South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1882
Encyclopedia
The 1882 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1882 to select the governor
of the state of South Carolina
. Hugh Smith Thompson
was nominated by the Democrats
and ran against J. Hendrix McLane, a Greenback-Labor
candidate. Thompson easily won the general election and became the 81st governor of South Carolina
.
Governor Johnson Hagood
chose not to seek reelection in 1882 and two former general
s in the Confederate Army
emerged as the frontrunners, Lieutenant Governor John Kennedy
and Comptroller General John Bratton
. Both men were loyal followers of Wade Hampton
, neither had supported Martin Witherspoon Gary
, and both were dedicated Democrats. However, many in the state wanted a new direction and the candidacy of George D. Tillman
quickly gained pace. Others feared that an intra-party fight over the nomination would bring back Radical Republican rule and only the return of Senator Hampton could save the party. Even so, both Tillman and Hampton declined and chose to continue their representation in the Congress
.
Hugh Smith Thompson
, the state Superintendent of Education since 1876, had declined to be a candidate for governor and instead lobbied for the presidency of South Carolina College
. However, with the opening of the state Democratic
convention in August, Thompson was nominated for governor alongside Kennedy and Bratton. After the second ballot with momentum in Thompson's favor, both Kennedy and Bratton withdrew their names thus allowing Thompson to be the Democrats nominee for the general election.
, the Greenback-Labor party
members met with state Republican
leaders to fuse
and offer a joint ticket for the general election. In a January interview with the News and Courier
, McLane stated that the Greenbacks would get 150,000 votes in the general election and sweep the statewide offices.
A convention for the Greenbacks was held in Columbia
with over one hundred delegates from 22 counties, even including a Democratic state senator
. McLane was nominated for the governorship and candidates were field for six of the seven congressional districts, the seventh district
being a heavily black district held by the Republicans.
The platform outlined by the Greenbacks for the election was:
with nominal opposition. Turnout
was less than the previous gubernatorial election
because of the increasingly uncompetitive nature of the election in South Carolina.
|-
| bgcolor="#0BDA51" |
| Greenback-Labor
| J. Hendrix McLane
| align="right" | 17,719
| align="right" | 20.8
| align="right" | +17.3
|-
| colspan=5 |Democratic
hold
|-
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Hugh Smith Thompson
Hugh Smith Thompson
Hugh Smith Thompson was the 81st Governor of South Carolina, from 1882 to 1886.Born in Charleston, Thompson graduated from The Citadel in 1856 and was an instructor at the Arsenal Academy from 1858 to 1861...
was nominated by the Democrats
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...
and ran against J. Hendrix McLane, a 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...
candidate. Thompson easily won the general election and became the 81st governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
.
Democratic Convention
| Democratic nomination for Governor Governor of South Carolina The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st Ballot | 2nd Ballot |
Governor Johnson Hagood
Johnson Hagood (governor)
Johnson Hagood was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and the 80th Governor of South Carolina from 1880 to 1882.-Early years:...
chose not to seek reelection in 1882 and two former general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
s in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
emerged as the frontrunners, Lieutenant Governor John Kennedy
John Doby Kennedy
John Doby Kennedy was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, as well as a post-war planter, attorney, politician, and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
and Comptroller General John Bratton
John Bratton
John Bratton was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
. Both men were loyal followers of Wade Hampton
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
, neither had supported Martin Witherspoon Gary
Martin Witherspoon Gary
Martin Witherspoon Gary was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and a Democratic politician in postbellum South Carolina.-Early life and career:...
, and both were dedicated Democrats. However, many in the state wanted a new direction and the candidacy of George D. Tillman
George D. Tillman
George Dionysius Tillman was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, brother of Benjamin Ryan Tillman.Born near Curryton, South Carolina, Tillman pursued an academic course in Penfield, Georgia, and in Greenwood, South Carolina.He attended Harvard University, but did not graduate.He studied...
quickly gained pace. Others feared that an intra-party fight over the nomination would bring back Radical Republican rule and only the return of Senator Hampton could save the party. Even so, both Tillman and Hampton declined and chose to continue their representation in the Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Hugh Smith Thompson
Hugh Smith Thompson
Hugh Smith Thompson was the 81st Governor of South Carolina, from 1882 to 1886.Born in Charleston, Thompson graduated from The Citadel in 1856 and was an instructor at the Arsenal Academy from 1858 to 1861...
, the state Superintendent of Education since 1876, had declined to be a candidate for governor and instead lobbied for the presidency of South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. However, with the opening of the state Democratic
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
convention in August, Thompson was nominated for governor alongside Kennedy and Bratton. After the second ballot with momentum in Thompson's favor, both Kennedy and Bratton withdrew their names thus allowing Thompson to be the Democrats nominee for the general election.
Greenback-Labor Convention
Following their disastrous defeat in the gubernatorial election of 1880South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1880
The 1880 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1880 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Johnson Hagood was nominated by the Democrats and ran against L.W.R. Blair, a Greenback-Labor candidate...
, the Greenback-Labor party
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...
members met with state Republican
South Carolina Republican Party
The South Carolina Republican Party and the South Carolina Democratic Party are the two major political parties within the U.S. state of South Carolina...
leaders to fuse
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
and offer a joint ticket for the general election. In a January interview with the News and Courier
The Post and Courier
Charleston's The Post and Courier is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the South and the eighth oldest newspaper still in publication in the United States. It is published in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the Charleston Courier, founded in 1803, the...
, McLane stated that the Greenbacks would get 150,000 votes in the general election and sweep the statewide offices.
A convention for the Greenbacks was held in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
with over one hundred delegates from 22 counties, even including a Democratic state senator
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
. McLane was nominated for the governorship and candidates were field for six of the seven congressional districts, the seventh district
South Carolina's 7th congressional district
For other uses see SC 7 The 7th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was first eliminated in 1853 as a result of the 1850 Census. After the 1880 Census, it was again reconstituted for 50 years...
being a heavily black district held by the Republicans.
The platform outlined by the Greenbacks for the election was:
- CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to issue legal greenbacks. - Condemning government bonds.
- Denouncing the lien law, stock law, and the election law.
General election
The general election was held on November 7, 1882 and Hugh Smith Thompson was elected as governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
with nominal opposition. Turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was less than the previous gubernatorial election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1880
The 1880 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1880 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Johnson Hagood was nominated by the Democrats and ran against L.W.R. Blair, a Greenback-Labor candidate...
because of the increasingly uncompetitive nature of the election in South Carolina.
|-
| bgcolor="#0BDA51" |
| 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...
| J. Hendrix McLane
| align="right" | 17,719
| align="right" | 20.8
| align="right" | +17.3
|-
| colspan=5 |Democratic
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...
hold
|-
See also
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections