From the Ripon website:
The Kansas-Nebraska Bill, introduced in January 1854 by Sen. Stephen
Douglas of Illinois, threatened to extend slavery to the Kansas and Nebraska
Territories. His bill was based on "Popular Sovereignty," which allowed settlers
to choose whether slavery would or would not exist within the territory. Douglas
hoped the bill would satisfy the interests of both the North and the
South.
On March 3, 1854, the "Popular Sovereignty" bill passed the U.S.
Senate. Shortly thereafter, Alvan E. Bovay, an influential attorney living in
Ripon, called a meeting to resolve, petition and organize against slavery.
After canvassing shops and homes within Ripon, 50 men, three women and one
child gathered in the Little White Schoolhouse on March 20, 1854, to protest the
extension of slavery into the Kansas and Nebraska Territories. They voted to
dissolve the local Whig and Free Soiler political organizations and proudly
declared themselves "Republicans." Three Whigs, one Free Soiler and one Democrat
were appointed to the committee of the new party.
So, I learned something today. The founding fathers and mothers of the Republican Party thought it so necessary to fight against "Let the people decide" on an unpopular, tough decision that they formed a new party to promote the good of the republic and to fight for liberty for all men and women in it. The original Republicans thought that statesmen should be statesmen and that government should govern wisely. They also formed their party in a school paid for by citizens who realized that public education was the best path for a better future for their children.
Insert your own commentary here. I'm gonna have a piece of cake.
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