1849 United States Senate election in New York

Background

Barnburner John Adams Dix had been elected in 1845 to this seat after the resignation of Silas Wright, and Dix's term would expire on March 3, 1849. In November 1848, Dix was the Barnburners/Free-Soilers candidate for Governor of New York, but was defeated by Whig Hamilton Fish.

At this time the Democratic Party in New York was split in two fiercely opposing factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers". The Barnburners organized the Free Soil Party in 1848 and nominated Martin Van Buren for U.S. President. Due to the split, the Whig Party won most of the elective offices by pluralities.

At the State election in November 1847, 24 Whigs and 8 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1848–1849) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1848, 106 Whigs, 15 Free Soilers and 7 Hunkers were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1849. The 72nd New York State Legislature met from January 2 to April 11, 1849, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

Ex-Governor of New York William H. Seward was nominated by a caucus of Whig State legislators on February 1, 1849. The vote was 88 for Seward, 12 for John A. Collier, 18 scattering and 4 blanks.

The incumbent U.S. Senator John Adams Dix ran for re-election supported by the Free Soilers.

Ex-Chancellor Reuben H. Walworth was the candidate of the Hunkers. Walworth had been third place in the last gubernatorial election, behind Fish and Dix.

Ex-Congressman Daniel D. Barnard (Whig) received 2 scattering votes in the Senate.

Result

William H. Seward was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.

Aftermath

Seward took his seat on March 5, 1849, and was re-elected in 1855. He remained in office until March 3, 1861, and two days later became U.S. Secretary of State, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln.

Notes

Sources

• The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 136 for State Senators 1849; pg. 236ff for Members of Assembly 1849)
• Members of the 31st United States Congress
• Result State election, 1847: The Whig Almanac and United States Register for 1848
• Result Whig caucus: The American Whig Review, Vol. 11 by George Hooker Colton & James Davenport Whelpley (page 638)
• Result U.S. Senate election, State Senate: Journal of the Senate (72nd Session) (1849; pg. 167)
• Result U.S. Senate election, State Assembly: Journal of the Assembly (72nd Session) (1849; pg. 355f)

References

1. March 4, 1849, fell on a Sunday, and there was no Senate session, and President Taylor and Vice President Fillmore refused to be inaugurated on this day. See also [[David Rice Atchison#Purported one-day presidency]]