New York state election, 1853
Encyclopedia
The 1853 New York state election was held on November 8, 1853, to elect the Secretary of State
, the State Comptroller
, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer
, the State Engineer
, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals
, a Canal Commissioner
, an Inspector of State Prisons
and the Clerk of the Court of Appeals
, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly
and the New York State Senate
.
, returned to the Democratic Party and re-united with the Hunkers. During the following years, the Hunkers split over the question of reconciliation with the Barnburners. The Hards were against it, denying the Barnburners to gain influence in the Party. The Softs favored reconciliation with the intention of maintaining enough strength to win the elections. Both Hards and Softs favored a compromise on the slavery question: to maintain the status quo and to leave the decision to the local population in new Territories or States if they want slavery or not, as expressed in the Kansas-Nebraska Act
. The Barnburners were against the permission of slavery in new Territories or States, but were now the minority in the party.
The Free Democratic, or Independent Democratic, Party was the radical anti-slavery faction of the disbanding Free Soil Party which advocated the immediate abolition of slavery. Their State convention was held on August 31 at Syracuse, New York
.
The Democratic state convention met in September at Syracuse, New York
. Two chairmen, one Hard and one Soft, were elected who sat one beside the other and commenced proceedings ignoring each other. After some ensuing confusion, the Hards moved out, convened elsewhere, and nominated a state ticket. The Softs and Barnburners nominated their own ticket. Only the nominees for the two judgeships of the Court of Appeals were nominated jointly by Hards and Softs.
The Whig state convention met on October 5 at Syracuse, New York
. Benjamin F. Bruce
was Temporary Chairman until the choice of Ex-Governor Washington Hunt
to preside over the convention. James M. Cook was nominated for Comptroller on the first ballot (vote: Cook 88, Spaulding 29, Josiah B. Williams 8). Elias W. Leavenworth was nominated for Secretary of State on the first ballot (vote: Leavenworth 82, Samuel J. Wilkin
41, Spaulding 3). Elbridge G. Spaulding was nominated for Treasurer on the first ballot (vote: Spaulding 82, Jeremiah Ellsworth 19, Epenetus Crosby 11, Myron H. Clark
10). Ogden Hoffman was nominated for Attorney General on the third ballot (first ballot: Daniel Ullmann 49, Hoffman 45, Roscoe Conkling
27, J. M. Van Cott 4, Thompson 3; second ballot: Hoffman 56, Ullmann 54, Conkling 16, blank 1; third ballot: Hoffman 74, Ullmann 48, Conkling 5, blank 1). Cornelius Gardinier was nominated for Canal Commissioner on the second ballot (first ballot: Gardinier 30, David S. Wright 28, Ebenezer Blakely 19, Samuel P. Russell 16, Thomas Clowes
13, Ogden N. Chapin 13; second ballot: Gardinier 75, Blakely 19, Wright 18, Russell 5, Clowes 3, Chapin 1, Peabody 1, blank 1). Thomas Kirkpatrick was nominated for Inspector of State Prisons on the third ballot (first ballot: Kirkpatrick 22, Henry Underwood 21, Josiah T. Everest
14, Norwood Bowne
13, Alexander H. Wells
9, A. F. Crocker 9, Henry Bradley 9, Abner Baker 7, Benjamin Squire 7, William Lyons 6, Epenetus Crosby 5, Joseph Garling House 5; second ballot: Kirkpatrick 55, Underwood 45, Bowne 17, Everest 11; third ballot: Kirkpatrick 70, Underwood 60). John T. Clark was nominated for State Engineer by acclamation. Benjamin F. Harwood was nominated for Clerk of the Court of Appeals on the first ballot (vote: Harwood 62, E. P. Cole 22, A. T. McCarty 10, J. T. Lamport 8, P. Smith 5, Robinson 2). George Wood was nominated for a full term as Judge of the Court of Appeals on the second vote (88 ayes, 20 noes) after William Rockwell had been rejected in the first vote. Joseph Mullin was nominated for the short term by acclamation.
