Republican State Platform, 1857. Republican State Platform, 1878. State Central Committee, 1857.. United Labor National Convention, 1888. HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN OHIO. CHAPTER I. THE THE CONVENTIONS OF 1854. HE following notice appeared in the columns of the Ohio State Journal, of Columbus, for Monday evening, February 13. 1854: PUBLIC MEETING. Iose ose who are opposed to the violation of existing comprom ses between the free and slave States of this Union, or, in other words, the Douglas-Nebraska bill, are invited to attend a meeting in the basement room of the First Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday even ing. February 14th, at 7:30 o'clock. ALFRED P. STONE, FRANCIS C. KEI TON, JOSEPH RIDGEWAY, PETER HAYDEN, JOHN W ANDREWS, JOSEPH R. SWAN, AARON PERRY, SAMUEL GALLOWAY, JOHN P BRUCK. In the light of subsequent events this meeting was of the utmost importance, for it led directly to the organization of the Re publican party of the State of Ohio. It seems to have attracted little attention and was probably attended by fewer than a hundred citizens. It organized, on motion of Joseph Ridgeway, by electing Judge Joseph R. Swan, Chairman, and William Blynn, Secretary. On motion, a Committee of nine on Resolutions was appointed, viz.: John W. Andrews, Chairman, Peter Hayden, Joseph Ridgeway, John P. Bruck, C. P. L. Butler, Lincoln Goodale, Francis C. Kelton, Alfred P. Stone, and Eli Gywnne. After a brief retirement the Committee, through its Chairman, reported a preamble and resolutions, which need not be repeated here because they are substantially part of the platform adopted by the antiNebraska State Convention, whose proceedings are reported in detail in this chapter The fifth resolution, however, which was omitted, read as follows: Resolved, That we deplore all further agitation upon the subject of slavery, knowing it to be full of evil, but that it is forced upon us, and we do not hesitate to meet it; that if this deep and intolerable wrong toward the North and West, toward every free laborer in the United States and his children's children, is to be persisted in by those who have it in charge, we recommend to our fellow-citizens throughout the State to meet in their respective counties and express their views and determination on this subject; and, further, that a Convention of the People of Ohio be held to utter the voice of the State for or against the extension, under the sanction of the Government of the United States, of slavery over territory now free. The meeting was ably addressed by John W. Andrews and Samuel Galloway. It was agreed that all arrangements regarding the proposed State Convention should be made by the Committee on Resolutions acting in co-operation with friends in the Legislature (the Fifty-first General Assembly), a number of whose members were present. It followed, therefore, that the State Journal soon published the call for this Convention. It appeared at the head of its editorial page on Friday, March 3d, and read as follows: GRAND MASS CONVENTION. To the People of Ohio Opposed to the Introduction of Slavery into Nebraska: At a meeting held by citizens of Columbus, of all parties, on the evening of February 4th, the opinion was expressed that a Convention of the People of Ohio should be held to make known their views upon the proposition now before the Senate to repeal the Missouri Compromise, and by act of Congress to open up to slavery the vast territory lying north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, and which is by law now free. In conversation with gentlemen from different parts of the State, the 22d day of March has been agreed upon as the time for holding the Convention. The undersigned desire to meet this call in the spirit in which it was made, and would therefore recommend to our fellow-citizens of all parties to unite in this Convention. The question to be presented for consideration is one in which every free citizen, to whatever political party he may belong, has a direct personal interest, and in which the right and honor of every Northern and Western man is involved. We earnestly invite the people to come up en masse from every county, city, village and township in the State. The †EPHRAIM R. ECKLEY, Carroll. †WILLIAM P. MORRIS, Columbiana. †JOSHUA JUDY, Union. *NORTON S. TOWNSHEND, Lorain. *JOHN A. FOOTE, Cuyahoga. *DAVID ALLEN, Belmont. †JESSE J. WORTHINGTON, Fayette. †JOHN J. GURLEY, Morrow. Journal contained the following leader on the same subject: Everything indicates that there will be a vast assemblage of all parties at the mass convention, in this city, on March 22d. The grave character of the proposed change in our system of Territorial government, and the new and startling theories that have been put forth by men holding eminent positions in the Nation, are attracting the attention of the people everywhere. So vital a change, and one so deeply affecting the interests of the masses in the free States, who neither seek nor expect office nor patronage from The Senators are designated by an asterisk (*) and the Representatives by a dagger (†). |