New York state election, 1879
Encyclopedia
The 1879 New York state election was held on November 4, 1879, to elect the Governor
, the Lieutenant Governor
, the Secretary of State
, the State Comptroller
, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer
and the State Engineer
, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly
and the New York State Senate
.
The Greenback-Labor
state convention met on August 28 and 29 at Utica, New York
. William Voorhis was President.
The Republican state convention met on September 3. James W. Wadsworth was nominated for Comptroller on the first ballot (vote: Wadsworth 273, John C. Churchill
152). Joseph B. Carr was nominated for Secretary of State in the middle of the first ballot. Nathan D. Wendell was nominated for Treasurer on the first ballot (vote: Wendell 279, Richard A. Elmer 83, Francis B. Brower 54, Francis C. Marvin 19). Hamilton Ward was nominated for Attorney General in the middle of the first ballot. Howard Soule was nominated for State Engineer by acclamation.
The Prohibition
state convention met on September 3 at Syracuse, New York
. James H. Bronson, of Amsterdam
, was Chairman. They nominated John W. Mears, of Oneida County
, for Governor; James H. Bronson for Lieutenant Governor; Alphonso A. Hopkins for Secretary of State; Caleb W. Allis, of Onondaga County
, for Comptroller; Stephen Merritt for Treasurer; Walter Farrington for Attorney General; and John J. Hooker for State Engineer.
The Democratic state convention met on September 11 at Wieting Hall in Syracuse, New York
. Before the first ballot for Governor was taken, the Tammany delegates left the convention. Then the incumbent Governor Lucius Robinson was re-nominated on the first ballot (vote: Robinson 243, Henry W. Slocum 56, Clarkson N. Potter 1, Horatio Seymour
1). Clarkson N. Potter was nominated for Lieutenant Governor by acclamation. Then the incumbents Beach, Olcott, Mackin, Seymour and Schoonmaker were re-nominated by acclamation.
The seceding Tammany
delegates re-assembled at Shakespeare Hall. David Dudley Field was President. John Kelly was nominated for Governor by acclamation. A Committee of Fifteen was appointed to ponder the question how to proceed and if a whole state ticket should be nominated.
The incumbents Robinson, Beach, Olcott, Schoonmaker and Mackin were defeated. The incumbent Seymour was re-elected.
Obs.:For candidates nominated on more than one ticket, the numbers are the total votes on all tickets. "Scattering votes" (includes votes given for Socialist Labor, Workin Men, Jeffersonian Democratic, non-running and non-existing candidates) ranging between 3,900 and 5,312 for the various offices.
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...
, the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
, the 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...
, 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...
and 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...
, 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...
.
History
Due to the increase of the Governor's term to three years by an amendment in 1874, this was the first time the Governor and the state cabinet officers were elected at the same time.The Greenback-Labor
United States Greenback Party
The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward...
state convention met on August 28 and 29 at Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. William Voorhis was President.
The Republican state convention met on September 3. James W. Wadsworth was nominated for Comptroller on the first ballot (vote: Wadsworth 273, John C. Churchill
John C. Churchill
John Charles Churchill was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
152). Joseph B. Carr was nominated for Secretary of State in the middle of the first ballot. Nathan D. Wendell was nominated for Treasurer on the first ballot (vote: Wendell 279, Richard A. Elmer 83, Francis B. Brower 54, Francis C. Marvin 19). Hamilton Ward was nominated for Attorney General in the middle of the first ballot. Howard Soule was nominated for State Engineer by acclamation.
The Prohibition
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
state convention met on September 3 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...
. James H. Bronson, of Amsterdam
Amsterdam (town), New York
Amsterdam is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 5,566 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.The town is adjacent to and borders the city of Amsterdam on three sides...
, was Chairman. They nominated John W. Mears, of Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, for Governor; James H. Bronson for Lieutenant Governor; Alphonso A. Hopkins for Secretary of State; Caleb W. Allis, of Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, for Comptroller; Stephen Merritt for Treasurer; Walter Farrington for Attorney General; and John J. Hooker for State Engineer.
The Democratic state convention met on September 11 at Wieting Hall in 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...
. Before the first ballot for Governor was taken, the Tammany delegates left the convention. Then the incumbent Governor Lucius Robinson was re-nominated on the first ballot (vote: Robinson 243, Henry W. Slocum 56, Clarkson N. Potter 1, Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in the presidential election of 1868, but lost the election to Republican and former Union General of...
1). Clarkson N. Potter was nominated for Lieutenant Governor by acclamation. Then the incumbents Beach, Olcott, Mackin, Seymour and Schoonmaker were re-nominated by acclamation.
The seceding Tammany
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
delegates re-assembled at Shakespeare Hall. David Dudley Field was President. John Kelly was nominated for Governor by acclamation. A Committee of Fifteen was appointed to ponder the question how to proceed and if a whole state ticket should be nominated.
