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50-602: The act was named after its congressional sponsors, Senator George F. Edmunds of Vermont and Congressman John Randolph Tucker of Virginia. In President Grover Cleveland's annual address to Congress in December 1885, he emotionally discussed the issue of polygamy in Utah: The strength, the perpetuity, and the destiny of the nation rest upon our homes, established by the law of God, guarded by parental care, regulated by parental authority, and sanctified by parental love. These are not

100-475: A caucus in the dictionary sense, that is, a "partisan legislative group that uses caucus procedures to make decisions binding on its members." Even during the tense years of Reconstruction , Republican senators were not bound to vote according to conference decisions. In 1867, for example, when Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts refused to follow conference policy on an issue, and Senator William P. Fessenden of Maine charged, "you should not have voted on

150-493: A colleague that among all the Republicans, "Edmunds made the most impression upon me. I couldn't help admiring his clear and incisive way of putting a question, although it appeared to me that his manner is occasionally very irritating. This manner of his is very much that of a lawyer employed as counsel in a case, who therefore makes ex parte statements, and thinks it fair to make all manner of allegations." His closest friend in

200-597: A conference chairperson. The office was created in the mid-19th century with the founding of the Republican party . The office of " party floor leader " was not created until 1925, and for twenty years, the Senate's Republican conference chairman was also the floor leader. In recent years, the conference chair has come to be regarded as the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, behind the floor leader and whip. According to Congressional Quarterly , "The conference chairman manages

250-472: A groundswell for Edmunds if the two stronger candidates deadlocked. Revelations about Edmunds's legal work for railroads and corporations while sitting in the Senate prevented Edmunds from attaining wide support from reformers. On the first ballot he received 93 votes, once again carrying Vermont and Massachusetts, along with Rhode Island, a significant minority in New York, and scattered delegates from throughout

300-673: A law be passed to prevent the importation of Mormons into the country. The Act was passed by the Senate in January 1886 by a vote of 38–7. It was passed by the House via a voice vote in January 1887. President Cleveland refused to sign the bill but did not veto it, which meant that the Act became law on March 3, 1887. The act disincorporated both the LDS Church and the Perpetual Emigration Fund on

350-646: A niece of George Perkins Marsh . They had two daughters. Among Edmunds's honors were an honorary Master of Arts from the University of Vermont and honorary LL.D. degrees from Middlebury College , Dartmouth College and the University of Vermont. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1895. Edmunds Elementary and Middle Schools in Burlington, which share a complex, opened as

400-508: A true Half-Breed must support civil service reform. Indeed, Blaine's inclinations in the late 1870s were closer to that of the Stalwarts, evident in his hostility towards civil service reform and the policies pursued by Half-Breed Rutherford B. Hayes . During the campaign, Edmunds stated: It is my deliberate opinion that Senator Blaine acts as the attorney of Jay Gould . Whenever [Allen G. Thurman] and I have settled upon legislation to bring

450-620: Is a privately owned residence and farm, and marked by a Vermont Historic Sites Commission sign. Republican Conference Chairman of the United States Senate The Senate Republican Conference is the formal organization of the Republican senators in the United States Senate . Over the last century, the mission of the conference has expanded and been shaped as a means of informing the media of

500-475: The Democratic Party . To those southerners opposed to any federal role in protecting blacks' right to vote, Edmunds seemed the epitome of Yankee evil. One southern correspondent in 1880 wrote, "When I look at that man sitting almost alone in the Senate, isolated in his gloom of hate and bitterness, stern, silent, watchful, suspicious and pitiless, I am reminded of the worst types of Puritan character... You see

550-400: The 1980s, the conference began providing television, radio and graphics services for Republican senators. Senator Connie Mack , as conference chairman, in 1997 created the first digital Information Technology department to communicate the Republican agenda over the web. The form and frequency of conference meetings has depended upon leadership personalities and legislative circumstances. Since

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600-729: The Committee on Pensions from 1869 to 1873, the Committee on the Judiciary from 1872 to 1879 and again from 1881 to 1891, the Committee on Private Land Claims from 1879 to 1881 and the Committee on Foreign Relations in 1881. He was President pro tempore of the Senate from 1883 to 1885 and chairman of the Republican Conference from 1885 to 1891. While serving in Congress he continued to practice law, as did many other members of Congress at

650-536: The Pacific Railroad to terms of equity with the government, up has jumped Mr. James G. Blaine musket in hand, from behind the breastworks of Jay Gould’s lobby to fire in our faces. Edmunds' refusal to support Blaine consequentially led to immense opposition from Republicans who pushed to deny him re-election in the 1886 midterms. A supporter of Blaine said of the Vermont senator: Do you believe, [Edmunds] sulked during

