United States Senate election in New York, 1885
Encyclopedia
The 1885 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1885, 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 to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Roscoe Conkling
who had resigned. Lapham's term would expire on March 3, 1885.
At the State election in November 1883
, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1884-1885) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1884
, a Republican majority was elected for the session of 1885 to the Assembly. The 108th State Legislature met from January 6, 1885, on at Albany, New York
.
presided. 19 State senators and 73 assemblymen attended. The Evarts faction required the nomination to be made by viva voce vote
, which was opposed by the Morton faction, but was carried by a vote of 64 to 28. The caucus nominated Ex-U.S. Secretary of State William M. Evarts
on the first ballot.
.
Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
was elected to succeed Evarts in January 1891, but Hill remained in office as Governor until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892.
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 Elbridge G. LaphamElbridge G. Lapham
Elbridge Gerry Lapham was a U.S. Senator from New York from 1881-1885.-Life:Lapham attended the public schools and the Canandaigua Academy. He studied civil engineering and law and was admitted to the bar in 1844 and practiced in Canandaigua, New York.He was a delegate to the New York State...
had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
who had resigned. Lapham's term would expire on March 3, 1885.
At the State election in November 1883
New York state election, 1883
The 1883 New York state election was held on November 6, 1883, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer and the State Engineer, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate...
, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1884-1885) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1884
New York state election, 1884
The 1884 New York state election was held on November 4, 1884, to elect two judges of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.-History:...
, a Republican majority was elected for the session of 1885 to the Assembly. The 108th State Legislature met from January 6, 1885, 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...
.
Republican caucus
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 19, Temporary President of the State Senate Dennis McCarthyDennis McCarthy (congressman)
Dennis McCarthy was an American manufacturer and politician from New York.-Life:...
presided. 19 State senators and 73 assemblymen attended. The Evarts faction required the nomination to be made by viva voce vote
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....
, which was opposed by the Morton faction, but was carried by a vote of 64 to 28. The caucus nominated Ex-U.S. Secretary of State William M. Evarts
William M. Evarts
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York...
on the first ballot.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | William M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
61 |
| Levi P. Morton Levi P. Morton Levi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:... |
28 | |
| Chauncey M. Depew | 3 | |
Democratic caucus
The Democratic caucus nominated Ex-Mayor of New York Edward CooperEdward Cooper (mayor)
Edward Cooper was the Mayor of New York City from 1879 to 1880, serving as a Democrat. He was the only son of industrialist Peter Cooper. Edward Cooper's business partner and brother-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, also served as mayor of New York City . W.R. Grace's terms as mayor separated Cooper's and...
.
Result
William M. Evarts was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Republican | Democrat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | 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 M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
19 | Edward Cooper Edward Cooper (mayor) Edward Cooper was the Mayor of New York City from 1879 to 1880, serving as a Democrat. He was the only son of industrialist Peter Cooper. Edward Cooper's business partner and brother-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, also served as mayor of New York City . W.R. Grace's terms as mayor separated Cooper's and... |
13 |
| 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 M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
73 | Edward Cooper Edward Cooper (mayor) Edward Cooper was the Mayor of New York City from 1879 to 1880, serving as a Democrat. He was the only son of industrialist Peter Cooper. Edward Cooper's business partner and brother-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, also served as mayor of New York City . W.R. Grace's terms as mayor separated Cooper's and... |
52 | |
Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Aftermath
Evarts served a single term, and remained in office until March 3, 1891. The seat became vacant on March 4, 1891, because Gov. David B. HillDavid B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
was elected to succeed Evarts in January 1891, but Hill remained in office as Governor until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892.
Sources
- Members of the 49th United States Congress
- MR. EVARTS TO BE SENATOR in NYT on January 20, 1885
- EVARTS ELECTED SENATOR in NYT on January 22, 1885