1868–69 United States Senate elections
The 1868–69 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1868 and 1869, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.
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25 of the 66 (8 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 34 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Unreconstructed states | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Republican Party maintained their Senate majority. Six former Confederate states were then readmitted separately from the regular election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest proportion of seats ever controlled by the party.
Results summary
editSenate party division, 41st Congress (1869–1871)
- Majority party: Republican (57)
- Minority party: Democratic (9)
- Other parties: (0)
- Vacant: (8)
- Total seats: 74
Change in Senate composition
editBeginning of 1868
editD3 | D2 | D1 | V4 | V3 | V2 | V1 | |||
D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | V5 Readmitted |
V6 Readmitted |
V7 Readmitted |
V8 Readmitted |
V9 Readmitted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R44 | R45 | V17 Readmitted |
V16 Readmitted |
V15 Readmitted |
V14 Readmitted |
V13 Readmitted |
V12 Readmitted |
V11 Special |
V10 Readmitted |
R43 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | R33 | ||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V18 | V19 | V20 | V21 |
After the readmission of the Confederate states
editD3 | D2 | D1 | V4 | V3 | V2 | V1 | |||
D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 Gain |
R57 Gain |
R56 Gain |
R55 Gain |
R54 Gain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R44 | R45 | R46 Gain |
R47 Gain |
R48 Gain |
R49 Gain |
R50 Gain |
R51 Gain |
R52 Gain |
R53 Gain |
R43 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Before the elections
editAfter July 16, 1868, readmission of South Carolina.
D3 | D2 | D1 | V4 Seceded |
V3 Seceded |
V2 Seceded |
V1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D4 | D5 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 |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Result of the elections
editD3 | D2 | D1 | V4 Seceded |
V3 Seceded |
V2 Seceded |
V1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D4 | D5 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 |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Key: |
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Race summaries
editElections during the 40th Congress
editIn these elections, the winners were seated during 1868 or in 1869 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Kentucky (Class 2) |
James Guthrie | Democratic | 1865 | Incumbent resigned due to failing health. Winner elected February 19, 1868. Democratic hold. |
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Maryland (Class 3) |
Vacant since March 3, 1867, when Senator-elect Philip F. Thomas failed to qualify. |
Winner elected March 7, 1868. Democratic gain. |
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Florida (Class 1) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Stephen Mallory (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected June 17, 1868. Republican gain. Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below. |
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Arkansas (Class 2) |
Vacant since July 11, 1861, when William K. Sebastian (D) was expelled. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected June 22, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Arkansas (Class 3) |
Vacant since July 11, 1861, when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected June 23, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Florida (Class 3) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected June 25, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Louisiana (Class 2) |
Vacant since February 4, 1861, when Judah P. Benjamin (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 8, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Louisiana (Class 3) |
Vacant since February 4, 1861, when John Slidell (D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 9, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Alabama (Class 2) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Clement Claiborne Clay (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 13, 1868. Republican gain. |
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Alabama (Class 3) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 13, 1868. Republican gain. |
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North Carolina (Class 2) |
Vacant since March 6, 1861, when Thomas Bragg (D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 14, 1868. Republican gain. |
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North Carolina (Class 3) |
Vacant since March 11, 1861, when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 14, 1868. Republican gain. |
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South Carolina (Class 2) |
Vacant since November 10, 1860, when James Chesnut Jr. (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 15, 1868. Republican gain. |
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South Carolina (Class 3) |
Vacant since November 11, 1860, when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected July 16, 1868. Republican gain. |
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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.[2] Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below. |
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Races leading to the 41st Congress
editIn these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1869; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
California | John Conness | Republican | 1862 or 1863 | Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. Winner elected in 1868. Democratic gain. |
▌ Eugene Casserly (Democratic) [data missing] |
Connecticut | James Dixon | Republican | 1856 1863 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Republican hold. |
▌ William Buckingham (Republican) [data 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 missing] |
Florida | Adonijah Welch | Republican | 1868 (special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Republican hold. |
▌ Abijah Gilbert (Republican) [data missing] |
Indiana | Thomas A. Hendricks | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868. Republican gain. |
▌ Daniel D. Pratt (Republican) [data missing] |
Maine | Lot M. Morrill | Republican | 1861 (special) 1863 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1869. Republican hold. |
▌ Hannibal Hamlin (Republican) [data missing] |
Maryland | William P. Whyte | Democratic | 1868 (Appointed) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Democratic hold. |
▌ William T. Hamilton (Democratic) [data missing] |
Massachusetts | Charles Sumner | Republican | 1851 (special) 1857 1863 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1869. | ▌ Charles Sumner (Republican) [data missing] |
Michigan | Zachariah Chandler | Republican | 1857 1863 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1869. | ▌ Zachariah Chandler (Republican) [data missing] |
Minnesota | Alexander Ramsey | Republican | 1863 | Incumbent re-elected in 1869. |
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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 | Republican | 1862 (Appointed) 1862 |
Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868. Republican hold. |
▌ Carl Schurz (Republican) [data missing] |
Nebraska | Thomas Tipton | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent re-elected in 1869. | ▌ Thomas Tipton (Republican) [data missing] |
Nevada | William M. Stewart | Republican | 1865 | Incumbent re-elected in 1869. | ▌ William M. Stewart (Republican) [data missing] |
New Jersey | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1867 (special) |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1869. Democratic gain. |
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New York | Edwin D. Morgan | Republican | 1863 | Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected January 19, 1869. Republican hold. |
|
Ohio | Benjamin Wade | Republican | 1851 1856 1863 |
Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected in 1868. Democratic gain. |
▌ Allen G. Thurman (Democratic) [data missing] |
Pennsylvania | Charles R. Buckalew | Democratic | 1863 | Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. Winner elected January 19, 1869. Republican gain. |
|
Rhode Island | William Sprague IV | Republican | 1862 | Incumbent re-elected in 1868. | ▌ William Sprague IV (Republican) [data missing] |
Tennessee | David T. Patterson | Democratic | 1866 (Readmission) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected early on October 22, 1867, for the term beginning March 4, 1869. Republican gain. |
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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 | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1866 (special) |
Incumbent re-elected in 1868. | ▌ George F. Edmunds (Republican) [data missing] |
Virginia | Vacant since January 2, 1864, when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated.[5] | 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 1869. