Founding of the Mississippi Republican Party

Grand Old Partisan commemorates founding of the Mississippi GOP. September 10th 1867, friends of freedom convened at Jackson to establish the Mississippi Republican Party. They called on people throughout the state "to effect a thorough organization of the party. Nominate your candidates, and open the campaign." 

Leading this effort were Jefferson Wofford, one of the few ex-Confederate officers to abandon the Democratic Party, 

and James Lynch, a former slave.

Alston Mygatt, a northern-born Methodist preacher who had been residing in Vicksburg two decades before the Civil War, presided. He would go on to chair the state constitutional convention and serve in the legislature. Assisting him was Union army general George McKee, who would later be a congressman. A third of the delegates were African-American.

their platform:

First—Resolved, That we do cordially approve all the principles of the National Republican Party.

Second—Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to keep step with the National Republican Party in all the progressive political reforms of the age.

Third—Resolved, That we heartily adopt as our own the plan laid down by Congress for the reconstruction of Mississippi.

Fourth—Resolved, That we will spare no pains or influence in our power to give free education to every child in Mississippi, and the ballot to every man not disfranchised for crimes, including treason.

Fifth—Resolved, That in neither education, the ballot or other civil or political right will we ever recognize any distinction of race or color.

Sixth—Resolved, That honest industry is in all respects honorable, and shall always be protected and encouraged.

The state GOP faded after Reconstruction but revived in the 1950s.

Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com. 

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Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.

Each day, his YouTube videos and TikTok videos and Rumble videos and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

"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!"

"Your book is a national treasure. I'm always recommending it."

"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"