mr.. Lincoln in nomination and
to illustrate how little the war President was
known at that time, when his name was sub
mitted one of the delegates inquired, Who is
hep" and the response was AN d-line Whig
and the prince of good fellows" which state
ment caused Laughter and applause" 1t was
the same Allison, who had better success at
the convention of 1860, when he nominated
Lincoln for the Presidency.
Gen. Fremont, although Georgian by birth.
spent much of his time in California when not
living in Washington and residing on c street,
in the Municipal Center, close to the residence
of Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri,
whcse daughter Jessie he married In the
election of 1856 Buchanan and Breckinridge
received 174 electoral votes, Fremont and Day
ton ia and Fillmore and Donelson 8.
Buchanan received a plurality Of 496 905 pop
ular votes but lacked 1895 of obtaining a
majority.
At this period there was renewed agitation
over the removal of the Capital, particularly
from the Northern press, including the Pitts
burgh Gazette, New York Tribune, Cleveland
Leader and the Chicago Tribune. AS che news
paper put it: Remove it from a spot where
violence is the order of the day and public
sentiment is too lax to enforce the laws for
the protection of life and property. But the
Era came back with hot one. 1t said:
I'VE are sorry to see so many people shooting