23 Whigs, 7 Hards and 2 Softs were elected to a two-year term (1854-55) in the New York State Senate
.
78 Whigs, 24 Hards, 24 Softs and 2 Free Democrats were elected for the session of 1854 to the New York State Assembly
.
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, the State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
, the State Engineer
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
, a Canal Commissioner
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
, an Inspector of State Prisons
New York State Prison Inspector
The Inspector of State Prisons was a statewide elective office created by the New York State Constitution of 1846. At the New York state election, 1847, three Inspectors were elected and then, upon taking office, so classified that henceforth every year one Inspector would be elected to a...
and the Clerk of the Court of Appeals
Clerk of the New York Court of Appeals
The Clerk of the New York Court of Appeals was one of the statewide elected officials in New York from 1847 to 1870. He was also ex officio a clerk of the New York Supreme Court. The office was created by the New York State Constitution of 1846...
, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
History
After the split of the Democratic Party in 1848 over the slavery question, a large part of the Barnburner faction, who had joined the Free Soil PartyFree Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
, returned to the Democratic Party and re-united with the Hunkers. During the following years, the Hunkers split over the question of reconciliation with the Barnburners. The Hards were against it, denying the Barnburners to gain influence in the Party. The Softs favored reconciliation with the intention of maintaining enough strength to win the elections. Both Hards and Softs favored a compromise on the slavery question: to maintain the status quo and to leave the decision to the local population in new Territories or States if they want slavery or not, as expressed in the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty if they would allow slavery within...
. The Barnburners were against the permission of slavery in new Territories or States, but were now the minority in the party.
The Free Democratic, or Independent Democratic, Party was the radical anti-slavery faction of the disbanding Free Soil Party which advocated the immediate abolition of slavery. Their State convention was held on August 31 at Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
The Democratic state convention met in September at Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Two chairmen, one Hard and one Soft, were elected who sat one beside the other and commenced proceedings ignoring each other. After some ensuing confusion, the Hards moved out, convened elsewhere, and nominated a state ticket. The Softs and Barnburners nominated their own ticket. Only the nominees for the two judgeships of the Court of Appeals were nominated jointly by Hards and Softs.
The Whig state convention met on October 5 at Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Benjamin F. Bruce
Benjamin F. Bruce
Benjamin Franklin Bruce was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
was Temporary Chairman until the choice of Ex-Governor Washington Hunt
Washington Hunt
Washington Hunt was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He moved to Lockport, New York in 1828 to study law, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and opened a law office on Market Street in 1835...
to preside over the convention. James M. Cook was nominated for Comptroller on the first ballot (vote: Cook 88, Spaulding 29, Josiah B. Williams 8). Elias W. Leavenworth was nominated for Secretary of State on the first ballot (vote: Leavenworth 82, Samuel J. Wilkin
Samuel J. Wilkin
Samuel Jones Wilkin was a U.S. Representative from New York, son of James W. Wilkin.Born in Goshen, New York, Wilkin was graduated from Princeton College in 1812.He studied law....
41, Spaulding 3). Elbridge G. Spaulding was nominated for Treasurer on the first ballot (vote: Spaulding 82, Jeremiah Ellsworth 19, Epenetus Crosby 11, Myron H. Clark
Myron H. Clark
Myron Holley Clark was an American politician from the U.S. state of New York.- Biography :Clark was born in Naples, Ontario County, New York on October 23, 1806...
