United States Senate election in New York, 1887
Encyclopedia
The 1887 United States Senate election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887, 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 to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt
who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887.
At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886
, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th State Legislature met from January 4, 1887, on at Albany, New York
.
presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin
(a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. Senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed
faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885
. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt
took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.
from Clinton County, New York
in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876
and 1884 Democratic National Convention
s.
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 Warner MillerWarner Miller
Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy...
had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt
Thomas 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...
who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887.
At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886
New York state election, 1886
The 1886 New York state election was held on November 2, 1886, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.-History:...
, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th State Legislature met from January 4, 1887, 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 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. PittsEdmund L. Pitts
Edmund Levi Pitts was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin
George Z. Erwin
George Zalmon Erwin was an American politician.-Life:He was educated at St. Lawrence Academy at Potsdam, New York. He graduated from Middlebury College in August, 1865. He studied law with the then United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York William A. Dart and Charles O...
(a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. Senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed
Half-Breed (politics)
The "Half-Breeds" were a political faction of the United States Republican Party that existed in the late 19th century. The Half-Breeds were a moderate-wing group, and they were the opponents of the Stalwarts, the other main faction of the Republican Party. The main issue that separated the...
faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885
United States Senate election in New York, 1885
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 to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt
Thomas 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...
took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.
| Office | Ballot | Date | Warner Miller Warner Miller Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy... |
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:... |
Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York.-Biography:Hiscock was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1834. He graduated from Pompey Academy and studied law... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 1) | 1st | January 17 | 44 | 35 | 12 |
| 2nd | January 17 | 44 | 36 | 11 | |
| 3rd | January 18 | ||||
| 4th | January 18 | ||||
| 5th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 6th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 7th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 8th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 9th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 10th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 11th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 12th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 13th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 14th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 15th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 16th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 | |
| 17th | January 19 | 46 | wd | 47 | |
| 18th | January 19 | 43 | 50 | ||
Democratic caucus
The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State AssemblyNew 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...
from Clinton County, New York
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876
1876 Democratic National Convention
The 1876 Democratic National Convention assembled in St. Louis just nine days after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. The convention opened with three contenders, Bourbon Democrat Samuel J. Tilden of New York, Thomas Hendricks of Indiana and Union General Winfield S. Hancock of...
and 1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
In 1884, the Democrats gathered in Chicago for their National Convention. The leading candidate for the nomination was New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Cleveland's reputation for good government made him a national figure. The Republican Party nominated James G. Blaine for president in 1884,...
s.
Result
| Office | House | Democrat | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 1) | 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) January 18 |
Smith M. Weed | 11 | Warner Miller Warner Miller Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy... |
10 | 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:... |
9 | Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York.-Biography:Hiscock was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1834. He graduated from Pompey Academy and studied law... |
1 |
| 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) January 18 |
Smith M. Weed | 41 | Warner Miller Warner Miller Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy... |
32 | 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:... |
26 | Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York.-Biography:Hiscock was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1834. He graduated from Pompey Academy and studied law... |
10 | |
| Joint ballot (160 members) January 19 |
Smith M. Weed | 61 | Warner Miller Warner Miller Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy... |
43 | 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:... |
33 | Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York.-Biography:Hiscock was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1834. He graduated from Pompey Academy and studied law... |
11 | |
| Second joint ballot (160 members) January 20 |
Smith M. Weed | 62 | Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock Frank Hiscock was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York.-Biography:Hiscock was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1834. He graduated from Pompey Academy and studied law... |
91 | |||||
Aftermath
Hiscock served a single term, and remained in office until March 3, 1893. In January 1893, Hiscock was defeated for re-election by Democrat Edward Murphy, Jr..Sources
- Members of the 50th United States Congress
- MILLER LEADS IN CAUCUS; BUT WANTS FOUR VOTES OF A NOMINATING MAJORITY in NYT on January 18, 1887
- HISCOCK WINS THE PRIZE; MORTON WITHDRAWN FROM THE SENATORIAL FIGHT in NYT on January 20, 1887
- MR. HISCOCK'S ELECTION in NYT on January 21, 1887
- SMITH M. WEED DIES IN PLATTSBURG in NYT on June 8, 1920