1834 Indiana gubernatorial election

Last updated
1834 Indiana gubernatorial election
Flag of Indiana.svg
  1831 August 4, 1834 1837  
  Noah Noble Portrait.jpg Blank Photo.png
Nominee Noah Noble James G. Read
Party Whig Democratic
Popular vote36,77327,257
Percentage57.4%42.6%

Governor before election

Noah Noble
Nonpartisan

Elected Governor

Noah Noble
Whig

The 1834 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 4, 1834, under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the seventh gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. The incumbent Whig governor Noah Noble defeated Democratic former state representative James G. Read. The election took place concurrently with elections for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly. This was the first gubernatorial election in Indiana contested on a partisan basis. [1]

Contents

Noble was elected in 1831, defeating Read and outgoing Lieutenant Governor Milton Stapp in a three-way race to succeed the retiring governor James B. Ray. In office, he aligned himself with the Anti-Jacksonian faction in state politics that in 1834 organized itself as the Whig Party. The Jacksonians, now calling themselves "Democratic Republicans" or "Democrats," nominated Read at a state convention in Indianapolis. Noble benefited from rapid population growth and economic expansion in the early 1830s that more than provided for the state's meagre expenses. He defeated Read by a convincing margin, carrying 51 of the state's 69 counties. [2]

This was the first gubernatorial election of the Second Party System in Indiana. The preceding election of 1831, and all previous elections, had been contested on a nonpartisan basis. Both candidates campaigned personally and with gusto. Noble benefited from the support of Democrats who favored the candidacy of a Westerner such as Richard Mentor Johnson for president in 1836 as well as the united support of the Whigs. Whigs interpreted Noble's victory as foreshadowing the defeat of Martin Van Buren in the coming presidential election. (Indiana's electoral votes would in fact go to the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison, who nevertheless lost the national election to Van Buren.) [3]

Nominations

Whig nomination

The Whig Party in Indiana grew out of the Anti-Jacksonian faction who prior to 1834 called themselves Adams or Clay men. They were sometimes called National Republicans as one faction of the Jeffersonian Republican Party that split during the contentious 1824 United States presidential election. The national Whig movement was a conglomerate of American System nationalists, Nullifiers or state rights men, and Anti-Masons opposed to the influence of secret societies that supposedly undermined republican egalitarianism. In Indiana, National Republicans were by far the largest element of the new party; the Anti-Masonic candidates had received almost no votes in the state in 1832 United States presidential election and the Nullifiers none at all. [4]

Indiana Whigs did not hold a state convention ahead of the gubernatorial election. Noble was widely acknowledged as the favorite candidate of the Whigs but still saw benefit in maintaining the public appearance of nonpartisanship. His campaign was supported by the Whig partisan press alongside Lieutenant Governor David Wallace and the Whig legislative slate. [5]

Democratic nomination

Delegates from forty counties met at Indianapolis on December 9, 1833, to nominate a candidate for governor. The call for a state convention of Hoosier Jacksonians had been issued by the editor of the Indiana Democrat, Alexander F. Morrison, who declared the "paramount interests" of the country demanded "concert of action" among loyal Jacksonians. Calling themselves the "Democratic Republican" convention, the gathering was the first of its kind in Indiana politics. (In earlier elections, candidates for governor had prevailed on friendly editors to place their names before the public without recourse to party conventions.) James G. Read was nominated on the second ballot with 50 out of 72 votes, defeating Jacob B. Lowe of Monroe County. Lowe then moved that the nomination be made unanimous in order to reflect the unity of Hoosier Democrats heading into the spring campaign. [6]

Gubernatorial ballot [7]
1st2nd
James G. Read3050
Jacob B. Lowe2019
Gamaliel Taylor80
Jonathan McCarty60
James P. Drake50
John Wesley Davis 20
Scattering33

