1863 United States Senate election in New York

Background

Republican Preston King was elected in 1857. King's term was due to expire on March 4, 1863, with the end of the 37th United States Congress.

The 86th New York State Legislature convened on January 6, 1863, following general elections held in 1862. Thirty senators elected in 1861 were held over from the 85th Legislature. The incoming legislature consisted of 23 Unionists and nine Democrats in the Senate and 64 Unionists and 64 Democrats in the Assembly.

A long struggle to elect a speaker ensued in the closely divided Assembly. The Union candidate Henry Sherwood and the Democratic candidate Gilbert Dean received 63 votes each on the first ballot. Voting continued for several days without a majority for either candidate. Failure to organize the chamber threatened to postpone the election of a U.S. senator indefinitely. Sherwood and Dean withdrew their candidacies on January 16; the Union members then switched their votes to Democrat Theophilus C. Callicot, in exchange for Callicot's support for the Union candidate in the senatorial election. A Democratic filibuster continued the contest until January 26, when Callicot defeated the replacement Democratic candidate Eliphaz Trimmer on the 92nd ballot.

Nominations

Union Party

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. Morgan, King, Daniel S. Dickinson, Charles B. Sedgwick, David D. Field, Henry J. Raymond, Ward Hunt, and Henry R. Selden were candidates. Morgan was nominated with a majority on the second ballot.

Democratic Party

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. The meeting found it inexpedient to nominate a candidate and advised members to vote their conscience in the senatorial election.

General election

The Senate and the Assembly met separately on February 3 to hold an election for the next term. Morgan was nominated by the Senate with 23 votes to 7 for Corning.

In the Assembly, Morgan led on the first ballot with 64 votes, one less than a majority, Speaker Callicot having voted for John A. Dix. The Union members then switched their votes to Dix, who was nominated by the Assembly on the second ballot with 65 votes to 63 for Corning.

The two chambers being in disagreement, the Legislature convened in joint session. Morgan defeated Corning on the first joint ballot.

Result

Notes

Bibliography

Primary sources

Secondary sources

References

1. (January 17, 1863). "A New Phase in the Struggle for the Speakership". New York Times.
2. (January 27, 1863). "The Triumph of Moderation, and of Law and Order". New York Times.
3. (February 3, 1863). "Nomination of Ex-Governor for United States Senator by the Union Caucus". New York Times.
4. (February 4, 1863). "The Democratic Caucus". New York Herald.