Whig William H. Seward had been re-elected in February 1855 to this seat, had become a Republican upon the foundation of that party in September 1855, and his term would expire on March 3, 1861. Seward did not seek re-election, instead being certain to be appointed to an office in the incoming Abraham Lincoln administration.
The election was held amid the ongoing secession crisis, as much of the South had already seceded in anticipation of the impending inauguration of President Lincoln.
Though Seward was no longer a factor in the election, his political patron Thurlow Weed expected to control the outcome. His preferred candidate was William Evarts, a leading member of the New York City bar who had chaired the New York delegation at the 1860 Republican National Convention. However, Evarts was opposed by Horace Greeley, the influential editor of the New York Tribune who had joined Weed and Seward to control the Whig and Republican parties in the state for the past several years. A third candidate in the race, Ira Harris, held himself out at Weed's disposal in case Evarts could not be elected.[1]
Caucus resultsedit
After weeks of canvassing, formal ballots were held in which Greeley and Evarts exchanged the lead as Harris slipped behind. On the ninth ballot, when it appeared Greeley would win the nomination (and thus the election), Weed ordered the Evarts men to vote for Harris.[1]
Greeley fell short of a majority on the ninth ballot, and on the tenth, Harirs was nominated.[1]
Electionedit
Both in the Assembly and the Senate a strict party vote confirmed the caucus selections.
In the Assembly 119 votes were given. Republicans Smith Anthony (Cayuga Co.), Martin Finch (Essex Co.), Henry A. Prendergast (Chautauqua Co.), Victor M. Rice (Erie Co.) and Perez H. Field (Ontario Co.); and Democrats Luke F. Cozans (NYC), Benjamin H. Long (Erie Co.), N. Holmes Odell (Westchester Co.) and Christian B. Woodruff (NYC); did not vote.
In the State Senate, 31 votes were given. William H. Ferry (Rep., 19th D.) was absent.
Resultedit
Ira Harris was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.
Harris served one term, and remained in office until March 3, 1867.
Referencesedit
^ abcJordan, David M. (1971). Roscoe Conkling of New York: Voice in the Senate. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. pp. 31–34.
Sourcesedit
The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner, 1867 (see pg. 568 for U. S. Senators; pg. 442 for State Senators 1861; pg. 492ff for Members of Assembly 1861)
1861, united, states, senate, election, york, held, february, 1861, york, state, legislature, elect, senator, class, represent, state, york, united, states, senate, 1855, february, 1861, 1867, majority, vote, each, house, needed, nominee, harris, horatio, seym. The 1861 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 5 1861 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 1861 United States Senate election in New York 1855 February 5 1861 1867 Majority vote of each house needed to win Nominee Ira Harris Horatio Seymour Party Republican Democratic Senate 22 9 Percentage 68 75 28 13 House 88 31 Percentage 68 75 24 22 Senator before election William Seward Republican Elected Senator Ira Harris Republican Contents 1 Background 1 1 Legislative composition 2 Republican caucus 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Caucus results 3 Election 4 Result 5 Aftermath 6 References 7 Sources 8 See alsoBackground editWhig William H Seward had been re elected in February 1855 to this seat had become a Republican upon the foundation of that party in September 1855 and his term would expire on March 3 1861 Seward did not seek re election instead being certain to be appointed to an office in the incoming Abraham Lincoln administration The election was held amid the ongoing secession crisis as much of the South had already seceded in anticipation of the impending inauguration of President Lincoln Legislative composition edit At the 1859 state election 23 Republicans and 9 Democrats were elected for a two year term in the State Senate At the 1860 election 93 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1861 The 84th New York State Legislature met from January 1 to April 16 1861 at Albany New York Thus Republicans were assured of electing the next Senator unless the party split Republican caucus editCandidates edit William Evarts New York City attorney Horace Greeley editor of the New York Tribune and former U S Representative Ira Harris judge of the New York Supreme Court and former Assemblyman Though Seward was no longer a factor in the election his political patron Thurlow Weed expected to control the outcome His preferred candidate was William Evarts a leading member of the New York City bar who had chaired the New York delegation at the 1860 Republican National Convention However Evarts was opposed by Horace Greeley the influential editor of the New York Tribune who had joined Weed and Seward to control the Whig and Republican parties in the state for the past several years A third candidate in the race Ira Harris held himself out at Weed s disposal in case Evarts could not be elected 1 Caucus results edit After weeks of canvassing formal ballots were held in which Greeley and Evarts exchanged the lead as Harris slipped behind On the ninth ballot when it appeared Greeley would win the nomination and thus the election Weed ordered the Evarts men to vote for Harris 1 Greeley fell short of a majority on the ninth ballot and on the tenth Harirs was nominated 1 Election editBoth in the Assembly and the Senate a strict party vote confirmed the caucus selections In the Assembly 119 votes were given Republicans Smith Anthony Cayuga Co Martin Finch Essex Co Henry A Prendergast Chautauqua Co Victor M Rice Erie Co and Perez H Field Ontario Co and Democrats Luke F Cozans NYC Benjamin H Long Erie Co N Holmes Odell Westchester Co and Christian B Woodruff NYC did not vote In the State Senate 31 votes were given William H Ferry Rep 19th D was absent Result editIra Harris was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate and was declared elected 1861 United States Senator election result Office House Republican Democrat U S Senator State Senate 32 members Ira Harris 22 Horatio Seymour 9 State Assembly 128 members Ira Harris 88 Horatio Seymour 31Aftermath editHarris served one term and remained in office until March 3 1867 References edit a b c Jordan David M 1971 Roscoe Conkling of New York Voice in the Senate Ithaca N Y Cornell University Press pp 31 34 Sources editThe New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough Stephen C Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner 1867 see pg 568 for U S Senators pg 442 for State Senators 1861 pg 492ff for Members of Assembly 1861 Members of the 37th United States Congress Result state election 1859 in The Tribune Almanac for 1860 compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune Result state election 1860 in The Tribune Almanac for 1861 compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune FROM THE STATE CAPITAL Election of United States Senator in NYT on February 6 1861 Result State Senate Journal of the Senate 84th Session 1861 pg 137 Result Assembly Journal of the Assembly 84th Session 1861 pg 247f See also editUnited States Senate elections 1860 and 1861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1861 United States Senate election in New York amp oldid 1173611120, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
