Indiana Republican Party history

His most poignant speech was likely “The Slavery Question” which he delivered to the House in 1850.

In December 1854, Julian and E. H. Brackett acted as defense attorneys in a case against Benjamin Waterhouse, who was accused of harboring fugitive slaves named Tom and Jim.

In an 1855 speech delivered in Indianapolis, Julian said of immigrants:

Julian served as a delegate to the 1856 Republican National Convention, the first for the newly organized party.

Julian argued in Congress in support of the Homestead Act in 1862 as a measure to benefit the Union.

Julian was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public Lands in December 1863.

In 1866 Congress passed Julian’s Southern Homestead Bill which gave 50,000,000 acres of public land in the South to homesteaders.

According to the House Journal and Congressional Globe, Julian proposed a constitutional amendment to Congress December 8, 1868 (H.R. 371). The bill was ordered to be printed, but does not appear with the other Bills and Resolutions of the 40th Congress.

At the 1872 Democratic Convention, Julian’s name was put forward as a congressional candidate.

However, the Republican Party only tenuously backed Harrison because of “his failure to resolve three national issues,” and Cleveland won easily in 1892. (more here: Miller Center).

McKinley won easily again in 1900, bringing New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt with him to the White House as his vice president. (Miller Center)

He easily won the nomination at the June 1908 Republican National Convention in Chicago.

Taft was inaugurated March 4, 1909 as the twenty-seventh President of the United States.