Grand Old Partisan honors Theodore Pomeroy, born in western New York this day of 1824. He studied at William Seward's law firm after graduating from Hamilton College. The young Whig was elected town clerk and county prosecutor. His anti-slavery convictions led him to join the Republican Party. He then served one term in the state house.
At the 1858 state convention, his eloquent call for "pure Republicanism" defeated a proposed alliance with the Know-Nothing Party.
Pomeroy was delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. That year, he won the first of four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He fully backed the Union war effort and as banking committee chairman helped ensure financial stability.
Pomeroy rejoiced when the House passed the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery:
"How thoroughly demoralized, if I may use that word in this connection, even the political leaders of the Democratic Party had become, by the force of events upon the question of emancipation."
"The Republican members instinctively arose to their feet and thousands in the galleries, justified by the example of the members, sprang to their feet and there went up round after round of such enthusiastic shouting as was never before heard in the American capitol.
This tactful legislator also voted for the GOP's 14th and 15th Amendments. His colleagues elected him Speaker, unanimously, for the last day of the 40th Congress.
Declining another nomination, Pomeroy became first vice president and general counsel of the American Express Company. In later years, he was mayor of Auburn, delegate to the 1876 Republican National Convention, and state senator.
Pomeroy was active in politics and commerce until death at age eighty. Harriet Tubman, a close friend, left flowers and a letter in his casket.
Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bZ9W-XKXCPk
Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.
Each day, his grandoldpartisan YouTube channel and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far.
He also wrote the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar.
Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.
See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party.
"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"
"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."
"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."
"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."
and
"one of the best books I ever read"
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