party lines. The
Members elected in 1854 in the northern states were Democrats,
Whigs or Free Soilers. Many of the Democrats still supported the
administration of President Pierce, and acquiesced in the doctrine
of popular sovereignty in the territories. A few of the Whigs, of
conservative leanings, acted with the Americans, or "Know-Nothings,"
of the south. A strong popular movement was initiated in some of
the western states as early as 1854 in favor of a new party. This
was especially the case in Wisconsin and Michigan. On the 6th of
July, 1854, a popular convention was held at Jackson, Michigan,
composed of hundreds of men of all parties, who denounced slavery
as a great moral, social and political evil, and resolved that,
postponing and suspending all differences with regard to political
economy or administrative policy, they would act cordially and
faithfully in unison to oppose the extension of slavery, and be
known as Republicans until the contest was terminated. This name
was assumed in other states of the north.

The state convention held in Ohio on July 13, 1855, formally declared
itself a convention of the Republican party. The long struggle in
Kansas, the elections in 1855, and the contest for the speakership
of the House, added strength to this movement, and the name
"Republican" was formally given to the new party by the national
convention held at Philadelphia, June 17, 1856, as the best expression
of its views and principles.

It appeared for the time that the new party would carry the country
in a blaze of enthusiasm. And, looking over the past, I am clearly
of the opinion that this would have been the result but for the
faulty nomination of Colonel John C. Fremont as the Republican
candidate for President, and the sagacious nomination of James
Buchanan as the Democratic candidate. The Republican party, still
composed of uncertain elements, sought only for a candidate that
was available. Seward or Chase was the natural candidate. They
were fully identified with the principles and purposes of their
party. They were men of marked ability, strong in their respective
states, each elected governor of his state and sure of its support,
but Chase was opposed on account of his advanced opinions on the
slavery question, and Seward was actively opposed by the so-called
American party, for his open hostility to its principles and policy.
All these sought for a new man, and public opinion graduall