700-589: The State Senate, and whose residence in Burlington was on the west side of the state. Edmunds subsequently won reelection in 1868, 1874, 1880 and 1886, and served from April 1866 until resigning in November 1891. In the Senate, Edmunds took an active part in the attempt to impeach President Andrew Johnson in 1868, having helped pass the Tenure of Office Act to rebuke Johnson. Although considering himself devoted to

750-494: The U.S. Senate in 1866, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Solomon Foot . He was subsequently elected by the Vermont General Assembly , and reelected in 1868, 1874, 1880, and 1886 before resigning in November 1891. As a longtime member of the U.S. Senate, he served in a variety of leadership posts, including chairman of the committees on Pensions, the Judiciary , Private Land Claims , and Foreign Relations . He

800-490: The United States Senate is a descendant of the early American party caucus that decided party policies, approved appointees, and selected candidates. The meetings were private, and early records of the deliberations do not exist. Senate Republicans began taking formal minutes only in 1911, and they began referring to their organization as the "conference" in 1913. An early outgrowth of the effort to enhance party unity

850-552: The West. His support declined, however, and the nomination went to Blaine on the fourth ballot. After the convention, many Edmunds supporters backed Democratic nominee Grover Cleveland , earning them the nickname " Mugwumps ". Edmunds himself refused support for Blaine, who ultimately narrowly lost the general election. Although Blaine was the leader of the Half-Breeds, he was viewed with suspicion and distrust by Edmunds, who believed that

900-625: The act scanned from the U.S. Statutes at large, linked elsewhere on this page.) In 1890 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the seizure of Church property under the Edmunds–Tucker Act in Late Corp. of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. United States . This act was repealed in 1978. George F. Edmunds George Franklin Edmunds (February 1, 1828 – February 27, 1919)

950-453: The campaign of 1884, and refused to assist the party that gave him all the eminence he ever had as a statesman, and thereby on account of his personal dislike to James G. Blaine refused to contribute his support. . . There are honest, intelligent Republicans who believe he is guilty. When the election drew closer, newspapers covering the race became either increasingly supportive or opposing towards Edmunds. The Vermont Watchman , which

1000-625: The chamber for many years was the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Allen G. Thurman of Ohio . Edmunds and Thurman shared similar reformist attitudes. When Edmunds ran for president in 1884, the other candidates included the eventual Republican nominee, James G. Blaine , a Half-Breed . During the campaign, Edmunds touted his alliance with Thurman, which in turn was cited as a positive quality by cartoonist Thomas Nast , an anti-Blaine Mugwump and illustrator for Harper's Weekly . At Thurman's death in 1895, Edmunds spoke highly of

1050-605: The chief differences between the Republican and Democratic Conferences, since the floor leader of the Democrats has continued to serve as their conference chairman. In 1944, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio , still in his first term, persuaded Republicans to revive their steering committee, and he became its chairman. In 1946, it became the Republican Policy Committee under legislation appropriating equal funds for majority and minority parties (a separate steering committee

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1100-534: The city's high school in 1900 on land donated by Edmunds, and became a middle and elementary grades facility in 1964. Mount Rainier 's Edmunds Glacier and the town of Edmonds, Washington (despite the spelling) are named for him. The Vermont Historical Society maintains the George F. Edmunds Fund, which awards an annual prize for student research and writing on Vermont history. His birthplace in Richmond, Vermont

1150-780: The commissioners, voting for Republicans Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler . He was the author of the Edmunds Act against polygamy in Utah and the Sherman Antitrust Act to limit monopolies . In 1882 President Chester A. Arthur nominated Senator Roscoe Conkling to replace the retiring Ward Hunt as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court . When Conkling declined, Arthur chose Edmunds, who also declined. The appointment ultimately went to Samuel Blatchford . Edmunds served as chairman of

1200-421: The election of Senator William B. Allison of Iowa as chairman in 1897, and during the terms of successors such as Senator Orville H. Platt of Connecticut and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich of Rhode Island . The chairman in 1915, Senator Jacob H. Gallinger of New Hampshire , who two years earlier had elected a whip to maintain a quorum to conduct Senate business. Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr. of New York

1250-434: The finance committee over objections from Progressive Republican insurgents. (This was apparently the only open party conference in the history of the Senate.) During this period, the chairman also served as informal floor leader. One reason for the lack of a formal post was that committee chairmen usually took responsibility to move to proceed to the consideration of measures reported by their respective committees and managed

