United States Senate election in New York, 1875
Encyclopedia
The 1875 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, 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
.
At the State election in November 1873
, a Republican majority was elected for a two-year term (1874-1875) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1874, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden
was elected Governor, 75 Democrats and 53 Republicans were elected for the session of 1875 to the Assembly, and Democrat Albert P. Laning was elected in the 31st District to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The 98th State Legislature met from January 5, 1875, on at Albany, New York
.
, presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only Assemblyman John M. Roscoe, of Schoharie County
, was sick. The caucus nominated Francis Kernan
for the U.S. Senate. Kernan had been the Democratic/Liberal Republican candidate for Governor in November 1872 but had been defeated by John Adams Dix
. Now Kernan was the choice of Tammany
boss John Kelly
who had succeeded the corrupt William M. Tweed. Kelly was opposed by John C. Jacobs
, who proposed Ex-State Senator Henry C. Murphy
, Jacobs's predecessor from the 3rd District, and the Democratic candidate who had lost the U.S. Senate elections in 1867 and 1869 when the Democrats were the minority. Kelly stood firm in his intention to dominate the Democratic Party, and had the caucus nomination made by viva voce
vote instead of the more traditional secret ballot. Jacobs and Murphy had expected to get votes from many legislators who would not dare to cross Kelly openly, but had to abandon their hopes when the secret ballot was voted down 74 to 13.
left office.
Note: The vote for Ex-Governor of New York
Hoffman was cast by Reuben E. Fenton's brother-in-law Samuel Scudder, a Democratic Assemblyman from Cattaraugus County
.
.
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
Republican Reuben E. Fenton had been elected in January 1869 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1875.At the State election in November 1873
New York state election, 1873
The 1873 New York state election was held on November 4, 1873, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the...
, a Republican majority was elected for a two-year term (1874-1875) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1874, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden was the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidency in the disputed election of 1876, one of the most controversial American elections of the 19th century. He was the 25th Governor of New York...
was elected Governor, 75 Democrats and 53 Republicans were elected for the session of 1875 to the Assembly, and Democrat Albert P. Laning was elected in the 31st District to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The 98th State Legislature met from January 5, 1875, on 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...
.
Democratic caucus
The caucus of Democratic State legislators met on January 15, State Senator Albert P. Laning, of BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only Assemblyman John M. Roscoe, of Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, was sick. The caucus nominated Francis Kernan
Francis Kernan
Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881....
for the U.S. Senate. Kernan had been the Democratic/Liberal Republican candidate for Governor in November 1872 but had been defeated by 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:...
. Now Kernan was the choice of 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...
boss 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:...
who had succeeded the corrupt William M. Tweed. Kelly was opposed by John C. Jacobs
John C. Jacobs
John C. Jacobs was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
, who proposed Ex-State Senator Henry C. Murphy
Henry Cruse Murphy
Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress...
, Jacobs's predecessor from the 3rd District, and the Democratic candidate who had lost the U.S. Senate elections in 1867 and 1869 when the Democrats were the minority. Kelly stood firm in his intention to dominate the Democratic Party, and had the caucus nomination made by viva voce
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
vote instead of the more traditional secret ballot. Jacobs and Murphy had expected to get votes from many legislators who would not dare to cross Kelly openly, but had to abandon their hopes when the secret ballot was voted down 74 to 13.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | Francis Kernan Francis Kernan Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881.... |
77 |
| Henry C. Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy Henry Cruse Murphy was an American politician and historian, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. He graduated at Columbia College in 1830, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, where he became city attorney and, in 1842, mayor. The next year he became a member of Congress... |
9 | |
| John T. Hoffman | 1 | |
Republican caucus
The caucus of the Republican State legislators nominated Ex-U.S. Senator from New York Edwin D. Morgan.Election
On January 19, the Democratic majority of the Assembly nominated Francis Kernan, and the Republican majority of the State Senate nominated Ex-U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan. On January 20, both Houses met in joint session to compare nominations, and finding that they disagreed, proceeded to a joint ballot. Francis Kernan was elected, the first Democratic U.S. Senator from New York since 1851 when Daniel S. DickinsonDaniel S. Dickinson
Daniel Stevens Dickinson was a New York politician, most notable as a United States Senator from 1844 to 1851.-Biography:...
left office.
Result
| Office | House | Democrat | Republican | Democrat | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
Francis Kernan Francis Kernan Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881.... |
13 | Edwin D. Morgan Edwin D. Morgan Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee... |
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... (128 members) |
Francis Kernan Francis Kernan Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881.... |
74 | Edwin D. Morgan Edwin D. Morgan Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee... |
52 | John T. Hoffman | 1 | |
| Joint Ballot (160 members) |
Francis Kernan Francis Kernan Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881.... |
87 | Edwin D. Morgan Edwin D. Morgan Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee... |
68 | John T. Hoffman | 1 | |
Note: The vote for Ex-Governor of New York
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...
Hoffman was cast by Reuben E. Fenton's brother-in-law Samuel Scudder, a Democratic Assemblyman from Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
.
Aftermath
Kernan served one term, and remained in office until March 3, 1881. In January 1881, he was nominated by the Democratic caucus for re-election, but was defeated by Republican Thomas C. PlattThomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
.
Sources
- Members of the 44th United States Congress
- NEW-YORK ELECTIONS.; Results of the Official Canvass for the Various Officers in NYT on November 19, 1874
- THE SENATORSHIP.; FRANCIS KERNAN'S SWEEPING VICTORY in NYT on January 16, 1875
- ALBANY.; ELECTION OF KERNAN TO THE SENATE in NYT on January 21, 1875