Wesleyan University Young Men's Republican Club records

The single volume of the Young Men's Republican Club of Wesleyan University records consists of an account of the activities of the club in the first year of its existence, 1856. It begins with an account of the first meeting of the club. On June 21, the group selected as its first chairman William J. Foss, class of 1856. The group also inaugurated its tradition of speechmaking at meetings, with Mallalieu, Upham, Elmer, Ela, Longstreet, Ginn, Johnson, Shepard, and Buddington listed as having given speeches. The first meeting also saw the selection of a committee, intended to draft a proposed constitution for the group. That committee was to consist of J.M. Pomeroy, A. Reynolds, Mallalieu, Longstreet, Ela and Pitkin. The club reconvened on June 25 and "unanimously approved the report of the committee of six." The group's constitution follows.

The preamble begins, "Whereas, our country is now about to enter into a Presidential campaign involving issues which we believe to be the most momentous presented to the American people since the adoption of the constitution . . . ." Two such issues were, "The salvation of Kansas, and the restoration of the purity of the federal government," which, "can be achieved only by the election of the nominees of the Republican Party." The remainder of the constitution consists of 21 articles.

Article 1: Designates the official name of the group as "the Young Men's Republican Club of Wesleyan."

Article 2: Sets up the terms of membership in the group. Members were required to sign "these articles" within one week of their adoption and "afterward . . . [had to] be elected by a majority of the club." All members were required to "testify their adhesion to the party platform of June 17, 1856."

Article 3: States the purpose of the organization, being "to aid in the diffusion and advocacy of the principles of the Republican Party . . . and the election of John C. Fremont and William L. Dayton as President and Vice President of the United States."

Article 4: Enumerates methods by which the group planned to fulfill its purpose, including "an organized system of addresses on the politics of the day, to be delivered before the citizens of this county and vicinity" and also "the purchase and distribution of the Republican (campaign materials)." It also allows for the employment of "such other means as from time to time the club may deem proper."

Article 5: Lays out the top officer positions in the club, including president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Article 6: Provides for election of officers: president and VP from senior class, secretary from junior class, and treasurer from sophomore class.

Article 7: Provides for the organization of an executive committee including the officers and four representatives (one from each class year) to be elected after the adoption of the constitution.

Article 8: Describes the general responsibilities of the committee--to "carry out all orders of the club."

Article 9: Provides for the selection of a subcommittee of three to confer with the "Fremont Club of Middletown" and to "assign the times, places, and speakers for all meetings held under the direction of the club throughout the county and vicinity," and also to plan and provide for said meetings.

Article 10: Provides for the time and place of meetings of the executive committee, to be determined by the chairman.

Article 11: Executive Committee must report its activities and expenses to the general meeting.

Article 12: Provides for the removal of members of the Executive Committee.

Article 13: Provides for filling of vacancies in the Executive Committee.

Article 14: Assigns the time and day for general meetings.

Article 15: Provides for calling of extra meetings.

Article 16: No non-members may attend meetings.

Article 17: Order of business for meetings.

Article 18: Motions to adjourn or table "shall not be debatable."

Article 19: Provides for collection of money for campaign documents by voluntary subscription.

Article 20: Members may be expelled by majority vote.

Article 21: Provides for amendment of the constitution by a 2/3 majority.

The first signature on the document is that of John W. Hoyt ('58), followed by the term "scripsit" meaning that Hoyt recorded the document. His signature is followed by several pages of the signatures of the founding members of the club. Their names follow, along with the class years (in the 1800's) of all confirmed Wesleyan students.