1300-699: The former Ohio senator as "brave in his convictions." Edmunds was a candidate for president at the 1880 Republican National Convention . Nominated by Frederick H. Billings , he received 34 votes on the first ballot, carrying Vermont and Massachusetts. His support remained at 31 or 32 votes through the 29th ballot, after which his supporters began to trend towards eventual nominee James A. Garfield . In 1884, Republicans who favored civil service reform, including Carl Schurz , George William Curtis , Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge , supported Edmunds for President over incumbent President Chester A. Arthur and former Senator James G. Blaine , hoping to build

1350-425: The grounds that they fostered polygamy . The act prohibited the practice of polygamy and punished it with a fine of from $ 500 to $ 800 and imprisonment of up to five years. It dissolved the corporation of the church and directed the confiscation by the federal government of all church properties valued over a limit of $ 50,000. The act was enforced by the U.S. Marshal and a host of deputies. The act: (See text of

1400-503: The homes of polygamy. . . . There is no feature of this practice or the system which sanctions it which is not opposed to all that is of value in our institutions. There should be no relaxation in the firm but just execution of the law now in operation, and I should be glad to approve such further discreet legislation as will rid the country of this blot upon its fair fame. Since the people upholding polygamy in our Territories are reenforced by immigration from other lands, I recommend that

1450-466: The impress of the purer persecuting spirit that burned witches, drove out Roger Williams , hounded Jonathan Edwards for doing his sacred duty, maligned Jefferson , and like a toad squatted at the ear of the Constitution it had failed to pervert." In spite of contempt from many Democratic colleagues, Edmunds formed friendships from across the aisle. One Democrat with no reason to appreciate him wrote

1500-454: The late 1950s, the conference has met at the beginning of each United States Congress to elect the leadership, approve committee assignments, and attend to other organizational matters. Although other meetings are called from time to time to discuss pending issues, the weekly Policy Committee luncheons afford a regular forum for discussion among senators. As a former Republican Leader, Senator Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois , said in 1959: At

1550-399: The legislation on the floor. The first recorded Conference election of a formal floor leader was held March 5, 1925, when the conference chairman, Senator Curtis of Kansas, was unanimously chosen to serve in both posts. Throughout the 1920s, when Republicans held the Senate majority, the conference met chiefly at the beginning of each session to make committee assignments; for the remainder of

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1600-489: The opinions and activities of Senate Republicans. The Senate Republican Conference assists Republican senators by providing a full range of communications services including graphics, radio , television , and the Internet . Its chairman is Senator John Barrasso , and its vice chairwoman is Senator Shelley Moore Capito . Effective as of January 3, 2023 , the conference leadership is: The Republican Conference of

1650-517: The principles of the Republican Party, like most congressional " Half-Breeds ", Edmunds staunchly supported civil service reform . This was opposed by the conservative " Stalwart " faction, who supported maintaining the spoils system as a way to reward political supporters and punish political enemies. Edmunds was influential in providing for the electoral commission to decide the disputed presidential election of 1876 and served as one of

1700-562: The private meetings to elect floor leaders, handles distribution of committee assignments and helps set legislative priorities. The modern version drives the conference’s message, with broadcast studios for television and radio." The vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference, also known previously as the conference secretary until 2001, is the fifth-ranking leadership position (behind the Policy Committee chair ) within

1750-636: The session, Members were notified of the order of business by mail . This slow pace continued through the 1930s, when Republican senators were so few that they dispensed with a permanent whip, and the conference chairman and floor leader, Senator Charles L. McNary of Oregon , appointed senators to serve as whip on particular pieces of legislation. Senator McNary died in 1944, and the posts of conference chairman and floor leader were separated in 1945. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg of Michigan became chairman and Senator Wallace H. White, Jr. , of Maine became floor leader. This separation has continued to be one of

1800-587: The state legislature soundly re-elected him. At Arthur's funeral in 1886, Edmunds extended his hand to Blaine. Blaine, recalling the 1884 campaign, refused to shake it. Edmunds resigned from the Senate in 1891 in order to start a law practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . He later retired to Pasadena, California where he died on February 27, 1919. He was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington . In 1852 Edmunds married Susan Marsh Lyman (1831–1916),

1850-580: The students who studied under him was Russell S. Taft , who later served as Lieutenant Governor and as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court . A Republican , he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1854. He served until 1860, and was Speaker from 1857 to 1860. He moved to the Vermont Senate in 1861, where he served until 1862. While in the State Senate, Edmunds