10). Ogden Hoffman was nominated for Attorney General on the third ballot (first ballot: Daniel Ullmann 49, Hoffman 45, Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
27, J. M. Van Cott 4, Thompson 3; second ballot: Hoffman 56, Ullmann 54, Conkling 16, blank 1; third ballot: Hoffman 74, Ullmann 48, Conkling 5, blank 1). Cornelius Gardinier was nominated for Canal Commissioner on the second ballot (first ballot: Gardinier 30, David S. Wright 28, Ebenezer Blakely 19, Samuel P. Russell 16, Thomas Clowes
Thomas Clowes
Thomas Clowes was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
13, Ogden N. Chapin 13; second ballot: Gardinier 75, Blakely 19, Wright 18, Russell 5, Clowes 3, Chapin 1, Peabody 1, blank 1). Thomas Kirkpatrick was nominated for Inspector of State Prisons on the third ballot (first ballot: Kirkpatrick 22, Henry Underwood 21, Josiah T. Everest
Josiah T. Everest
Josiah Terry Everest was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
14, Norwood Bowne
Norwood Bowne
Norwood Bowne was an American newspaper editor and politician from New York.-Life:...
13, Alexander H. Wells
Alexander H. Wells
Alexander H. Wells was an American lawyer, editor and politician from New York.-Life:...
9, A. F. Crocker 9, Henry Bradley 9, Abner Baker 7, Benjamin Squire 7, William Lyons 6, Epenetus Crosby 5, Joseph Garling House 5; second ballot: Kirkpatrick 55, Underwood 45, Bowne 17, Everest 11; third ballot: Kirkpatrick 70, Underwood 60). John T. Clark was nominated for State Engineer by acclamation. Benjamin F. Harwood was nominated for Clerk of the Court of Appeals on the first ballot (vote: Harwood 62, E. P. Cole 22, A. T. McCarty 10, J. T. Lamport 8, P. Smith 5, Robinson 2). George Wood was nominated for a full term as Judge of the Court of Appeals on the second vote (88 ayes, 20 noes) after William Rockwell had been rejected in the first vote. Joseph Mullin was nominated for the short term by acclamation.
Results
Due to the split of the Democratic Party, almost the whole Whig ticket was elected. Only the jointly nominated Democratic judges of the Court of Appeals, Ruggles and Denio, were elected. The incumbent Ruggles was re-elected, the incumbent Mather was defeated.23 Whigs, 7 Hards and 2 Softs were elected to a two-year term (1854-55) in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
78 Whigs, 24 Hards, 24 Softs and 2 Free Democrats were elected for the session of 1854 to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
.
| Office | Whig ticket | Dem./Soft Barnburners and Hunkers The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,... ticket |
Dem./Hard Barnburners and Hunkers The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,... ticket |
Free Democratic Free Soil Party The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership... ticket |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State Secretary of State of New York The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A... |
Elias W. Leavenworth Elias W. Leavenworth Elias Warner Leavenworth was an American lawyer and politician.-Education:He attended the Hudson Academy and graduated from Yale College in 1824... |
160,043 | Isaac A. Verplanck | 96,137 | George W. Clinton | 99,835 | Charles B. Sedgwick Charles B. Sedgwick Charles Baldwin Sedgwick was a U.S. Representative from New York during the American Civil War.-Biography:Sedgwick was born in Pompey, New York, and attended Pompey Hill Academy, and Hamilton College, Clinton, New York... |
14,985 |
| Comptroller New York State Comptroller The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:... |
James M. Cook James M. Cook James Merrill Cook was an American businessman, banker and politician.-Life:... |
164,628 | Robert Kelly | 97,130 | James E. Cooley | 92,888 | Seth Merrill Gates Seth Merrill Gates Seth Merrill Gates was an American lawyer, born at Winfield, New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1827, and was a member of the State Assembly in 1832. A Whig, he was an antislavery member of the twenty-sixth and twenty seventh U. S. Congresses from 1839 to 1843. In 1843 he drafted the protest... |
16,483 |
| Attorney General New York State Attorney General The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman... |
Ogden Hoffman | 166,165 | Martin Grover Martin Grover Martin Grover was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:... |
97,158 | James T. Brady | 92,512 | John Jay | 16,221 |
| Treasurer New York State Treasurer The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the... |
