United States Senate elections, 1868 and 1869

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United States Senate elections, 1868 and 1869

Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg


  1866/67 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)
1870/71  

25 of the 66 (8 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
34 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election39 seats10 seats
Seats before579
Seats won175
Seats after579
Seat changeSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Seats up175

Majority Party before election

Republican Party

Elected Majority Party

Republican Party

The United States Senate elections of 1868 and 1869 were elections which had the Republican Party maintain their majority in the United States Senate. However, six former Confederate states were also readmitted separately from the general election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest number of seats ever controlled by the party.

Republican Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States; the other is its historic rival, the Democratic Party.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

Contents

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Part of the United States Constitution

The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the popular election of United States Senators by the people of the states. The amendment supersedes Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held.

State legislature (United States) legislature of a U.S. state

A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 25 states, the legislature is simply called the Legislature, or the State Legislature, while in 19 states, the legislature is called the General Assembly. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the legislature is called the General Court, while North Dakota and Oregon designate the legislature the Legislative Assembly.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 41st Congress (1869–1871)

Change in Senate composition

Beginning of 1868

D3D2D1V4V3V2V1
D4D5D6D7D8V5
Readmitted
V6
Readmitted
V7
Readmitted
V8
Readmitted
V9
Readmitted
R44R45V17
Readmitted
V16
Readmitted
V15
Readmitted
V14
Readmitted
V13
Readmitted
V12
Readmitted
V11
Special
V10
Readmitted
R43R42R41R40R39R38R37R36R35R34
Majority →R33
R24R25R26R27R28R29R30R31R32
R23R22R21R20R19R18R17R16R15R14
R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13
R3R2R1V18V19V20V21

After the readmission of the Confederate states

D3D2D1V4V3V2V1
D4D5D6D7D8D9
Gain
R57
Gain
R56
Gain
R55
Gain
R54
Gain
R44R45R46
Gain
R47
Gain
R48
Gain
R49
Gain
R50
Gain
R51
Gain
R52
Gain
R53
Gain
R43R42R41R40R39R38R37R36R35R34
Majority →
R24R25R26R27R28R29R30R31R32R33
R23R22R21R20R19R18R17R16R15R14
R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13
R3R2R1V5V6V7V8

Before the elections

After July 16, 1868 readmission of South Carolina.

D3D2D1V4
Seceded
V3
Seceded
V2
Seceded
V1
D4D5
Unknown
D6
Retired
D7
Retired
D8
Retired
D9
Retired
R57
Retired
R56
Retired
R55
Unknown
R54
Unknown
R44
Ran
R45
Ran
R46
Ran
R47
Ran
R48
Ran
R49
Ran
R50
Ran
R51
Ran
R52
Ran
R53
Unknown
R43
Ran
R42
Ran
R41
Ran
R40R39R38R37R36R35R34
Majority →
R24R25R26R27R28R29R30R31R32R33
R23R22R21R20R19R18R17R16R15R14
R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13
R3R2R1V5V6V7V8

