July 6, 2009 7:53 AM
Birth of the Republican party: anti-slavery/anti-polygamy
American Minute for July 6th:
A decade prior to the Civil War there were two major political parties in the United States: Democrats, favoring freedom of choice to own slaves; and Whigs, wanting a big tent party.
In Ripon, Wisconsin, anti-slavery activists met on February 28, 1854, then held their first State Convention in Jackson, Michigan, JULY 6, 1854. They named their party Republican, with the chief plank being "to prohibit...those twin relics of barbarism: polygamy and slavery."
Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President, appointed Justice Stephen Field, who wrote in the Supreme Court decision Davis v. Beason, 1890: "Bigamy and polygamy are crimes by the laws of all civilized and Christian countries...They...destroy the purity of the marriage relation...degrade woman and debase man...There have been sects which denied...there should be any marriage tie, and advocated promiscuous intercourse of the sexes as prompted by the passions of its members...Should a sect of either of these kinds ever find its way into this country, swift punishment would follow."
Justice Stephen Field continued: "The constitutions of several States, in providing for religious freedom, have declared expressly that such freedom shall not be construed to excuse acts of licentiousness."
William J. Federer produces the American Minute each day to educate the public on America's noble heritage.
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Posted in Conservatism, Conservative resources | Permalink
Comments
Wow. I bet almost no one knows about that. Who'd have thunk? The Republican Party was started in reaction to slavery. And people around here all think that the Democratic Party is for the "working man" and for minorities. HA!
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | July 6, 2009 8:11 AM
It is important to remember that parties can and do often shift in alignment, and that what was republican or democratic in one era is not necessarily so now. Adhering to any party for matters long gone will undoubtedly hurt the public good. One ought not recognize the Republican party as the one who freed the slaves, but should rather apply current situations and platforms to party alignment.
Posted by: Fred | October 27, 2010 7:10 AM
It is still the same Republican Party, Fred. It is the democrats who keep blacks like slaves on the plantation - giving them subsidies rather than encouraging imitative, breaking down their families by rewarding single motherhood, telling them what they can and cannot say, who they can and cannot support - punishing blacks who step out of line by supporting or running as conservative candidates.
It's the same old fascist Do As I Say and Not As I Do party which thrives on promoting fear and class envy.
Juan Williams was the only black higher up at NPR and he was fired by all those white people because they didn't like what he said. Typical.
The Mainstream Media who bemoan the lack of blacks in the Tea Party (no true) are an exclusive White Club too.
Democrats are hypocrites whose success depends on keeping minorities in psychological and emotional bondage.
Thanks for your comment and the chance to answer it!
Posted by: Barbara | October 27, 2010 8:08 AM
