At Bloomington on May 29, 1856, a broad and fractious convention united abolitionists, gradual emancipationists, nativists, and immigrants in opposition to the expansion of slavery. Horace Greeley's New York Tribune called it a convention of the people, with all classes, opinions, and shades of belief represented but inspired by a common resolve to resist further aggressions of the slave power. From this coalition, Lincoln fashioned the Republican Party and later said that since its organization at Bloomington he had considered himself bound as a party man. Democrats likewise saw slavery as the driving issue, and the Springfield Illinois State Register attacked the proceedings as embracing a fully pro-black platform. Slavery was foremost in the minds of those gathered at Major's Hall, where local writers pointed to the reality that some enslaved people were as white as their observers. While the convention met, nativist Know-Nothings and supporters of the Kansas settlers held separate meetings in town. The Temple of Honor, a fraternal lodge of anti-immigrant nativists, spoke on temperance, and Franklin Price of Bloomington presided. Gov. Reeder, recently governor of guerrilla war-torn Bloody Kansas, came after escaping in disguise as a woodchopper and recounted the horrors in Kansas, including the sacking of Lawrence.