United States Senate special election in New York, 1829
Encyclopedia
The 1829 United States Senate special election in New York was held on January 15, 1829, 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 re-elected in 1827 to this seat, but resigned his seat on December 20, 1828, after his election as Governor of New York
.
Governor DeWitt Clinton
died on February 11, 1828, which led to a re-alignment of the two major parties in the State. The previously opposed "Clintonians" and "Bucktails" (Anti-Clintonians) had lost their reference point, and now became "Jacksonians" (supporters of Andrew Jackson
, later known as the Democratic Party
, led by Martin Van Buren), and "Anti-Jacksonians" or "Adams men" (supporting the re-election of John Quincy Adams
, later known as the National Republican Party). Besides, the Anti-Masonic Party
appeared as a strong third party in the Western part of the State.
At the State election in November 1828, Van Buren was elected Governor, a Jacksonian majority was elected to the Assembly, and of the nine State Senators elected, four were Jacksonians, four Anti-Masons and 1 Adams man who joined the Jacksonians after Adams's defeat for the presidency. The 52nd State Legislature met from January 6 to May 5, 1829, at Albany, New York
.
, Mayor of Albany Charles E. Dudley to fill the vacancy.
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
Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
had been re-elected in 1827 to this seat, but resigned his seat on December 20, 1828, after his election as Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
.
Governor DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
died on February 11, 1828, which led to a re-alignment of the two major parties in the State. The previously opposed "Clintonians" and "Bucktails" (Anti-Clintonians) had lost their reference point, and now became "Jacksonians" (supporters of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
, later known as the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, led by Martin Van Buren), and "Anti-Jacksonians" or "Adams men" (supporting the re-election of John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, later known as the National Republican Party). Besides, the Anti-Masonic Party
Anti-Masonic Party
The Anti-Masonic Party was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major party....
appeared as a strong third party in the Western part of the State.
At the State election in November 1828, Van Buren was elected Governor, a Jacksonian majority was elected to the Assembly, and of the nine State Senators elected, four were Jacksonians, four Anti-Masons and 1 Adams man who joined the Jacksonians after Adams's defeat for the presidency. The 52nd State Legislature met from January 6 to May 5, 1829, 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...
.
Candidates
Governor Van Buren chose one of his personal friends, and member of the Albany RegencyAlbany Regency
The Albany Regency was a group of politicians who controlled the New York state government between 1822 and 1838. The group was among the first American political machines...
, Mayor of Albany Charles E. Dudley to fill the vacancy.
Result
Charles E. Dudley was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Jacksonian | Anti-Jacksonian | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... (31 members) |
Charles E. Dudley Charles E. Dudley Charles Edward Dudley was an American politician.-Life:Dudley was born in England during the American Revolution, the son of Loyalist parents. His father, Charles Dudley, an Englishman, was Collector of the King's Customs at Newport, Rhode Island, where he married Catherine Cooke, of a Rhode... |
23 | ||
| 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... (127 members) |
Charles E. Dudley Charles E. Dudley Charles Edward Dudley was an American politician.-Life:Dudley was born in England during the American Revolution, the son of Loyalist parents. His father, Charles Dudley, an Englishman, was Collector of the King's Customs at Newport, Rhode Island, where he married Catherine Cooke, of a Rhode... |
79 | |||
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 127f for State Senators 1829; pg. 207ff for Members of Assembly 1829)
- Members of the 20th United States Congress
- History of Political Parties in the State of New-York, Vol. II by Jabez Delano Hammond (State election, 1828: pg. 289ff; U.S. Senate election, 1829: pg. 303ff)