1858 New York gubernatorial election

1858 New York gubernatorial election

← 1856 November 2, 1858 1860 →
 
Nominee Edwin D. Morgan Amasa J. Parker Lorenzo Burrows
Party Republican Democratic Know Nothing
Popular vote 247,953 230,513 61,137
Percentage 45.49% 42.29% 11.22%

Results by county
Morgan:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Parker:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

John Alsop King
Republican

Elected Governor

Edwin D. Morgan
Republican

The 1858 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1858. Incumbent Governor John A. King did not run for re-election to a second term in office. In the race to succeed him, Edwin D. Morgan defeated Amasa J. Parker and Lorenzo Burrows.

Liberty and Temperance nominations

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A mass convention to nominate Gerrit Smith for Governor met on August 4 at Syracuse, New York.[1] It was the first nominating convention of the campaign season, bringing together members of the anti-slavery and temperance movement in the state.[1] Frederick Douglass, William Goodell and Max Langenschwartz of Germany were featured speakers, and the convention was open to women.[1]

The convention adopted a platform denouncing slavery as "a crime against God and man of such matchless magnitude that no forms of law can change its infernal character."[1] Despite the stated purpose of the event, Republicans attempted to interrupt the proceedings to oppose Smith's nomination, and Frederick Douglass spoke at length against the nomination of Smith without a vote or debate, but Smith was ultimately nominated without explicit opposition.[1]

Republican nomination

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Candidates

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Declined to be drafted

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Results

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The Republican and American Party state conventions both met on September 8 at Syracuse, New York. At the Republican convention, there was some debate about the nomination of a joint ticket with the American Party. A motion to nominate candidates for governor was voted down by 166 to 67, and the convention adjourned.[2] The American convention, after much debate, adjourned too.[2]

The Republican convention re-assembled on September 9, and balloting was taken for governor. Edwin D. Morgan led on the first balllot by a large margin, receiving the first vote ever cast by Thurlow Weed at a state convention.[3] Before the second ballot could be taken, a delegation from the American convention arrived. morgan received a large majority on the second ballot, and the Americans returned to their convention with a delegation of Republicans, who offered to nominate Americans for Canal Commissioner and Prison Inspector, forming a joint ticket. However, the Americans decided against their proposal, nominating Lorenzo Burrows by acclamation.[3]

1858 Republican convention, first ballot[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edwin D. Morgan 116 45.85%
Republican Timothy Jenkins 51 20.16%
Republican James M. Cook 35 13.83%
Republican George W. Patterson 23 9.09%
Republican Alexander S. Diven 21 8.30%
Republican John A. King (draft effort) 4 1.58%
Republican Horace Greeley 3 1.19%
Total votes 253 100.00%
1858 Republican convention, second ballot[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edwin D. Morgan 165 64.71%
Republican Timothy Jenkins 52 20.39%
Republican George W. Patterson 20 7.84%
Republican Alexander S. Diven 18 7.06%
Total votes 255 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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1854 New York gubernatorial election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edwin D. Morgan 247,953 45.51% Increase 0.99
Democratic Amasa J. Parker 230,513 42.31% Increase 8.87
Know Nothing Lorenzo Burrows 60,880 11.17% Decrease10.87
Liberty Gerrit Smith 5,470 1.00% Increase 0.97
Total votes 544,816 100.00%

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e The Friends of Gerrit Smith at Syracuse in NYT on August 6, 1858
  2. ^ a b NEWS OF THE DAY in NYT on September 9, 1858
  3. ^ a b c d The American and Republican State Conventions in NYT on September 10, 1858
  4. ^ "The Democratic Ticket" (PDF). Putnam County Courier. September 20, 1858.
  5. ^ The Tribune Almanac 1859

Bibliography

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See also

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