Result of the elections

D3D2D1V4
Seceded
V3
Seceded
V2
Seceded
V1
D4D5
Hold
D6
Hold
D7
Gain
D8
Gain
D9
Gain
R57
Gain
R56
Gain
R55
Gain
R54
Hold
R44
Re-elected
R45
Re-elected
R46
Re-elected
R47
Re-elected
R48
Hold
R49
Hold
R50
Hold
R51
Hold
R52
Hold
R53
Hold
R43
Re-elected
R42
Re-elected
R41
Re-elected
R40R39R38R37R36R35R34
Majority →
R24R25R26R27R28R29R30R31R32R33
R23R22R21R20R19R18R17R16R15R14
R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13
R3R2R1V5V6V7V8
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 40th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1868 or in 1869 before March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Kentucky
(Class 2)
James Guthrie Democratic 1865 Incumbent resigned due to failing health.
Winner elected February 19, 1868.
Democratic hold.
Thomas C. McCreery (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland
(Class 3)
Vacant since March 3, 1867 when Senator-elect Philip F. Thomas failed to qualify.Winner elected March 7, 1868.
Democratic gain.
George Vickers (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida
(Class 1)
Vacant since January 21, 1861 when Stephen Mallory (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected June 17, 1868.
Republican gain.
Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below.
Adonijah Welch (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Arkansas
(Class 2)
Vacant since July 11, 1861 when William K. Sebastian (D) was expelled.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected June 22, 1868.
Republican gain.
Alexander McDonald (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Arkansas
(Class 3)
Vacant since July 11, 1861 when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected June 23, 1868.
Republican gain.
Benjamin F. Rice (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida
(Class 3)
Vacant since January 21, 1861 when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected June 25, 1868.
Republican gain.
Thomas W. Osborn (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana
(Class 2)
Vacant since February 4, 1861 when Judah P. Benjamin (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 8, 1868.
Republican gain.
John S. Harris (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana
(Class 3)
Vacant since February 4, 1861 when John Slidell (D) resigned.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 9, 1868.
Republican gain.
William P. Kellogg (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Alabama
(Class 2)
Vacant since January 21, 1861 when Clement Claiborne Clay (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 13, 1868.
Republican gain.
Willard Warner (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Alabama
(Class 3)
Vacant since January 21, 1861 when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 13, 1868.
Republican gain.
George E. Spencer (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina
(Class 2)
Vacant since March 6, 1861 when Thomas Bragg (D) resigned.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 14, 1868.
Republican gain.
Joseph Abbott (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina
(Class 3)
Vacant since March 11, 1861 when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 14, 1868.
Republican gain.
John Pool (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Carolina
(Class 2)
Vacant since November 10, 1860 when James Chesnut, Jr. (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 15, 1868.
Republican gain.
Thomas J. Robertson (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Carolina
(Class 3)
Vacant since November 11, 1860 when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew.State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected July 16, 1868.
Republican gain.
Frederick A. Sawyer (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware
(Class 1)
James A. Bayard, Jr. Democratic 1851
1857
1863
1864 (Resigned)
1867 (Appointed)
Incumbent appointee elected January 19, 1869 to finish the term. [1]
Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below.
James A. Bayard, Jr. (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 41st Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1869; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
California John Conness Republican1862 or 1863Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1868.
Democratic gain.
Eugene Casserly (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Connecticut James Dixon Republican 1856
1863
Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold.
William Buckingham (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware James A. Bayard, Jr. Democratic 1851
1857
1863
1864 (Resigned)
1867 (Appointed)
1869 (Special)
Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1869.
Democratic hold.
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida Adonijah Welch Republican 1868 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold.
Abijah Gilbert (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Indiana Thomas A. Hendricks Democratic 1862 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868.
Republican gain.
Daniel D. Pratt (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (Special)
1863
Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1869.
Republican hold.
Hannibal Hamlin (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic1868 (Appointed)Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Democratic hold.
William T. Hamilton (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts Charles Sumner Republican 1851 (Special)
1857
1863
Incumbent re-elected in 1869.Charles Sumner (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Michigan Zachariah Chandler Republican 1857
1863
Incumbent re-elected in 1869.Zachariah Chandler (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Minnesota Alexander Ramsey Republican 1863 Incumbent re-elected in 1869.Alexander Ramsey (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi Vacant since January 21, 1861 when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned.Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction.
Seat remained vacant until 1870.
None.
Missouri John B. Henderson Republican1862 (Appointed)
1862
Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868.
Republican hold.
Carl Schurz (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nebraska Thomas Tipton Republican 1867 Incumbent re-elected in 1869.Thomas Tipton (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nevada William M. Stewart Republican 1865 Incumbent re-elected in 1869.William M. Stewart (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey Frederick T. Frelinghuysen Republican1866 (Appointed)
1867 (Special)
Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1869.
Democratic gain.
John P. Stockton (Democratic)
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York Edwin D. Morgan Republican 1863 Incumbent lost renomination.
Winner elected January 19, 1869.
Republican hold.
Reuben E. Fenton (Republican)
Henry C. Murphy (Democratic)
Henry S. Randall (Democratic)
Ohio Benjamin Wade Republican 1851
1856
1863
Incumbent lost renomination.
Winner elected in 1868.
Democratic gain.
Allen G. Thurman (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Pennsylvania Charles R. Buckalew Democratic 1863 Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected January 19, 1869.
Republican gain.
John Scott (Republican) 58.65%
William A. Wallace (Democratic) 38.35%
Hiester Clymer (Democratic) 0.75%
Rhode Island William Sprague IV Republican 1862 Incumbent re-elected in 1868.William Sprague IV (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee David T. Patterson Democratic 1866 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected early in October 22, 1867 for the term beginning March 4, 1869.
Republican gain.
William G. Brownlow (Republican) 63
William B. Stokes (Republican) 39 [2]
Texas Vacant since March 23, 1861 when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew.Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction.
Seat remained vacant until 1870.
None.
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican1866 (Appointed)
1866 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected in 1868.George F. Edmunds (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia Vacant since January 2, 1864 when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated. [3] Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction.
Seat remained vacant until 1870.
None.
West Virginia Peter G. Van Winkle Republican 1863 Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold.
Arthur I. Boreman (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Wisconsin James R. Doolittle Republican 1857
1863
Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold.
Matthew H. Carpenter (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Elections during the 41st Congress