Campaign

While Noble wrote to Read in April to propose that neither candidate actively canvass votes, this agreement was largely ignored and soon forgotten. As both men were broadly in agreement on the major issues before the state, the campaign centered on issues of character. Whigs trumpeted Noble's nonpartisanship in awarding half of official appointments to members of the opposition party and savaged Read for having been nominated by a gathering of corrupt office-seekers and partisan apparatchiks. Democrats countered that Noble's first election had been secured by the influence of "political aristocrats" and party managers, contrasted with the more democratic mode of a state convention. Both parties accused the opposition of appealing for votes on a partisan basis and suggested that discerning voters would doubtless judge their candidate the more deserving choice. [8]

Results

Noble defeated Read by an overwhelming margin of more than 9,000 votes. He carried 51 counties to 18 for Read, the latter of whose support was concentrated in the southern and western part of the state. Democrats attributed Noble's victory to crossover voting stemming from the governor's personal popularity, while Whigs interpreted the results as a show of support for Whig policies. [9]

1831 Indiana gubernatorial election [10] [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Noah Noble 36,773 57.43% +11.82
Democratic James Gray Read27,25742.57%+1.84
Independent Christopher Harrison 10.00%
Total votes64,031 100.00%

Results by county

Noah Noble
Whig
James G. Read
Democratic
County total
CountyVotesPercentVotesPercentVotes
Allen 24668.7211231.28358
Bartholomew 65751.0163148.991,288
Boone 24451.8022748.20471
Carroll 27244.1634455.84616
Cass 44989.445310.56502
Clark 67241.6694158.341,613
Clay 6015.2733384.73393
Clinton 31063.5217836.48488
Crawford 30060.2419839.76498
Daviess 33845.6840254.32740
Dearborn 1,29355.451,03944.552,332
Decatur 86972.7232627.281,195
Delaware 29764.5716335.43460
Dubois 8224.7724975.23331
Elkhart [lower-alpha 1] 17259.1111940.89291
Fayette 94562.2157437.791,519
Floyd 58866.4429733.56885
Fountain 65544.4182055.591,475
Franklin 1,06173.4338426.571,445
Gibson 50250.4049449.60996
Grant 11173.514026.49151
Greene 34243.2944856.71790
Hamilton 36668.1617131.84537
Hancock 29553.1526046.85555
Harrison 66547.8472552.161,390
Hendricks 55257.3241142.68963
Henry 98472.0438227.961,366
Huntington 25789.553010.45287
Jackson 38339.9057760.10960
Jefferson 1,02159.7168940.291,710
Jennings 43557.5432142.46756
Johnson 51157.5444042.45951
Knox [lower-alpha 2] 70061.6243538.291,136
LaGrange 9764.245435.76151
LaPorte 32868.6215031.38478
Lawrence 61868.6253331.381,151
Madison 53279.64132 [lower-alpha 3] 19.76668
Marion 1,02056.7977643.211,796
Martin 10525.9929974.01404
Miami 7077.782022.2290
Monroe 54844.8867355.121,221
Montgomery 85964.8346635.171,325
Morgan 71254.7748845.231,300
Orange 38335.6369264.371,075
Owen 30644.2238655.78692
Parke 68751.2365448.771,341
Perry 32580.657819.35403
Pike 18239.3928060.61462
Posey 41536.4772263.531,138
Putnam 85453.3174846.691,602
Randolph 43275.7913824.21570
Ripley 74175.6123924.39980
Rush 1,21963.3970436.611,923
St. Joseph 34878.039821.97446
Scott 30451.0929148.91595
Shelby 87263.9349236.071,364
Spencer 24059.5516340.45403
Sullivan 24228.6460371.36845
Switzerland 79372.7529727.251,090
Tippecanoe 90460.2359739.771,501
Union 70955.9155944.091,268
Vanderburgh 24354.1220645.88449
Vermillion 56355.3045544.701,018
Vigo 93976.2229323.781,232
Warren 44368.2620631.74649
Warrick 17338.7927361.21446
Washington 65838.431,05361.571,712
Wayne 2,22579.3857820.622,803
White 5064.102835.9078
TOTAL36,77357.4327,25742.5764,031

