181 Superintendent of Public Instruction-Ira Mayhew, of Monroe county. Members of Board of Education (full term)-John R. Kellogg, of Allegan; and to fill vacancy, Hiram L. Miller, of Saginaw. Although ridiculed by the pro-slavery Democratic organs as fanatics, "black" Republicans, "feather-legs," "woollyheads," "long-heels," "thick-lips," etc., the patriotic yeomanry of Michigan rallied at the polls on election day, and triumphantly bore the Jackson nominees into office. Since that time the State has never failed to return Republican Presidential electors and Republican governors, except in 1882, when the fiat-moneyites, Democrats, sore-heads, and rag-tag-and-bob-tails jumped into the same pot and succeeded in electing the chief executive. CHAPTER XVII. WISCONSIN, INDIANA, AND OTHER STATES IN LINE. Wisconsin Makes an Early Move-Great Meeting in the Park at Madison-Organization, Speeches and Platform-Formal Adoption of the Name Republican-An Evening Meeting-Corn for the "Shanghais"-Victory and a Republican United States SenatorIndiana-Schuyler Colfax's Paper Leads Off-Chapman's Chanticleer Prints the Call for a Mass-Convention-10,000 Persons Respond-An Ungracious Custodian of Public Property-A Delegation of 500 Democrats-The Speakers-The Platform-A Ticket Nominated-Confirmed at the Polls-Schuyler Colfax Goes to Congress-Vermont Whigs and Free-Democrats Meet--Mass-Convention at Montpelier on July 13-Republicanism Formally Espoused-The Platform--The "Nebraskals" Whipped-Massachusetts Freemen Convene at Worcester-A Republican Platform-A Second Convention Meets and Selects a Ticket Which is Defeated -A Good Start-Claims of New York Examined-Extract from the Tribune-Convention at Saratoga-Preston King's Letter-Gist of the Platform-Snow's Resolution-John P. Hale's Speech --Whig Ticket Endorsed-A Mongrel Victory-Ohio-Iowa-Maine-Pennsylvania-Other States. Thus we see that, although Wisconsin claims the honor of taking the first steps toward conceiving and naming the Republican party, Michigan was first to perfect an organization, nominate a State ticket and formally enlist under the new banner. But Wisconsin was not far enough behind to detract perceptibly from the honor that would have been due her for earlier action. She held a meeting for the purpose of calling a State convention and proposed to be in the field even earlier than Michigan; but finally, on the 9th of June, determined that the gathering could be given a double significance by an nouncing it for July 13, the anniversary of the passage of the Ordinance of 1787, which forever dedicated the North-west Territory to freedom. No State officers were to be elected that year, but a legislature was to be chosen which would elect a United States Senator, and Representatives in Congress must also be selected. As the Nebraska iniquity had come from Congress, the people of Wisconsin were wide awake to the importance of the pending campaign, and firmly resolved to change the political complexion of their solid Democratic delegation in that body. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people, therefore, from all parts of the commonwealth, gathered in the large and beautiful park of oaks, elms and maples in front of the capitol building at Madison, on the morning of July 13. How typical of freedom was that throng of earnest, sturdy freemen! They had just thrown off party gyves and met under God's green trees, in the free, open air, without restraint or secret motive, to organize for the benefit of others, not themselves; to strike for the right, for mankind, for the glory of their country, without pay or hope of reward. John Walworth called the meeting to order, and after reading the call,' directed the proceedings to open with prayer and a patriotic song. The permanent organization embraced a State Central Committee and the following officers: President John Walworth, of Green. Vice-Presidents-S. Wakely, of Walworth; Albert Smith, of Milwaukee; William Blake, of Dodge; Charles Roser, of Manitowoc; J. T. Mills, of Grant; Charles Halesz, of Sauk; 1 All men opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the extension of slavery, and the rule of the slave power, are invited to meet at Madison, Thursday, July 13, to take such measures as may be deemed necessary to prevent the future encroachments of the slave power, to repeal all compromises in favor of slavery, and to establish the principle of freedom as the rule of the State and National governments. The time has come for the union of all free men for the sake of freedom. There is but one alternative. We must UNITE and be FREE, or DIVIDE and be ENSLAVED by the prætorian bands of the slave-holders and their Nebraska allies. W. W. Noyes, of Columbia; J. O. Bartlett, of Racine; N. W. Dean, of Dane. Secretaries-Horace Rublee, of Dane; L. F. Frisby, of Washington. Joseph A. Sleeper, from the committee on resolutions, reported the following platform, which was read twice and adopted with hearty cheering and enthusiasm: Resolved, That the repeated and long continued encroachments of the Slave Power, culminating at last in the repeal of the law of freedom in all the hitherto unorganized territory of the Union, forces upon us the conviction that there is no escape from the alternative of Freedom or Slavery, as a political issue which is to determine whether the future administration of the government shall be devoted to the one or the other. Resolved, That we accept this issue, forced upon us by the slave power, and in the defense of freedom will co-operate and be known as REPUBLICANS, pledged to the accomplishment of the following purposes: To bring the administration of the government back to the control of first principles. To restore Nebraska and Kansas to the position of free territories. To the repeal and entire abrogation of the fugitive slave Act. To restrict slavery to the States in which it exists. To prohibit the admission of any more slave States into the Union. To exclude slavery from all the territories over which the general government has exclusive jurisdiction. And to resist the acquisition of any more territory unless the prohibition of slavery therein forever shall have been first provided for. Resolved, That in furtherance of these purposes, we will use such constitutional and lawful means as shall seem best adapted to their accomplishment; and that we will support no man for office under the general or State government, who is not positively and fully committed to the support of these principles, and whose personal character and conduct is not a guaranty that he is reliable. Resolved, That we cordially invite all persons, whether of native or foreign birth, who are in favor of the objects expressed in the above resolutions, to unite with us in carrying them into effect. The meeting lasted with addresses, songs and pledges, until far into the night, and beneath the star-spangled heavens and the folds of the American flag floating from the oak trees, adjourned with nine tremendous cheers for the Republican party. "The very darkness shook as with a blast And earth rejoiced with new-born Liberty." A sharp effort was made by Governor Wm. A. Barstow and other administration Democrats to break the force of the meeting, but in vain. A prominent State officer and several pro-slavery Democrats who were in the crowd, after the platform had been announced, began crowing lustily. A voice cried out: "The Shanghais have hatched full-grown." On the following morning as the Republicans walked over to the capitol, they found corn and egg-shells plentifully scattered along the entire distance. A crowd of disgruntled Democrats standing conveniently near shouted, "That is for the Shanghais' breakfast." The succeeding campaign was earnest and aggressive, striking dismay into the hearts of the flesh-brokers' party at the very outset. It resulted in electing two of the three Congressmen to which the State was entitled, and a legislature so strongly Republican that Charles Durkee, a pronounced Republican and Abolitionist, was elevated to the United States Senate in January, 1855, the first ever chosen distinctively as such, upon that issue, in the United States. Wisconsin is one of the States that never waver or weaken in their Republicanism. It is proceeding now for the eighth time to choose Republican Presidential electors. INDIANA. One of the leading Whig papers in Indiana was the St. Joseph Valley Register, edited by Schuyler Colfax. As soon as it became apparent that the Kansas-Nebraska bill would pass, he began a series of articles advocating abandonment |