United States Senate election in New York, 1803
Encyclopedia
The 1803 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 1, 1803, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York
in the United States Senate
.
had been elected in 1800 to complete the term (1797-1803) after Philip Schuyler
(1797-98), John Sloss Hobart
(1798), William North
(1798) and James Watson
(1798-1800) had occupied the seat. Morris's term would expire on March 3, 1803.
At the State election in April 1802, the Democratic-Republican Party won a large majority to the Assembly, and all 8 State Senate seats up for renewal. The 26th New York State Legislature
met from January 25 to April 6, 1803, at Albany, New York
.
, Bailey's brother-in law, was not satisfied with this nomination. Tallmadge persuaded a part of the Democratic-Republican members to vote for Bailey, abandoning the caucus nominee.
The incumbent Gouverneur Morris ran for re-election as the candidate of the Federalist Party candidate, but in the morning of February 1, before the Legislature met, a State Senate caucus was held and Tallmadge combined with Abraham Van Vechten
, the leader of the Federalists, to support Bailey.
. In February 1804, a special election was held by the State Legislature to fill both seats in the U.S. Senate and, either due to a mistake or to give Armstrong two more years to serve, the incumbent appointed Class 3 Senator John Armstrong
was elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803-1809) to succeed Bailey, and John Smith
to the Class 3 seat (term 1801-1807) to succeed Armstrong.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Background
Gouverneur MorrisGouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the...
had been elected in 1800 to complete the term (1797-1803) after Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
(1797-98), John Sloss Hobart
John Sloss Hobart
John Sloss Hobart was an American jurist and politician. He was a member of the Federalist Party who served as United States Senator from New York, and later as a United States federal judge.-Early life:...
(1798), William North
William North
-Life:He was the son of John North, who commanded Fort Frederick in 1751, and Fort St. George in Thomaston, Maine, in 1758. He moved with his mother, Elizabeth North, to Boston, Massachusetts....
(1798) and James Watson
James Watson (politician)
James Watson was a United States Senator representing the state of New York.-Life:Watson moved to New York City in 1786 and engaged in business pursuits. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1791, 1794–1796 and was Speaker in 1794...
(1798-1800) had occupied the seat. Morris's term would expire on March 3, 1803.
At the State election in April 1802, the Democratic-Republican Party won a large majority to the Assembly, and all 8 State Senate seats up for renewal. The 26th New York State Legislature
26th New York State Legislature
The 26th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 25 to April 6, 1803, during the second year of George Clinton's second tenure as Governor of New York, in Albany.-Background:...
met from January 25 to April 6, 1803, at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Candidates
The assemblymen of the Democratic-Republican Party met in caucus on January 31. Assemblyman John Woodworth received 45 votes and Congressman Theodorus Bailey 30. Woodworth was nominated as the party's candidate, but State Senator Matthias B. TallmadgeMatthias Burnett Tallmadge
Matthias Burnett Tallmadge was a lawyer, statesman and federal judge from New York.Born in Stamford, New York, Tallmadge graduated from Yale University in 1795 and read law to enter private practice in Herkimer, New York...
, Bailey's brother-in law, was not satisfied with this nomination. Tallmadge persuaded a part of the Democratic-Republican members to vote for Bailey, abandoning the caucus nominee.
The incumbent Gouverneur Morris ran for re-election as the candidate of the Federalist Party candidate, but in the morning of February 1, before the Legislature met, a State Senate caucus was held and Tallmadge combined with Abraham Van Vechten
Abraham Van Vechten
Abraham Van Vechten was an American lawyer and a Federalist politician who served twice as New York State Attorney General.-Life:...
, the leader of the Federalists, to support Bailey.
Result
On the first ballot in the State Senate, Woodworth received a plurality over Bailey and Morris, for whom all Federalist voted, but no candidate received a majority of the votes. Thereupon a resolution was offered to nominate Bailey, and was carried by the vote of 16 Senators, including 6 Federalists. John Woodworth was nominated by the Assembly. The Legislature then proceeded to a joint ballot, and Bailey was elected in a tight vote by the Democratic-Republican Tallmadge faction and the Federalists.| Office | House | Democratic-Republican | Democratic-Republican | Federalist | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | 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... (31 members) ballot |
John Woodworth John Woodworth (lawyer) John Woodworth was an American lawyer and member of the Woodworth political family.-Life:... |
Theodorus Bailey Theodorus Bailey (senator) Theodorus Bailey was an American lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York. He represented New York in both the U.S. House and Senate... |
Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the... |
|||
| 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... (31 members) resolution |
Theodorus Bailey Theodorus Bailey (senator) Theodorus Bailey was an American lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York. He represented New York in both the U.S. House and Senate... |
16 | |||||
| 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... (99 members) |
John Woodworth John Woodworth (lawyer) John Woodworth was an American lawyer and member of the Woodworth political family.-Life:... |
53 | Theodorus Bailey Theodorus Bailey (senator) Theodorus Bailey was an American lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York. He represented New York in both the U.S. House and Senate... |
19 | Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the... |
18 | |
| Joint ballot (130 members) | John Woodworth John Woodworth (lawyer) John Woodworth was an American lawyer and member of the Woodworth political family.-Life:... |
57 | Theodorus Bailey Theodorus Bailey (senator) Theodorus Bailey was an American lawyer and politician from Poughkeepsie, New York. He represented New York in both the U.S. House and Senate... |
59 | |||
Aftermath
Bailey resigned on January 16, 1804, after his appointment as Postmaster of New York CityNew 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...
. In February 1804, a special election was held by the State Legislature to fill both seats in the U.S. Senate and, either due to a mistake or to give Armstrong two more years to serve, the incumbent appointed Class 3 Senator John Armstrong
John Armstrong, Jr.
John Armstrong, Jr. was an American soldier and statesman who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, U.S. Senator from New York, and Secretary of War.-Early life and Revolutionary War:...
was elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803-1809) to succeed Bailey, and John Smith
John Smith (New York)
John Smith was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Rev. Caleb Smith, a minister at Orange, New Jersey...
to the Class 3 seat (term 1801-1807) to succeed Armstrong.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 118 for State Senators 1802-03; page 176 for Members of Assembly 1802-03)
- Members of the 8th United States Congress
- History of Political Parties in the State of New-York by Jabez Delano Hammond (pages 191ff) [has "18" votes for Morris in Assembly]
- Election result at Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
Library project "A New Nation Votes" [has "16" votes for Morris in Assembly]