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By:  Madden                                                       H.R. No. 295



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, the year 2004 marks the 150th anniversary of the 
founding of the Republican Party with humble beginnings at an 
organizational meeting on March 20, 1854, in a small schoolhouse in 
Ripon, Wisconsin, where 54 dedicated anti-slavery citizens met and 
adopted the name "Republican" for the group of Americans committed 
to protesting the expansion of slavery into new states proposed to 
be carved out in what is today the western central region of the 
continental United States; and
	WHEREAS, a subsequent convention held "under the oaks" in 
Jackson, Michigan, on July 6, 1854, using the "Republican" title 
was attended by over 10,000 activists who described slavery as "a 
great moral, social, and political evil" and moved New York 
newspaper magnate Horace Greeley to editorialize "We should not 
care much whether those thus united [against slavery] were 
designated as 'Whig,' 'Free Democrat' or something else; though we 
think some simple name like 'Republican' would more fitly designate 
those who had united to restore the Union to its true mission of 
champion and promulgator of Liberty rather than propagandist of 
slavery."; and
	WHEREAS, elections conducted later in 1854 captured numerous 
public offices in Michigan--and in other states--clearly 
demonstrating a remarkable electoral strength to challenge the 
status quo of slavery legally existing in some regions of our nation 
and it being unlawful in other areas; and
	WHEREAS, these events laid the groundwork for the February 
22, 1856, convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was 
followed by the June 17, 1856, nominating convention in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announcing the Republican Party as a 
unified political force seeking the total abolition of slavery 
everywhere in America; and
	WHEREAS, while the first presidential candidate of the new 
Republican Party, retired Army officer John C. Fremont, "The 
Trailblazer" best known for his courageous crossings of the Rocky 
Mountains and wresting California from Mexico, went down to defeat 
by Democrat James Buchanan in the 1856 elections, undaunted 
Republicans continued to build their way to the successful 1860 
election of Abraham Lincoln as 16th President of the United States; 
and
	WHEREAS, Among the many accomplishments attributed to 
Lincoln during his tenure in our nation's highest public office, 
was foremost the preservation of the union of states as a perpetual 
one--at a time when that concept was more strongly contested than at 
any other in our 227-year history; and
	WHEREAS, the "Grand Old Party" or "GOP" as it has been 
nicknamed since 1888, has espoused limited government, strong 
national defense and homeland security, personal freedom, and a 
healthy overall business climate, and has at various times held the 
presidency and both houses of Congress and has contributed 
countless talented men and women in the service of our great country 
and this historic anniversary is indeed worthy of legislative 
recognition; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 4th Called Session, 2004, hereby commemorate the 
sesquicentennial of the founding the Republican Party; and be it 
further
	RESOLVED, that official copies of this resolution be prepared 
for Republican leaders at both the state and national levels as an 
expression of highest esteem from the Texas House of 
Representatives.