1900-535: The subject [in Conference] if you did not mean to be bound by the decision of the majority," Sumner retorted, "I am a Senator of the United States," and no attempt was made to discipline him. Such independence was reiterated on March 12, 1925, when a resolution introduced by Senator Wesley L. Jones of Washington passed in the conference without objection: The Republican conference of the United States Senate chooses

1950-615: The time Senator Dirksen spoke, the elected party leadership included: chairman of the conference, secretary of the conference, floor leader, whip (now assistant floor leader), and chairman of the Policy Committee. On July 31, 1980, Conference rules were amended to make the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee an elected position, a change which brought the rules into conformity with what had become custom. The Republican Conference has never been

2000-422: The time. He held retainers from railroads and other corporations, including those which could be affected by Senate action. In 1921, former Senator Richard F. Pettigrew published an autobiography in which he condemned Edmunds as a "senatorial bribe-taker" and "distinctly dishonest" for having accepted corporate retainers while a senator. An acerbic debater, he often favored the status quo or slow progress. He

2050-519: Was admitted to the bar as soon as he reached the minimum required age of 21. He practiced in Burlington and became active in local politics and government. Before entering the Senate, he served in a number of high-profile positions in state government, including Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate . Edmunds was appointed to

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2100-585: Was also the leader of the Senate Republicans as President pro tempore of the Senate and chairman of the Republican Conference . Edmunds was an unsuccessful candidate for president at the 1880 and 1884 Republican National Conventions. After leaving the Senate he practiced law in Philadelphia . Edmunds later lived in retirement in Pasadena, California , where he died in 1919. He was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont . George F. Edmunds

2150-491: Was an American attorney and Republican politician who represented the state of Vermont in the United States Senate from 1866 to 1891. He was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880 and 1884 as a leading representative of New England and of the faction favoring civil service reform . Edmunds was born in Richmond, Vermont and began to study law while still a teenager; he proved an adept student, and

2200-567: Was born in Richmond, Vermont on February 1, 1828, the son of Ebenezer Edmunds and Naomi (Briggs) Edmunds. He attended the local schools and was privately tutored. Edmunds began studying law as a teenager, spending time in both the office of his brother-in-law Aaron B. Maynard and the office of David A. Smalley and Edward J. Phelps . He was admitted to the bar as soon as he was eligible in 1849. He practiced in Burlington , and became active in politics by serving in local offices including Town Meeting Moderator. While practicing law, one of

2250-636: Was chosen to serve as President pro tempore . After the death of U.S. Senator Solomon Foot in March 1866, Governor Paul Dillingham was expected to appoint someone from the west side of the Green Mountains, in keeping with the Republican Party's Mountain Rule . He first considered former Governor J. Gregory Smith . When Smith indicated that he would not accept, Dillingham turned to Edmunds, who had favorably impressed Dillingham during their service together in

2300-508: Was created in 1974 but its operations are funded by member dues, not by Congress ). Until the mid-1970s the staffs of the Conference and Policy Committee were housed together under a single staff director who administered their budgets jointly. Staff separation was begun during 1979–1980, while Senator Bob Packwood of Oregon was chairman of the conference, and completed under Senator James McClure of Idaho . Under Senator McClure's leadership in

2350-508: Was elected both conference secretary and whip; a week later the responsibilities were divided between Senator Wadsworth as Secretary and Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas , who was elected whip. The conference continued to meet in private to assure confidentiality and candor. This practice was suspended only once, on May 27, 1919, when the conference reaffirmed its commitment to the seniority system for choosing committee chairmen by electing Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania as chairman of

2400-636: Was known for making his colleagues feel the sting of his criticisms, and some thought him better at merely opposing than offering constructive alternatives. David Davis joked that he could make Edmunds vote against any measure by simply phrasing the request for votes in the New England town meeting way: "Contrary-minded will say no." One friend trying to interest him in a presidential bid pleaded, "But, Edmunds, think how much fun you would have vetoing bills." Edmunds took special delight in goading southern senators into blurting out statements that would embarrass

2450-493: Was noted for defending his stance on Blaine in 1884, turned the other direction and harshly attacked Edmunds. A number of smaller papers split, and the Burlington Free Press affirmed its support for the incumbent senator. Blaine himself held a strong contempt for Edmunds, and many of the former's supporters likely financed the movement to oust him. Despite such a fierce effort, Edmunds ultimately retained his seat when

2500-436: Was the creation, in 1874, of a steering committee to prepare a legislative schedule for consideration by the conference. The committee became a permanent part of the Republican organization. The steering committee, formalized Republican "leadership" in the 19th century was minimal; most legislative guidance came from powerful committee chairmen managing particular bills. The conference began to acquire significance, however, with

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