United States Senate election in New York, 1831
Encyclopedia
The 1831 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 1, 1831, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of New York
in the United States Senate
.
had been elected in 1826 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1831.
At the State election in November 1830, the Jacksonian Democrats managed to defeat the combined Anti-Masons
and National Republicans. Enos T. Throop
was narrowly re-elected Governor, a large Jacksonian-Democratic majority was elected to the Assembly, and five of the nine State Senators elected were Jacksonian Democrats. The 54th State Legislature met from January 4 to April 26, 1831, at Albany, New York
. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the election for Speaker
was: 91 for Jacksonian Democrat George R. Davis
and 30 for Anti-Mason John C. Spencer.
Justice William L. Marcy. The vote was 77 for Marcy, 15 for Erastus Root
, 6 for the incumbent Nathan Sanford
and 6 scattering votes.
Note: The above vote is given by Niles' Register
, it seems to be the total of votes cast in the separate ballots of the houses of the Legislature.
. The State Legislature held a special election to fill the vacancy in January 1833, and elected Silas Wright, Jr.
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
Nathan SanfordNathan Sanford
Nathan Sanford was an American politician.- Life :He was the son of Thomas Sanford and Phebe Sanford, née Baker...
had been elected in 1826 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1831.
At the State election in November 1830, the Jacksonian Democrats managed to defeat the combined Anti-Masons
Anti-Masonic Party
The Anti-Masonic Party was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major party....
and National Republicans. Enos T. Throop
Enos T. Throop
Enos Thompson Throop was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat who was the tenth Governor of New York from 1829 to 1832.-Early life and career:...
was narrowly re-elected Governor, a large Jacksonian-Democratic majority was elected to the Assembly, and five of the nine State Senators elected were Jacksonian Democrats. The 54th State Legislature met from January 4 to April 26, 1831, 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...
. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the election for Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
was: 91 for Jacksonian Democrat George R. Davis
George R. Davis
George Royal Davis was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.-Early life and education:Born in Palmer, Massachusetts, Davis completed classical studies at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and was graduated in 1860...
and 30 for Anti-Mason John C. Spencer.
Candidates
The Jacksonian Democratic State legislators held a caucus before the election, and nominated 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...
Justice William L. Marcy. The vote was 77 for Marcy, 15 for Erastus Root
Erastus Root
Erastus Root was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher...
, 6 for the incumbent Nathan Sanford
Nathan Sanford
Nathan Sanford was an American politician.- Life :He was the son of Thomas Sanford and Phebe Sanford, née Baker...
and 6 scattering votes.
Result
William L. Marcy was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Jacksonian Democrat | Anti-Mason Anti-Masonic Party The Anti-Masonic Party was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major party.... |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... (32 members) |
William L. Marcy William L. Marcy William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:... |
|||
| 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... (128 members) |
William L. Marcy William L. Marcy William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:... |
||||
| William L. Marcy William L. Marcy William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:... |
107 | others | 32 | ||
Note: The above vote is given by Niles' Register
Hezekiah Niles
Hezekiah Niles, was an American editor and publisher of the Baltimore-based national weekly news magazine, Niles' Weekly Register and the Weekly Register....
, it seems to be the total of votes cast in the separate ballots of the houses of the Legislature.
Aftermath
Marcy resigned his seat on January 1, 1833, upon taking office as Governor of New YorkGovernor 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 State Legislature held a special election to fill the vacancy in January 1833, and elected Silas Wright, Jr.
Silas Wright
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar...
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 128f for State Senators 1831; pg. 210f for Members of Assembly 1831)
- Members of the 22nd United States Congress
- History of Political Parties in the State of New-York, Vol. II by Jabez Delano Hammond (State election, 1830: pg. 336ff; Speaker election, 1831: pg. 343; U.S. Senate election, 1831: pg. 346f)
- Niles' Register (February 12, 1831; page 427)