New York state election, 1851
Encyclopedia
The 1851 New York state election was held on November 4, 1851, 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 Commissioner
and an Inspector of State Prisons
, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly
and the New York State Senate
.
. The Whig state convention met on September 11 at Syracuse, New York
. Horace Wheaton
, candidate for Canal Commissioner, was the sitting Mayor of Syracuse, New York
.
Six Democrats and four Whigs were elected to the district benches of the New York State Supreme Court.
in favor of Welch, claiming that ballots with a name similar to that of the candidate Benjamin Welch, Jr., had been counted as "scattering" but had been intended for Welch. In fact the official state canvass shows ballots for "Benjamin Welch" in Chemung (68), Kings (1), Saratoga (1) and Tompkins (47), "B. Welch" in Chenango (1), Livingston (1) and New York (1), "B. J. Welch" in Livingston (1), and "Benjamin C. Welch, Jr." in Ontario (32); a total of 153. On the other side, the official canvass also shows votes for "J. M. Cook" in Kings (1), "J. W. Cook" in Livingston (2), "Cook" in New York (2), "James Cook" in Saratoga (1), "James A. Cook" in Suffolk (15) and "John M Cook" in Yates (1), a total of 22. Besides, votes from several election districts were disallowed on technicalities (49 for Welch and 24 for Cook in Chesterfield
, Essex County, New York
; 332 for Welch and 66 for Cook in the second election district of the 14th Ward in New York City
). On September 30, 1852, the election result was reversed by the Supreme Court, but Cook refused to deliver the office and the books. Welch sued for the delivery of the books, but the motion was denied. After some more legal proceedings, Welch took office as Treasurer for the remainder of the term on November 20, 1852.
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...
, a Judge 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 all 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...
.
Background
The Democratic state convention met on September 10 at Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, 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...
. The Whig state convention met on September 11 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...
. Horace Wheaton
Horace Wheaton
Horace Wheaton was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, he moved with his parents to Pompey, Onondaga County, New York in 1810. He received a limited schooling, was graduated from Pompey Academy, engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was...
, candidate for Canal Commissioner, was the sitting Mayor of 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...
.
Results
Six out of eight state offices were won by the Democrats, the most important ones by margins of a few hundred votes out of about 400,000 cast. The incumbent Chatfield was re-elected. The incumbents Seymour, Foot and Wells were defeated.Six Democrats and four Whigs were elected to the district benches of the New York State Supreme Court.
| Office | Democratic ticket | Whig 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... |
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... |
199,426 | James C. Forsyth | 198,582 |
| 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:... |
John C. Wright John C. Wright (comptroller) -Life:He practiced at Esperance, New York. He was First Judge of the Schoharie County Court from 1838 to 1843.He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1843 to 1846.... |
200,790 | George W. Patterson | 200,532 |
| 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... |
Levi S. Chatfield Levi S. Chatfield Levi Starr Chatfield was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of Enos Chatfield and Hannah Starr Chatfield .... |
200,205 | Daniel Ullmann | 199,973 |
| 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... |
Benjamin Welch, Jr. Benjamin Welch, Jr. Benjamin Welch, Jr. was an American politician.-Life:He studied law with Judge Mann in Utica, New York... |
200,465 | James M. Cook James M. Cook James Merrill Cook was an American businessman, banker and politician.-Life:... |
200,693 |
| 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... |
William J. McAlpine William J. McAlpine William Jarvis McAlpine was an American civil engineer and politician from New York.-Life:... |
203,032 | Hezekiah C. Seymour Hezekiah C. Seymour Hezekiah C. Seymour was an American civil engineer and politician.-Life:From 1835 to 1849, he worked for the New York and Erie Railroad, first as engineer, later becoming General Superintendent.... |
199,301 |
| 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... |
Alexander S. Johnson Alexander S. Johnson Alexander Smith Johnson was an American lawyer and politician from New York... |
201,144 | Samuel Alfred Foot | 197,823 |
| 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... |
Horace Wheaton Horace Wheaton Horace Wheaton was a United States Representative from New York. Born in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, he moved with his parents to Pompey, Onondaga County, New York in 1810. He received a limited schooling, was graduated from Pompey Academy, engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was... |
200,231 | Henry Fitzhugh Henry Fitzhugh Henry Fitzhugh was an American merchant, businessman and politician from New York.-Life:... |
201,147 |
| 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... |
Henry Storms Henry Storms Henry Storms was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was an Assistant Alderman from the Twelfth Ward in 1826 and 1827.... |
202,801 | Alexander H. Wells Alexander H. Wells Alexander H. Wells was an American lawyer, editor and politician from New York.-Life:... |
198,578 |
Contested election
The Whig candidate James M. Cook was declared elected State Treasurer with a majority of only 228 votes, but Attorney General Chatfield contested the result in the New York Supreme CourtNew York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
in favor of Welch, claiming that ballots with a name similar to that of the candidate Benjamin Welch, Jr., had been counted as "scattering" but had been intended for Welch. In fact the official state canvass shows ballots for "Benjamin Welch" in Chemung (68), Kings (1), Saratoga (1) and Tompkins (47), "B. Welch" in Chenango (1), Livingston (1) and New York (1), "B. J. Welch" in Livingston (1), and "Benjamin C. Welch, Jr." in Ontario (32); a total of 153. On the other side, the official canvass also shows votes for "J. M. Cook" in Kings (1), "J. W. Cook" in Livingston (2), "Cook" in New York (2), "James Cook" in Saratoga (1), "James A. Cook" in Suffolk (15) and "John M Cook" in Yates (1), a total of 22. Besides, votes from several election districts were disallowed on technicalities (49 for Welch and 24 for Cook in Chesterfield
Chesterfield, New York
Chesterfield is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. The name possibly is from a location in New England....
, Essex County, New York
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
; 332 for Welch and 66 for Cook in the second election district of the 14th Ward in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). On September 30, 1852, the election result was reversed by the Supreme Court, but Cook refused to deliver the office and the books. Welch sued for the delivery of the books, but the motion was denied. After some more legal proceedings, Welch took office as Treasurer for the remainder of the term on November 20, 1852.
Sources
- Result in OFFICIAL STATE CANVASS in NYT on January 1, 1852
- Harpers New Monthly Magazine (June-November 1851, pages 693ff)
- The People vs. James M. Cook in Reports of Cases in Law and Equity in the Supreme Court of the State of New York by Oliver Lorenzo Barbour (Gould, Banks & Gould, 1853; pages 259 to 328)
- Welch agt. Cook in Practice Reports in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals by Nathan Howard & Rowland M. Stover (Joel Munsell, 1852; pages 173 to 181)