Results
Due to the split of the Democratic vote, Cornell had an easy victory over Robinson. Almost all the other offices were won by the Republicans in a very tight race, only State Engineer Seymour managed to be re-elected on the Democratic ticket. At the time, political commentators voiced their surprise about the strange inconsistency of, on the one side, the total number of votes for Governor compared to the vote for the other state offices on the Republican ticket, and, on the other side, the combined vote of Robinson and Kelly compared to the vote for the other state offices on the joint Democratic/Tammany ticket.The incumbents Robinson, Beach, Olcott, Schoonmaker and Mackin were defeated. The incumbent Seymour was re-elected.
| Ticket / Office | Governor 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... |
Lt. Gov. Lieutenant Governor of New York The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term... |
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... |
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:... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alonzo B. Cornell Alonzo B. Cornell Alonzo Barton Cornell was a New York politician and businessman who served as 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882.-Early years:... 418,567 |
George G. Hoskins George Gilbert Hoskins George Gilbert Hoskins was an American politician of the Republican Party.-Life:... 435,304 |
Joseph B. Carr 436,013 |
James W. Wadsworth James Wolcott Wadsworth James Wolcott Wadsworth was an American farmer, soldier and statesman.-Life:... 438, 253 |
Hamilton Ward, Sr. Hamilton Ward, Sr. Hamilton Ward, Sr. was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... 437,382 |
Nathan D. Wendell Nathan D. Wendell Nathan D. Wendell was an American banker and politician.-Life:... 436,300 |
Howard Soule 427,240 |
| Democratic | Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson Lucius Robinson was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 26th Governor of New York from 1877 to 1879.-Life:... 375,790 |
Clarkson N. Potter 435,014 |
Allen C. Beach Allen C. Beach Allen Carpenter Beach was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... 434,138 |
Frederic P. Olcott Frederic P. Olcott Frederic Pepoon Olcott was an American banker and politician.-Life:... 432,325 |
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. was an American lawyer and Democratic politician.-Life:... 433,238 |
James Mackin James Mackin James Mackin was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:He lived at Fishkill Landing where he was a merchant and real estate agent. He was appointed Postmaster of Fishkill during the presidency of Zachary Taylor and kept the post for about four years. In July 1858, he married Sarah E.... 433,485 |
Horatio Seymour, Jr. Horatio Seymour, Jr. Horatio Seymour, Jr. was an American civil engineer, surveyor and politician from New York.-Life:... 439,681 |
| Tammany Tammany Hall Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society... |
John Kelly John Kelly (U.S. politician) John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:... 77,566 |
Clarkson N. Potter | Allen C. Beach Allen C. Beach Allen Carpenter Beach was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... |
Frederic P. Olcott Frederic P. Olcott Frederic Pepoon Olcott was an American banker and politician.-Life:... |
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. was an American lawyer and Democratic politician.-Life:... |
James Mackin James Mackin James Mackin was an American merchant, banker and politician.-Life:He lived at Fishkill Landing where he was a merchant and real estate agent. He was appointed Postmaster of Fishkill during the presidency of Zachary Taylor and kept the post for about four years. In July 1858, he married Sarah E.... |
Horatio Seymour, Jr. Horatio Seymour, Jr. Horatio Seymour, Jr. was an American civil engineer, surveyor and politician from New York.-Life:... |
| Greenback-Labor United States Greenback Party The Greenback Party was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology that was active between 1874 and 1884. Its name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks," that had been issued during the American Civil War and afterward... |
Harris Lewis 20,286 |
John M. Wieting 23,067 |
P. K. McCann 22,558 |
John A. Shannon 22,572 |
James Wright 21,961 |
Jurian Winne 21,646 |
Garret Nagle 22,779 |
| Prohibition Prohibition Party The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement... |
John W. Mears 4,437 |
James H. Bronson 3,902 |
Alphonso A. Hopkins 4,226 |
Caleb W. Allis 4,192 |
Walter Farrington 4,073 |
Stephen Merritt 4,149 |
John J. Hooker 4,043 |
| Socialist Labor Socialist Labor Party of America The Socialist Labor Party of America , established in 1876 as the Workingmen's Party, is the oldest socialist political party in the United States and the second oldest socialist party in the world. Originally known as the Workingmen's Party of America, the party changed its name in 1877 and has... |
Caleb Pink | Osborne Ward | |||||
| Working Men | John Kelly John Kelly (U.S. politician) John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:... |
John M. Wieting | |||||
| Jeffersonian Democratic | John Kelly John Kelly (U.S. politician) John Kelly of New York City, known as "Honest John", was a boss of Tammany Hall and a U.S. Representative from New York from 1855 to 1858-Career:... |
Robert W. Hume | |||||
Obs.:For candidates nominated on more than one ticket, the numbers are the total votes on all tickets. "Scattering votes" (includes votes given for Socialist Labor, Workin Men, Jeffersonian Democratic, non-running and non-existing candidates) ranging between 3,900 and 5,312 for the various offices.
Sources
- The tickets: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9406E1D71F3FE63BBC4B53DFB7678382669FDE in NYT on November 3, 1879
- Result: GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.; THE STATE VOTE DECLARED in NYT on December 13, 1879