James M. Pomeroy ('56), John Duncan Taber, ('58), George H. Whitney ('58), William T. Elmer ('57), Edward (or Edwaro) Johnson ('56), Allen Reynolds ('56), John Peterson ('57), Joseph W. Cushing ('57), Willard F. Mallalieu ('57), David Hough Ela ('57), Thomas R. Ercanbrack ('58), Melville Cox Smith ('59 but did not graduate), William Jay Foss ('56), John W. Hoyt ('58), Albert Vail ('57), William V. Snyder ('56), Hiram Pliny Shepard ('58), Samuel (or Salmuel) B. Paris ('58), Alverd E. Winchell ('57), Frederick Walter Pitkin ('58), Wilbur Fisk Noyes ('58 but died in 1857), Gilbert S. Keys ('58), Anthony Woodward ('58), Wesley Curtis Ginn ('59), Spencer R. Fuller ('59), Francis Asbury Smith ('59), Quincy Johnson Collin ('57), Charles H. Payne ('56), George Fisk Comfort ('57), George Crosby Smith ('56), Orville W. Powers ('56), James O. Longstreet ('57), Henry Crounce Abbott ('59), Edward W. Virgin ('57), Daniel Clark Knowles ('58), John W. Currier ('57), Edwin S. Snow ('58), Williams A. Reynolds ('58), Amherst W. Kellogg ('58), George W. Mansfield ('58), Solomon Parsons ('58), Nathaniel Fellows, Benjamin H. White ('59, but did not graduate), James N. Garatt ('58 but did not graduate), Charles H. Gardner ('59 but did not graduate), William F. Hatfield ('59), Henry A. Collin ('58), Charles S. Rogers ('58), Andrew Roe ('57), Jonathan H. Dally ('59), George L. Roberts ('59), Silas E. Quimby Jr. ('59), Joseph W. Ellis ('58), Charles H. Stocking ('58), Asa P. Lyon ('59), J. L. Morse ('59), A. Boothby Jr. ('59), George H. Falley, Horace William Parmenter ('59), J. D. Reynolds ('59, did not graduate), Newell F. Nichols ('57), Charles W. Brooks ('57), G. H. Gracy, Nelson Stutson ('58), James Carr, Jr. ('59), William Henry Starr ('59), Burwell P. Goode ('56), Henry A. Budington ('57), Lorenzo D. Blanchard ('57), G.N. Stowers, E.R. Carey, George Judkins ('60), Herbert F. Fisk ('60), William T. Worth ('60), John B. Lapham ('60), Edward M. Anthony ('60), Edward Edson ('60), William E. Morgan ('60), Robert L. Mathison ('60), Edwin B. Harvey ('59), Solomon Chapin ('57), William L. Spalding ('60), Ichabod Simmons ('60), Hiram C. Sexton ('60 but did not graduate), James M. Buckley ('60 but did not graduate), Andrew K. Crawford ('60), George C. Webber ('60), William L. Bodwell, Benjamin K. Lovatt ('60 but did not graduate), James T. Edwards ('60), Henry Blaisdell ('60), Samuel A. Winsor ('60), Daniel Kimball Stetson ('60 but did not graduate), Robert Pagan Bucknam ('59), Alvin G. White ('60 but did not graduate), William H. Wardell ('60), Benjamin S. Sharpe ('60 but did not graduate), George Clarke ('60), Webster R. Walkley ('60), George W. Clement ('60 but did not graduate), Edson W. Burr ('60), Melvin D. Kinney ('60), W. F. Comfort, Albert Gould ('60 but did not graduate), James Stuart Gordon ('60 but did not graduate), George S. Chadbourne ('58), Sanford B. Sweetser ('60).

The section of the book that follows consists of accounts of several meetings of the club.

At the first regular meeting on June 26, 1856, the executive committee and club officers were elected. H. P. Foss was elected as president, J. M. Pomeroy as vice president, E. A. Winchell as secretary and D. H. Ela as Treasurer. The remaining members of the executive committee were to be E. Johnson, W. F. Mallalieu, N. Fellows and W. C. Finn. The meeting also saw the selection of "Smith, Pomeroy, and Powers" to a subcommittee tasked with coordinating the efforts of the Wesleyan club with the Middletown Fremont Society.

The second set of meetings on June 27, 1856, began with a meeting of the Executive Committee which saw the adoption of "a tax of a few cents," that is dues, to be paid by the members of the club. Pomeroy and Foss were tasked with contacting the Middletown Fremont Society. The executive committee also provided for a list to collect the names of club members "willing to speak on behalf of Fremont and freedom." At the evening meeting of the full club, Smith, Pomeroy, and Powers reported on the meeting with the Middletown Fremont Society and their report was "accepted" by the club. Also, "motion was carried to send for two copies of the Campaign Tribune."

