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.
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 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% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Liberty and Temperance nominations
editA 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
editCandidates
edit- James M. Cook, former New York Treasurer, New York Comptroller and State Senator from Ballston Spa
- Alexander S. Diven, State Senator from Elmira
- Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune and former U.S. Representative from New York City
- Timothy Jenkins, former U.S. Representative from Oneida Castle
- Edwin D. Morgan, businessman, chairman of the Republican National Committee and former State Senator from New York City
- George Washington Patterson, chairman of the New York Harbor Commission and former Lieutenant Governor
Declined to be drafted
edit- John A. King, incumbent Governor since 1857
Results
editThe 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]
| 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% | ||
| 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
editCandidates
edit- Lorenzo Burrows, former New York Comptroller (American)
- Edwin D. Morgan, businessman, chairman of the Republican National Committee and former State Senator from New York City (Republican)
- Amasa J. Parker, former Justice of the New York Supreme Court, former U.S. Representative from Delhi and nominee in 1856 (Democratic)[4]
- Gerrit Smith, former U.S. Representative from Peterboro and nominee in 1856 (Liberty and Temperance)
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Edwin D. Morgan | 247,953 | 45.51% |  0.99
| |
| Democratic | Amasa J. Parker | 230,513 | 42.31% | 8.87
| |
| Know Nothing | Lorenzo Burrows | 60,880 | 11.17% |  10.87
| |
| Liberty | Gerrit Smith | 5,470 | 1.00% | 0.97
| |
| Total votes | 544,816 | 100.00% | |||
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e The Friends of Gerrit Smith at Syracuse in NYT on August 6, 1858
- ^ a b NEWS OF THE DAY in NYT on September 9, 1858
- ^ a b c d The American and Republican State Conventions in NYT on September 10, 1858
- ^ "The Democratic Ticket" (PDF). Putnam County Courier. September 20, 1858.
- ^ The Tribune Almanac 1859
Bibliography
edit- Dearstyne, Bruce W. (2015). The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-4384-5659-1 – via Google Books.