United States Senate election in New York, 1849
Encyclopedia
The 1849 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 6, 1849, 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 1845 to this seat after the resignation of Silas Wright
, and Dix's term would expire on March 3, 1849. In November 1848, Dix was the Barnburners/Free-Soilers candidate for Governor of New York, but was defeated by Whig Hamilton Fish
.
At this time the Democratic Party in New York was split in two fiercely opposing factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers"
. The Barnburners joined the Free Soilers
in 1848 and nominated Martin Van Buren
for U.S. President. Due to the split, the Whig Party won most of the elective offices by pluralities.
At the State election in November 1847
, 24 Whigs and 8 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1848-1849) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1848, 108 Whigs, 14 Barnburners/Free Soilers and 6 Hunkers were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1849. The 72nd State Legislature met from January 2 to April 11, 1849, at Albany, New York
.
William H. Seward was nominated by a caucus of Whig State legislators on February 1, 1849. The vote was 88 for Seward, 12 for John A. Collier
, 18 scattering and 4 blanks.
The incumbent U.S. Senator John Adams Dix ran for re-election as a Barnburner.
Ex-Chancellor
Reuben H. Walworth was the candidate of the Hunkers. Walworth had been third place in the last gubernatorial election behind Fish and Dix.
Ex-Congressman Daniel D. Barnard (Whig) received 2 scattering votes in the Senate.
.
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
Barnburner John Adams DixJohn Adams Dix
John Adams Dix was an American politician from New York. He served as Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Senator, and the 24th Governor of New York. He was also a Union major general during the Civil War.-Early life and career:...
had been elected in 1845 to this seat after the resignation of Silas Wright
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...
, and Dix's term would expire on March 3, 1849. In November 1848, Dix was the Barnburners/Free-Soilers candidate for Governor of New York, but was defeated by Whig Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
.
At this time the Democratic Party in New York was split in two fiercely opposing factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers"
Barnburners and Hunkers
The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,...
. The Barnburners joined the Free Soilers
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
in 1848 and nominated Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
for U.S. President. Due to the split, the Whig Party won most of the elective offices by pluralities.
At the State election in November 1847
New York state election, 1847
The 1847 New York state election was held on November 2, 1847, to elect the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, three Canal Commissioners and three Inspectors of State Prisons, as well as all members of...
, 24 Whigs and 8 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1848-1849) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1848, 108 Whigs, 14 Barnburners/Free Soilers and 6 Hunkers were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1849. The 72nd State Legislature met from January 2 to April 11, 1849, 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
Ex-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...
William H. Seward was nominated by a caucus of Whig State legislators on February 1, 1849. The vote was 88 for Seward, 12 for John A. Collier
John A. Collier
John Allen Collier was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
, 18 scattering and 4 blanks.
The incumbent U.S. Senator John Adams Dix ran for re-election as a Barnburner.
Ex-Chancellor
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
Reuben H. Walworth was the candidate of the Hunkers. Walworth had been third place in the last gubernatorial election behind Fish and Dix.
Ex-Congressman Daniel D. Barnard (Whig) received 2 scattering votes in the Senate.
Result
William H. Seward was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Whig | Dem./ Barnburner Barnburners and Hunkers The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,... |
Dem./ Hunker Barnburners and Hunkers The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,... |
Whig | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 H. Seward William H. Seward William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson... |
19 | John Adams Dix John Adams Dix John Adams Dix was an American politician from New York. He served as Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Senator, and the 24th Governor of New York. He was also a Union major general during the Civil War.-Early life and career:... |
6 | Reuben H. Walworth Reuben H. Walworth Reuben Hyde Walworth was an American lawyer and politician... |
2 | Daniel D. Barnard Daniel D. Barnard Daniel Dewey Barnard was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, Barnard attended the common schools and was graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1818.He studied law.... |
2 |
| 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 H. Seward William H. Seward William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson... |
102 | John Adams Dix John Adams Dix John Adams Dix was an American politician from New York. He served as Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Senator, and the 24th Governor of New York. He was also a Union major general during the Civil War.-Early life and career:... |
15 | Reuben H. Walworth Reuben H. Walworth Reuben Hyde Walworth was an American lawyer and politician... |
5 | |||
Aftermath
Seward took his seat on March 5, 1849, and was re-elected in 1855. He remained in office until March 3, 1861, and two days later became U.S. Secretary of State, appointed by President Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 136 for State Senators 1849; pg. 236ff for Members of Assembly 1849)
- Members of the 31st United States Congress
- Result State election, 1847: The Whig Almanac and United States Register for 1848
- Result Whig caucus: The American Whig Review, Vol. 11 by George Hooker Colton & James Davenport Whelpley (page 638)
- Result U.S. Senate election: Niles' National Register (Vol. LXXV, No. 8, February 21, 1849, whole number 1936; page 120)