There were no elections in 1869 during this Congress after March 4.

Complete list of races

New York

The election in New York was held on January 19, 1869 by the New York State Legislature. Republican Edwin D. Morgan had been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869. At the State election in November 1867, 17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1868-1869) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1868, Democrat John T. Hoffman was elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The 92nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 11, 1869, at Albany, New York.

New York State Legislature state legislature of the U.S. state of New York

The New York State Legislature consists of the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together. It says only that "legislative power is vested in the senate and assembly." The session laws are published in the official Laws of New York. The permanent laws of a general nature are codified in the Consolidated Laws of New York. The legislature is seated at the New York State Capitol in Albany.

Edwin D. Morgan Union Army general

Edwin Denison Morgan was the 21st Governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was also a Union Army general during the American Civil War.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 16, Assemblyman John H. Selkreg presided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan was very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. Speaker Truman G. Younglove had held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.

John H. Selkreg American politician

John Hopkins Selkreg was an American newspaper editor and politician from New York.

Reuben Fenton American politician

Truman Giles Younglove was an American civil engineer and politician who served four years on the New York State Assembly.

1869 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
CandidateFirst ballotSecond ballot
Reuben E. Fenton (50)52
Edwin D. Morgan (42)40
blank(1)

Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot.

The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 18. State Senator Henry C. Murphy was again nominated, like in 1867.

In the Assembly, Republicans DeWitt C. Hoyt (Saratoga Co.) and James O. Schoonmaker (Ulster Co.); and Democrats James Irving (NYC), Lawrence D. Kiernan (NYC), Harris B. Howard (Rensselaer Co.), James B. Pearsall (Queens), John Tighe (Albany Co.) and Moses Y. Tilden (Columbia Co.); did not vote.

In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale (16th D.) and Charles Stanford (15th D.); and Democrats Cauldwell, Thomas J. Creamer, Michael Norton (5th D.) and John J. Bradley (7th D.); did not vote.

Reuben E. Fenton was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.

1869 United States Senator election result
House Republican Democratic Democratic
State Senate
(32 members)
Reuben E. Fenton 15 Henry C. Murphy 10 Henry S. Randall 1
State Assembly
(128 members)
Reuben E. Fenton 73 Henry C. Murphy 46

Notes:

Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held on January 19, 1869. John Scott was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. [4] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 19, 1869, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1869. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results [4] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Scott 7858.65
Democratic William A. Wallace 5138.35
Democratic Hiester Clymer 10.75
N/ANot voting32.26
Totals133100.00%

See also

Related Research Articles

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The 1863 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 3, 1863, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

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The 1875 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

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The United States Senate elections of 1866 and 1867 were elections that saw the Republican Party gain two seats in the United States Senate as several of the Southern States were readmitted during Reconstruction, enlarging their majority.

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92nd New York State Legislature

The 92nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5 to May 11, 1869, during the first year of John T. Hoffman's governorship, in Albany.

References

  1. 1 2 Byrd and Wolff, page 90
  2. Coulter, E. Merton. "William G. Brownlow: Fighting Parson of the Southern Highlands". p. 347.
  3. Segar was not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated his predecessor based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See "Musical Chairs (1861–1869)". United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1869" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. "PA US Senate - 1869". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 22 December 2012.