CHAPTER II

THE   AMERICAN   REPUBLICANS,   1843-1847

In the summer of 1843 ^^'^^ voters of New York city saw the
beginning of a petty movement of nativism which gave no
greater promise of vitality than had Its predecessors in the
field, but which nevertheless was destined to rise within two
short years to the dlgnity^ of a national political party. The
movement originated in the general disgust over the use made
of political patronage by the local Democratic Party. Political
nativism was dead in the spring of 1843, and when anew Dem¬
ocratic common council took power after the April election
it showed Its gratitude for foreign support by unusual favors
In the way of market licenses and petty offices. This move
created discontent.' Heretofore the markets had been under
American control. Now the American meat-sellers found
themselves provided with Irish competitors and subject to
oversight by Irish clerks, weighers and watchmen. Nativism
at once sprang into new life In the markets.

In June a political movement began. The first impulse
toward it, so a later story'' ran, was a chance meeting of men
In a blacksmith-shop and a comparison of grievances that
brought about an agreement to organize. The association of
the Eleventh ward, organized June 13, 1843, was the first body
to be forrned under the new impulse, but it soon had compan¬
ion associations In other wards of the city and on July 15th a
new paper, the America?i Citizen, appeared 3 to voice the new
designs.    By August the several ward bodies had chosen del-

"^ your. Commerce, 1843, October 23;   Tribune, 1844, April 15, August 24.
* Carroll, p. 264.                     ^ Tribune, 1843, J^V '7-

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