Notes

  1. The official returns do not include the votes of one township, rejected by the county clerk, where the vote was 39 for Read and 24 for Noble.
  2. Christopher Harrison received one vote in Knox County.
  3. 24 ballots intended for Read misspelled the candidate's name as "James B. Read" or "James C. Read" and were counted separately.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1832 United States presidential election</span> 12th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1832 United States presidential election was the 12th quadrennial presidential election, held from Friday, November 2 to Wednesday, December 5, 1832. Incumbent president Andrew Jackson, candidate of the Democratic Party, defeated Henry Clay, candidate of the National Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1836 United States presidential election</span> 13th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1836 United States presidential election was the 13th quadrennial presidential election, held from Thursday, November 3 to Wednesday, December 7, 1836. In the third consecutive election victory for the Democratic Party, incumbent Vice President Martin Van Buren defeated four candidates fielded by the nascent Whig Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1852 United States presidential election</span> 17th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1852 United States presidential election was the 17th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1852. Democrat Franklin Pierce defeated Whig nominee General Winfield Scott. A third party candidate from the Free Soil party, John P. Hale, also ran and came in third place, but got no electoral votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver P. Morton</span> American politician (1823–1877)

Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton, commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th governor of Indiana during the American Civil War, and was a stalwart ally of President Abraham Lincoln. Morton worked hard to maximize Indiana's contribution to the war effort and marginalize the obstructionists. He was a principled and effective leader who fought for equality and nationalism through the use of governmental power. His forceful pursuit of civil rights and prosecution of Copperheads and white supremacists gained him lasting enemies among the antiwar elements. Morton thwarted and neutralized the Democratic-controlled Indiana General Assembly. He exceeded his constitutional authority by calling out the militia without approval, and during the period of legislative suppression he privately financed the state government through unapproved federal and private loans. He was criticized for arresting and detaining political enemies and suspected southern sympathizers. As one of President Lincoln's "war governors", Morton made significant contributions to the war effort, more than any other man in the state, and earned the lifelong gratitude of former Union soldiers for his support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Morton</span> American jurist and politician

Marcus Morton was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Taunton, Massachusetts. He served two terms as the governor of Massachusetts and several months as Acting Governor following the death in 1825 of William Eustis. He served for 15 years as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, all the while running unsuccessfully as a Democrat for governor. He finally won the 1839 election, acquiring exactly the number of votes required for a majority win over Edward Everett. After losing the 1840 and 1841 elections, he was elected in a narrow victory in 1842.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Jennings</span> American politician (1784–1834)

Jonathan Jennings was an American politician who was the first governor of the State of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in either Hunterdon County, New Jersey, or Rockbridge County, Virginia, he studied law before migrating to the Indiana Territory in 1806. Jennings initially intended to practice law, but took jobs as an assistant at the federal land office at Vincennes and assistant to the clerk of the territorial legislature to support himself and pursued interests in land speculation and politics. Jennings became involved in a dispute with the territorial governor, William Henry Harrison, that soon led him to enter politics and set the tone for his early political career. In 1808 Jennings moved to the eastern part of the Indiana Territory and settled near Charlestown, in Clark County. He was elected as the Indiana Territory's delegate to the U.S. Congress by dividing the pro-Harrison supporters and running as an anti-Harrison candidate. By 1812 he was the leader of the anti-slavery and pro-statehood faction of the territorial government. Jennings and his political allies took control of the territorial assembly and dominated governmental affairs after the resignation of Governor Harrison in 1812. As a congressional delegate Jennings aided passage of the Enabling Act in 1816, which authorized the organization of Indiana's state government and state constitution. He was elected president of the Indiana constitutional convention, held in Corydon in June 1816, where he helped draft the state's first constitution. Jennings supported the effort to ban slavery in the state and favored a strong legislative branch of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York gubernatorial elections</span> List of former and future gubernatorial elections in New York

There have been 91 gubernatorial elections in the state of New York since 1777, with the most recent being held on November 8, 2022. The next election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Indiana</span> State Constitution

