Litchfield Republican Club

City: Litchfield

County: Montgomery

State: Illinois

The Litchfield Republican Club was one of thousands of clubs formed in cities and towns in the United States in response to an appeal from the Republican Club of Washington DC, in January 1856. The Litchfield Republican Club was the officially founded in July 1858 with the publication of its constitution. Club members affirmed their belief that the defeat of pro-slavery "misrule" would be best accomplished by the "thorough organization of the Republican Party." The Republican Club platform stated, "We affirm and heartily endorse the doctrines contained in the platform of the Republican National Convention, held at Philadelphia, June 17th, 1856, and also those embraced in the Declaration of Principles and Resolutions adopted by the Republican State Convention held at Springfield, June 16th, 1858; and we hereby protest against issues being made, and doctrines inculcated as those of the Republican Party which are not contained in the aforesaid platforms." The founding officers of the club included Andrew Miller as President, Thomas G. Lofton and L. D. Palmer as Vice Presidents, Benjamin S. Hood as Secretary, and R. H. Pealle as Treasurer.

The Alton Weekly Courier (IL), 29 July 1858, 2:2; William Starr Myers, The Republican Party: A History (New York: Century, 1928), 61-62.