United States Senate election in New York, 1869
Encyclopedia
The 1869 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1869, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York
in the United States Senate
.
had been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869.
At the State election in November 1867
, 17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1868-1869) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1868, Democrat John T. Hoffman was elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The 92nd State Legislature met from January 5 to May 1869, at Albany, New York
.
, presided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton
for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan
was very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. Speaker Truman G. Younglove
had held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.
Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot.
was again nominated, like in 1867.
In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale (16th D.) and Charles Stanford (15th D.); and Democrats Cauldwell, Thomas J. Creamer
, Michael Norton (5th D.) and John J. Bradley (7th D.); did not vote.
Notes:
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Background
Republican Edwin D. MorganEdwin D. Morgan
Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee...
had been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869.
At the State election in November 1867
New York state election, 1867
The 1867 New York state election was held on November 5, 1867, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, 17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1868-1869) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1868, Democrat John T. Hoffman was elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The 92nd State Legislature met from January 5 to May 1869, at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Republican caucus
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 16, Assemblyman John H. Selkreg, of Tompkins Co.Tompkins County, New York
Tompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
, presided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton
Reuben Fenton
Reuben Eaton Fenton was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of a farmer. He was elected a colonel of the New York State Militia in 1840. He became a lumber merchant, and entered politics as a Democrat...
for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan
Edwin D. Morgan
Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee...
was very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. Speaker Truman G. Younglove
Truman G. Younglove
Truman Giles Younglove was an American civil engineer, lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of Daniel Copeland Younglove and Elizabeth Stimson Younglove...
had held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot | Second ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | Reuben E. Fenton | (50) | 52 |
| Edwin D. Morgan Edwin D. Morgan Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee... |
(42) | 40 | |
| blank | (1) | ||
Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot.
Democratic caucus
The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 18. State Senator Henry C. MurphyHenry Cruse Murphy
Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress...
was again nominated, like in 1867.
Election
In the Assembly, Republicans DeWitt C. Hoyt (Saratoga Co.) and James O. Schoonmaker (Ulster Co.); and Democrats James Irving (NYC), Lawrence D. Kiernan (NYC), Harris B. Howard (Rensselaer Co.), James B. Pearsall (Queens), John Tighe (Albany Co.) and Moses Y. Tilden (Columbia Co.); did not vote.In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale (16th D.) and Charles Stanford (15th D.); and Democrats Cauldwell, Thomas J. Creamer
Thomas J. Creamer
Thomas James Creamer was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born near Garadice Lake, Ireland, Creamer immigrated to the United States and took up his residence in New York City.He attended the public schools....
, Michael Norton (5th D.) and John J. Bradley (7th D.); did not vote.
Result
Reuben E. Fenton was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Republican | Democrat | Democrat | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | 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... (32 members) |
Reuben E. Fenton Reuben Fenton Reuben Eaton Fenton was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of a farmer. He was elected a colonel of the New York State Militia in 1840. He became a lumber merchant, and entered politics as a Democrat... |
15 | Henry C. Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress... |
10 | Henry S. Randall Henry S. Randall Henry Stephens Randall was an American agriculturist, writer, educator and politician.-Life:He was the son of General Roswell Randall and Harriet Randall, of Shelburne, Vermont... |
1 |
| 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... (128 members) |
Reuben E. Fenton Reuben Fenton Reuben Eaton Fenton was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of a farmer. He was elected a colonel of the New York State Militia in 1840. He became a lumber merchant, and entered politics as a Democrat... |
73 | Henry C. Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress... |
46 | |||
Notes:
- The vote for Ex-Secretary of StateSecretary of State of New YorkThe 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...
Randall was cast by Henry C. Murphy. - The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Sources
- Members of the 41st United States Congress
- Result state election 1867 in The Tribune Almanac for 1868 compiled by Horace GreeleyHorace GreeleyHorace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
of the New York TribuneNew York TribuneThe New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States... - Result state election 1868 in The Tribune Almanac for 1869 compiled by Horace GreeleyHorace GreeleyHorace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
of the New York TribuneNew York TribuneThe New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States... - ALBANY.; Caucus of the Republican Members of the Legislature; Reuben E. Fenton Nominated United States Senator in NYT on January 17, 1869
- ALBANY.; Election of United States Senator in NYT on January 20, 1869