1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Background

The Republican state convention met at Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 9, 1862. Sumner had earned the disapproval of Conservative Republicans when he opposed Lincoln's plan for gradual emancipation in March 1862, calling instead for Congress to use its authority under the War Powers Clause to abolish slavery immediately. Seeking to preempt a movement to replace Sumner at the next senatorial election, Sumner's allies took the unusual step of having the state convention endorse his bid for re-election. A resolution endorsing Sumner and approving his course in the Senate passed over the protests of conservative delegates, in effect making Sumner's re-election the central issue of the fall campaign.

Conservative opponents of Sumner held a convention at Boston on October 7, 1862. Many of the organizers of the convention were former Whigs who had supported the Constitutional Union Party in 1860. In a nod to antipartisan wartime rhetoric, the movement called itself the People's Party; its express purpose was to defeat Sumner's bid for reelection. The convention adopted a pro-war, anti-abolitionist platform and selected candidates for the upcoming state elections; Charles F. Adams was nominated for U.S. senator, but declined. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued September 22, had brought the Lincoln administration into line with Sumner's position, while the endorsement of the People's ticket by the Massachusetts Democratic Party undermined the movement's claim to constitute the true pro-administration party in Massachusetts. Following these events, most Conservative Republicans returned to the fold, and the Republican ticket was elected by a large majority.

House

Senate

The lone vote for Adams was cast by Senator Whitney of Hampden. Senator Crane of Worcester County did not vote.

Notes

Bibliography

References

1. (November 15, 1862). "The Elections". Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post.
2. (January 22, 1863). "Charles Sumner". The Independent.