Elbridge G. Spaulding Elbridge G. Spaulding Elbridge Gerry Spaulding Elbridge Gerry Spaulding Elbridge Gerry Spaulding (February 24, 1809 - May 5, 1897 was an American lawyer, banker, and politician. He supported the idea for the first U.S... |
166,301 | Francis Seger | 97,054 | Winslow C. Watson | 96,931 | Nathan Soule Nathan Soule Nathan Soule was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in New York, Soule resided at Fort Plain.He completed preparatory studies.... |
14,957 |
| State Engineer New York State Engineer and Surveyor The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was... |
John T. Clark John T. Clark For other people with a similar name see John ClarkJohn T. Clark was an American civil engineer and politician from New York.-Life:He lived at Utica, Oneida County, New York.... |
164,949 | Wheeler H. Bristol Wheeler H. Bristol Wheeler H. Bristol was an American engineer, railroad executive and politician.-Life:... |
97,101 | John D. Fay John D. Fay John Doane Fay was an American civil engineer and politician from New York-Life:... |
93,172 | Silas Cornell | 14,214 |
| Judge of the Court of Appeals New York Court of Appeals The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms... (full term) |
George Wood | 163,920 | Charles H. Ruggles Charles H. Ruggles Charles Herman Ruggles was an American lawyer and politician who was a U.S... |
182,615 | Charles H. Ruggles Charles H. Ruggles Charles Herman Ruggles was an American lawyer and politician who was a U.S... |
Leonard Gibbs | 12,968 | |
| Judge of the Court of Appeals New York Court of Appeals The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms... (short term) |
Joseph Mullin Joseph Mullin Joseph Mullin was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:... |
158,964 | Hiram Denio Hiram Denio Hiram Denio was an American lawyer and politician from New York... |
187,137 | Hiram Denio Hiram Denio Hiram Denio was an American lawyer and politician from New York... |
Edward I. Chase | 12,396 | |
| Canal Commissioner Erie Canal Commission The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission... |
Cornelius Gardinier Cornelius Gardinier Cornelius Gardinier was an American politician from New York.-Life:He married Jane Quackenbush Cornelius Gardinier (b. 1798 Johnstown, then in Montgomery County, now in Fulton County, New York ) was an American politician from New York.-Life:He married Jane Quackenbush Cornelius Gardinier (b. 1798... |
162,030 | Andrew J. Yates | 96,273 | John C. Mather John C. Mather (New York) John Cotton Mather was an American politician. In 1853, he was the first person tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments.-Life:... |
97,997 | Charles G. Case | 12,928 |
| Inspector of State Prisons New York State Prison Inspector The Inspector of State Prisons was a statewide elective office created by the New York State Constitution of 1846. At the New York state election, 1847, three Inspectors were elected and then, upon taking office, so classified that henceforth every year one Inspector would be elected to a... |
Thomas Kirkpatrick Thomas Kirkpatrick (New York) -Life:He lived in Albany, New York and was an alderman, elected in the Tenth Ward in 1843, and Overseer of the Poor.In 1853, he was elected, on the Whig ticket, Inspector of State Prisons, and was in office from 1854 to 1856.... |
159,667 | William C. Dryer | 96,434 | Miles W. Bennett | 98,489 | Horace Boardman | 16,339 |
| Clerk of the Court of Appeals Clerk of the New York Court of Appeals The Clerk of the New York Court of Appeals was one of the statewide elected officials in New York from 1847 to 1870. He was also ex officio a clerk of the New York Supreme Court. The office was created by the New York State Constitution of 1846... |
Benjamin F. Harwood Benjamin F. Harwood Benjamin F. Harwood was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He lived in Dansville, Livingston County, New York.... |
158,156 | Albert Edgerton | 96,267 | Samuel S. Bowne Samuel S. Bowne Samuel Smith Bowne was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in New Rochelle, New York, Bowne moved to Otsego County with his parents, who settled near Morris, New York.He attended the common schools.... |
92,412 | Thomas G. Frost | 14,286 |
Sources
- Result in OFFICIAL STATE CANVASS in NYT on January 3, 1854
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9803EFDD1131E13BBC4C53DFB7678388649FDE The Hard ticket, in NYT on November 4, 1853