Independent Republican Party of South Carolina facts for kids
The Independent Republican Party of South Carolina was a political group in South Carolina during the time of Reconstruction. This was the period after the American Civil War. The party started in 1872. Its main goal was to stop Franklin J. Moses Jr. from becoming Governor of South Carolina. He had been chosen by the main Republican Party on August 21, 1872. A former governor named James Lawrence Orr did not agree with Moses's nomination. He then helped create this new Independent Republican Party.
The 1872 Election: A New Party Emerges
Republicans who opposed Franklin J. Moses Jr. met on August 22, 1872. They gathered at the Richland courthouse. Their goal was to pick their own candidates for the general election. The people at the meeting warned that the Republican Party's future was at risk. They believed this would happen if changes were not made and if dishonest politicians were elected.
They chose Reuben Tomlinson to run for governor. However, this choice did not excite many white voters. The Independent Republican candidates lost badly on October 16, 1872. Their candidate for governor received only 34% of the votes, while Moses got 65%. It was thought that about 40,000 white people did not vote. If they had, it might have helped the Independent Republicans win.
The 1874 Election: Working Together
After Daniel Henry Chamberlain was nominated for governor by the state Republican convention on September 8, 1874, some Republicans were unhappy. They met on October 2 to choose their own candidates. They picked John T. Green, a judge from Sumter, for governor. For lieutenant governor, they chose Martin R. Delany. He was a Black doctor from Charleston.
The Conservative Party of South Carolina announced its support. They backed the Independent Republican candidates on October 8. On November 3, 1874, Chamberlain won against Green. He won by just over 11,000 votes. This was the closest governor's election since 1865. The Independent Republicans did have some success at the national level. Edmund W.M. Mackey was elected to Congress from the Second District. By working with the Conservative Party in Charleston, they also won some seats in the General Assembly.
The 1876 Election: The Party Fades
By 1876, the Democratic Party had become strong again. Because of this, there was no organized group of Republicans against Governor Chamberlain. So, no Independent Republican candidates were put forward. Republicans who did not support the main Republican candidates instead chose to support Wade Hampton.
