New York state election, 1855 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1855 New York state election was held on November 6, 1855, to elect the 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...

, 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...

and 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...

, as well as 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

Both the Whig state convention and the Anti-Nebraska

Anti-Nebraska Party

The Anti-Nebraska Party was an American political party formed in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Its founders, including Salmon P. Chase, held deep moral opposition to slavery, and were thus appalled by legislation that could lead to more slave-holding states...

state convention met on September 26 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...

. John Alsop King

John Alsop King

John Alsop King was an American politician who served as governor of New York.He was born in the area now encompassed by New York City on 3 January 1788 and was educated at Harrow School in England...

presided at the Whig convention, Reuben E. Fenton at the Anti-Nebraska convention. After organizing the Whigs, the delegates decided to join the Anti-Nebraskans, and marched to their assembling place. There the two parties merged and adopted the name Republican Party, and continued as the Republican state convention with King and Fenton as co-chairmen.

Results

Due to the chaotic political situation with the major parties split over the slavery question, a new party being founded by the fusion of factions of all previous parties, and four tickets competing, the American Party had the most surprising election victory in the history of the State of New York, winning eight of the nine state offices. Only the jointly nominated Democrat Henry L. Selden could defeat his American and Republican opponents. The incumbents Cook, Follett and Darius Clark were defeated.

16 Republicans, 11 Americans, four Democrats and one Temperance man were elected to a two-year term (1856-57) 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...

.

50 Democrats, 44 Americans, 33 Republicans and one Whig were elected for the session of 1856 to the New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly

**1855 state election results**
Office	American Know Nothing The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by... ticket		Republican 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
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...	Joel T. Headley Joel T. Headley Joel Tyler Headley was an American clergyman, historian, Author, newspaper editor and politician who served as Secretary of State of New York.-Life:...	148,557	Preston King Preston King Preston King was a United States Representative and Senator from New York.- Biography :Born in Ogdensburg, New York, he pursued classical studies and graduated from Union College in 1827, where he was an early member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He...	136,698	Israel T. Hatch Israel T. Hatch Israel Thompson Hatch was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:He was born in Johnstown, New York on June 30, 1808. Hatch pursued preparatory studies...	91,336	Aaron Ward Aaron Ward (representative) Aaron Ward was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...	59,353
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:...	Lorenzo Burrows Lorenzo Burrows Lorenzo Burrows was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:...	148,267	James M. Cook James M. Cook James Merrill Cook was an American businessman, banker and politician.-Life:...	138,748	Lemuel Stetson Lemuel Stetson Lemuel Stetson was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Champlain, Clinton County, he attended the public schools and Plattsburg Academy. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1824 and commenced practice in Keeseville, Essex County...	101,863	Thomas B. Mitchell	47,411
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...	Stephen B. Cushing Stephen B. Cushing Stephen Booth Cushing was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...	148,695	Abijah Mann, Jr. Abijah Mann, Jr. Abijah Mann, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Fairfield, New York, Mann attended the common schools. He engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was a justice of the peace. He was appointed by President Jackson postmaster of Fairfield and served from May 28, 1830 to January 16, 1833...	136,337	Samuel J. Tilden Samuel J. Tilden Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...	101,369	Josiah Sutherland Josiah Sutherland Josiah Sutherland was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...	44,357
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...	Stephen Clark Stephen Clark (NY treasurer) Stephen Clark was an American politician.-Life:He lived at Albany, New York. On February 4, 1818, he married Pamelia Fay , and they had five children...	148,778	Alexander B. Williams	136,696	Ariel S. Thurston	91,871	Joseph M. Lyon	57,910
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...	Silas Seymour Silas Seymour Silas Seymour was an American civil engineer and politician from New York.-Life:...	137,608	George Geddes	131,716	John B. Jervis John B. Jervis John Bloomfield Jervis was an American civil engineer. He was America's leading consulting engineer of the antebellum era . Jervis was a pioneer in the development of canals and railroads for the expanding United States...	88,290	John D. Fay John D. Fay John Doane Fay was an American civil engineer and politician from New York-Life:...	56,293
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)	William W. Campbell	141,514	Bradford R. Wood Bradford R. Wood Bradford Ripley Wood was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Early life and legal career:Born in Westport, Connecticut, Wood attended the common schools and was graduated from Union College at Schenectady, New York, in 1824. He was engaged in teaching and lecturing. He studied law at the...	134,353	Samuel L. Selden Samuel L. Selden Samuel Lee Selden was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1862.-Life:...	151,632	Samuel L. Selden Samuel L. Selden Samuel Lee Selden was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1862.-Life:...
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)	George F. Comstock George F. Comstock George Franklin Comstock was an American lawyer and politician. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1860 to 1861.-Life:He graduated from Union College in 1834...	140,299	Joseph Mullin Joseph Mullin Joseph Mullin was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...	132,019	Nicholas Hill, Jr.	106,511	John Willard	40,772
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...	Samuel S. Whallon Samuel S. Whallon Samuel S. Whallon was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:About 1812. his family removed to Mayville, New York...	147,461	Daniel H. Bissell	135,918	Curtis Hawley	90,005	Frederick Follett Frederick Follett Frederick Follett was an American journalist, newspaper editor and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Frederick Follett ....	60,974
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...	William A. Russell William A. Russell (New York) William A. Russell was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Congressman David Abel Russell and Alida Russell.He was Sheriff of Washington County from 1850 to 1852....	148,875	Wesley Bailey Wesley Bailey Wesley Bailey was an American newspaper editor and politician from New York.-Life:He learned the printer's trade, and was a Minister of the Reformed Methodist Church. He also taught school in DeWitt, New York. In 1833, he married Eunice Kinne , and they had six children...	136,993	Patrick H. Agan	100,702	Darius Clark Darius Clark Darius Clark was an American physician and politician from New York.-Life:...	48,332

Sources

Result in The Official State Canvass in NYT on December 17, 1855 ("not fully completed", but released for publication, without the scattering votes)
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9804E2D9113CE13BBC4052DFB667838E649FDE American Party ticket, in NYT on October 18, 1855
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E05E2DC1631E334BC4D53DFB767838E649FDE The Republican ticket, in NYT on November 5, 1855

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