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to declare themselves in favor of free seas and progressive free trade throughout the world, and, by solemn manifestations, to place their moral influence at the side of their successful example.

"2. Resolved, That our geographical and political position with reference to the other states of this continent, no less than the interest of our commerce and the development of our growing power, requires that we should hold as sacred the principles involved in the Monroe doctrine. Their bearing and import admit of no misconstruction; they should be applied with unbending rigidity.

"3. Resolved, That the great highway which nature, as well as the assent of the states most immediately interested in its maintenance, has marked out for a free communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, constitutes one of the most important achievements realized by the spirit of modern times and the unconquerable energy of our people. That result should be secured by a timely and efficient exertion of the control which we have the right to claim over it, and no power on earth should be suffered to impede or clog its progress by any interference with the relations it may suit our policy to establish between our government and the governments of the states within whose dominions it lies. We can under no circumstances surrender our preponderance in the adjustment of all questions arising out of it.

"4. Resolved, That, in view of so commanding an interest, the people of the United States cannot but sympathize with the efforts which are being made by the people of Central America to regenerate that portion of the continent which covers the passage across the interoceanic isthmus.

"5. Resolved, That the Democratic party will expect of the next administration that every proper effort be made to insure our ascendancy in the Gulf of Mexico, and to maintain a permanent protection to the great outlets through which are emptied into its waters the products raised out of the soil and the commodities created by the industry of the people of our western valleys and of the Union at large.

"Resolved, That the Democratic party recognizes the great importance, in a political and commercial point of view, of a safe and

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

speedy communication, by military and postal roads, through our own territory between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of this Union, and that it is the duty of the Federal government to exercise promptly all its constitutional power for the attainment of that object.

"Resolved, That the administration of Franklin Pierce has been true to the great interests of the country. In the face of the most determined opposition it has maintained the laws, enforced economy, fostered progress, and infused integrity and vigor into every department of the government at home. It has signally improved our treaty relations, extended the field of commercial enterprise, and vindicated the rights of American citizens abroad. It has asserted with eminent impartiality the just claims of every section, and has at all times been faithful to the Constitution. We therefore proclaim our unqualified approbation of its measures and its policy."

Republican Party

Constructed from the several elements of the "AntiNebraska" seceders from the old parties, the Republican organization, as we have seen, made its first contest at the State and Congressional elections of 1854. Various claims have been urged on behalf of individuals and localities for the distinction of the earliest adoption of its name. In the respect of State initiative and action the priority is incontestably to be awarded to Michigan. At a convention of Anti-Nebraskans of that State held at Jackson on July 6, 1854, a mixed State ticket of anti-slavery Whigs, Free Soil Democrats, and former regular Democrats who had voted for Pierce in 1852 was nominated, and a strong platform was adopted which declared: "We will coöperate and be known as 'Republicans' until the contest be terminated." Other State organizations that early took the

name Republican were those of Wisconsin and Vermont. With the approach of the Presidential campaign the Republican party had become everywhere recognized as comprising the united forces of political opposition to slavery.

As the result of a call issued by the party committees of the States of Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin, a national meeting for purposes of conference convened in Pittsburgh on February 22, 1856. Twenty-three States were represented. Francis P. Blair, of Missouri, a former Democrat, was permanent chairman; and Henry J. Raymond, editor of the New York Times and a former Whig, was designated to prepare an "Address to the People"-which, being duly presented to the assemblage, received its unanimous approval and was issued as the first national declaration of the Republican party. Its essential expressions

were:

"We demand, and shall attempt to secure, the repeal of all laws which allow the introduction of slavery into territory once consecrated to freedom, and will resist by every constitutional means the existence of slavery in any Territory of the United States.

"We will support by every lawful means our brethren in Kansas," and are "in favor of the immediate admission of Kansas as a free and independent State."

A committee was selected to call a national nominating convention.

Pursuant to call by this committee, the Republican party held its first national nominating convention in Philadelphia on June 17-19, 1856. Each State was in

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

vited to send six delegates-at-large and three delegates from each Congressional district. The convention was unusually large for those times, having over 550 members. All the northern States were represented, and also Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, the District of Columbia, and the Territory of Kansas. Temporary chairman, Robert Emmet, of New York; permanent chairman, Henry S. Lane, of Indiana.

An offer of coöperation was received from the bolting (anti-slavery) faction of the Know-Nothings, but the convention rejected it. One of the chief reasons for the failure of the Free Soil party had been its proneness to fusions. The Republicans from the start very wisely avoided such fragile and transitory reliances. Know-Nothingism, moreover, was repugnant to their program of inviting the support of all opposed to slavery, including the naturalized citizens. In particular, the party had already enjoyed notable accessions from the Germans, who had been arriving in large numbers since 1848 and were known to be much inclined toward the predestined candidate, Fremont.

On an informal ballot for President, John C. Fremont, of California, received 359 votes; John McLean, of Ohio, 190; Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, 2; Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, 1; and William H. Seward, of New York, 1. Fremont was then nominated unanimously.

An informal ballot was also taken for Vice-President, which resulted as follows: William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, 253; Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, 110; Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, 46; David

Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, 43; Charles Sumner, 35; ten others, 52. Dayton was the unanimous choice on the next ballot.

Fremont was admittedly chosen for his availability. The situation demanded a nominee who would not be likely to repel any of the strongly prejudiced older voters on account of his previous party spirit and public course in relation to other matters than slavery, and whose personality would attract the young men. There was no claim that Fremont possessed marked attributes of political leadership; and in that regard it never afterward appeared that he had been underrated. Formerly a Democratic Senator from California, he had been defeated for reëlection (1851) because of his anti-slavery views; otherwise he was politically without either special antecedents or record. His most positive recommendation was his picturesque career at the far west, which had made his name familiar. Platform:

"This convention of delegates, assembled in pursuance of a call addressed to the people of the United States, without regard to past political differences or divisions, who are opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, to the policy of the present administration, to the extension of slavery into free territory; in favor of the admission of Kansas as a free State, of restoring the action of the Federal government to the principles of Washington and Jefferson; and for the purpose of presenting candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President, do

"Resolve, That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in the Federal Constitution is essential to the preservation of our republican institutions, and that the Federal Constitution, the rights of the States, and the Union of the States must and shall be preserved.

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