1861 Vermont gubernatorial election

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1861 Vermont gubernatorial election
Flag of Vermont (1837-1923).svg
  1860 September 3, 1861 (1861-09-03) 1862  
  Frederick Holbrook (Vermont governor) 2.jpg Andrew Tracy.jpg
Nominee Frederick Holbrook Andrew Tracy Benjamin H. Smalley
Party Republican National Union Peace Democrat
Popular vote33,1525,7223,190
Percentage77.5%13.4%7.5%

1861 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Holbrook:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election

Erastus Fairbanks
Republican

Elected Governor

Frederick Holbrook
Republican

The 1861 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 3. [1] In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Erastus Fairbanks, who had also served as governor from 1852 to 1853, was not a candidate for a third one-year term. [2] [3] The Republican nominee was Frederick Holbrook, a former member of the Vermont Senate. [2] With the Democratic Party split nationally over the response to the American Civil War, Andrew Tracy, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, was nominated by the Union Party, which drew support from War Democrats and conservative Republicans. [4] Benjamin H. Smalley ran as a Peace Democrat, representing Democrats who favored a compromise with the states that had formed the Confederacy. [5]

Contents

Vermont continued to oppose slavery and support the Union, which was reflected in its support of Republican candidates. [2] Holbrook easily defeated both Democrats and won a one-year term that began on October 15. [2] [6] Illness confined Holbrook at home for most of October, [7] and he delayed traveling to Montpelier to take his oath of office until October 22. [8]

General election

Results

1861 Vermont gubernatorial election [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Frederick Holbrook 33,152 77.5%
National Union Andrew Tracy 5,72213.4%
Peace Democrat Benjamin H. Smalley3,1907.5%
Scattering7321.6%
Total votes'42,796''100'

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References

  1. "State Election". The Vermonter. Vergennes, VT. August 30, 1861. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 274 via Google Books.
  3. Hand, Samuel B. (2003). "Mountain Rule Revisited" (PDF). Vermont History. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Historical Society. pp. 140, 143.
  4. "The Union People's Convention". The Daily Journal. Montpelier, VT. August 22, 1861. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Dell, Christopher (1975). Lincoln and the War Democrats: The Grand Erosion of Conservative Tradition. Teaneck, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 109. ISBN   978-0-8386-1466-2 via Google Books.
  6. "Legislative Proceedings: The House, October 15". The Weekly Times. Burlington, VT. October 19, 1861. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  7. Walton; E. P., eds. (October 18, 1861). "Who Will Be Governor?". Watchman & State Journal. Montpelier, VT. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  8. Howard, S. Jr., ed. (October 25, 1861). "Gov. Holbrook Took the Oath of Office on Tuesday". Lamoille Newsdealer. Hyde Park, VT. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.