The next meeting on July 5, 1856, included the acceptance of the first report of the executive committee and speechmaking. The report describes the selection and election of club officers and subcommittees that had occurred at the prior meetings, and reports on the progress of the group so far. The executive committee report also reveals that a "ratification meeting" was "held in the city" on June 25, and provides a list of the members that spoke at the event.

At the meeting on July 26, 1856, the report of the Executive Committee was heard and accepted, and speeches were made. "President being absent, VP presided." The report follows the relationship between the Wesleyan Young Men's Republican Club and the Middletown Fremont Society. It notes that the subcommittee had been enabled to contact the Middletown group, and that the Middletown organization had appointed a liaison, "probably of a temporary nature," to attend the Wesleyan club's meetings. The Wesleyan club had by then been assured of the "hearty cooperation" of the Middletown club. The report itemizes campaign materials to be bought with club funds, including, "1 copy of Upham's Life of Fremont, 1 copy of History and Principles of the Republican Party, 2 copies of Facts for the People [and] 2 copies each of the publication of the Washington Republican Association." The report reveals the concerns of the Executive Committee, noting that, "great care" must be taken to "avoid offending anyone" on the subject of the Vice Presidency, "because pleas for either Dayton or Johnson could have an injurious effect on the vote for Fremont in this state." The club was instructed not to make "any offensive remarks about Mr. Fillmore," and to confine their remarks as speakers to the official platform so as not to "distract and divide."

The meeting of September 6, 1856 marked the beginning of a new school year. The minutes of the meeting describe the election of new members and a new Executive Committee. G. F. Comfort became chairman, and A. Eggleston, H. Shuster, G. Squire, Worth, and Anthony were elected as new members. New elections also included William J. Elmer as president, E. A. Winchell as vice president, J. R. Ercanbrack as secretary, and S. Fuller as treasurer, while the election of the remaining Executive Committee members-at-large was deferred until the following meeting. It was also resolved at this meeting to form a glee club "in connexion [sic] with the Repub. Club."

September 10, 1856, the president of the Executive Committee and members of the subcommittee were selected. "Were present Elmer, Winchell, Fellows, Mallalieu and Ercanbrack." Mallalieu was made president of the committee, and Fellows, Winchell, and Mallalieu were elected to the subcommittee. Provisions were also made for the posting of advertisements for speeches to be made by club members.

September 13, 1856, the third report of the Executive Committee was "listened to and accepted." The following new members were elected to the club: "Mssrs. Mandell, Clement, Fisk, Simmons, Spalding, Mattison, Sharp, Stowers, Bulkley, M. P. Kinney, Cary, Sweetser, Danes, W. C. Morgan, Glaats, J. Hibbard, Sewell, J. E. Pawins, Nichols and C. Lorin.""Ellis, Longstreet, Comfort, and Ercanbrack" were "invited to sing for the club." It was also "voted that the Executive Committee make arrangements for going to the Meriden mass meeting on next Saturday."

Evening of November 4, 1856, the group "shouted uproariously" but was brought to order by President Elmer. "The glee club, Ellis, Longstreet, Gould, and Ercanbrack discoursed music from time to time according to the call of the society.""Many enthusiastic speeches were made. Mallalieu was funny, Fellows was pathetic. Ercanbrack was impudent, Elmer was enthusiastic and all were in for free Kansas. The club adjourned, resolving to do their whole duty on the morrow." Signed: "J.R. Ercanbrack, Secretary."

November 6, 1856. "Republican club convened. Elmer presided. The club bewailed the probable result of the national election. Each and all joined to assert that they would remain firm advocates of Republican principles. Voted that these records be placed in the college library for the investigations of future classes who shall see fit to engage in politics. Club adjourned sine die." Signed: "J.R. Ercanbrack, cur. Sec."