The Constitution of Indiana is the highest body of state law in the U.S. state of Indiana. It establishes the structure and function of the state and is based on the principles of federalism and Jacksonian democracy. Indiana's constitution is subordinate only to the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Prior to the enactment of Indiana's first state constitution and achievement of statehood in 1816, the Indiana Territory was governed by territorial law. The state's first constitution was created in 1816, after the U.S. Congress had agreed to grant statehood to the former Indiana Territory. The present-day document, which went into effect on November 1, 1851, is the state's second constitution. It supersedes Indiana's 1816 constitution and has had numerous amendments since its initial adoption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1862 New York state election</span> Election in New York, United States

The 1862 New York state election was held on November 4, 1862, to elect the governor, the lieutenant governor, a Canal Commissioner, an Inspector of State Prisons and the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1899 Kentucky gubernatorial election</span>

The 1899 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1899, to choose the 33rd governor of Kentucky. The incumbent, Republican William O'Connell Bradley, was term-limited and unable to seek re-election.

The 1839 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was a tightly contested race won by Marcus Morton. Under Massachusetts law at the time, a majority of the votes cast was required to win, and Morton received exactly half the votes cast. Despite the presence of some irregularities, incumbent Whig Governor Edward Everett refused to contest the results once a legislative committee dominated by his party accepted a report giving Morton 51,034 votes out of 102,066 cast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1832 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span> Election in Pennsylvania

The 1832 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place between November 2 and December 5, 1832, as part of the 1832 United States presidential election. Voters chose 30 representatives, or electors to the electoral college, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Indiana

The 1968 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968.

The 1834 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1816 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Indiana

The 1816 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 5, 1816, under the provisions of the recently ratified Constitution of Indiana. It was the first gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. Jonathan Jennings, the longtime U.S. territorial delegate from Indiana and president of the state's constitutional convention, defeated Thomas Posey, the incumbent territorial governor, with 56.9% of the vote. The election was held concurrently with elections for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1819 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Indiana

The 1819 Indiana gubernatorial election took place August 2, 1819, under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the second gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. Jonathan Jennings, the incumbent governor, was reelected with 81.5% of the vote to 17.8% for his nearest competitor, Lieutenant Governor Christopher Harrison. The election was held concurrently with elections for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1822 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Indiana

The 1822 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 5, 1822, under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the third gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. William Hendricks, the outgoing United States representative for Indiana's At-large congressional district, was elected without opposition, taking 100% of the vote. This remains the only uncontested gubernatorial election in the history of Indiana. The election took place concurrently with elections for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1825 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1825 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 1, 1825, under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the fourth gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. James B. Ray, the incumbent governor following the resignation of William Hendricks, was reelected to a full term, defeating Isaac Blackford, the chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. The election took place concurrently with elections for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1828 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1828 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 4, 1828 under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the fifth gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. James B. Ray, the incumbent governor, was re-elected, defeating Israel T. Canby, the former state senator representing Jefferson and Jennings counties, and Harbin H. Moore, the outgoing speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, in a three-way race. The election took place concurrently with races for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1831 Indiana gubernatorial election</span> Indiana gubernatorial election

The 1831 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on August 1, 1831, under the provisions of the Constitution of Indiana. It was the sixth gubernatorial election in the State of Indiana. Noah Noble, a former state representative from Franklin County serving since 1830 as one of the commissioners of the Michigan Road, defeated state Representative James G. Read and outgoing Lieutenant Governor Milton Stapp. The election took place concurrently with races for lieutenant governor and members of the Indiana General Assembly.

References

  1. Riker and Thornbrough, 143
  2. Carmony, 146-52
  3. Foughty; Carmony, 152
  4. Holt, 35; Carmony, 150
  5. Carmony, 151-52
  6. Carmony, 150-51
  7. "Indiana State Convention". Indiana Palladium. January 18, 1834.
  8. Carmony, 152
  9. Carmony, 152-53
  10. Capitol & Washington
  11. Riker and Thornbrough, pp. 143-45

Bibliography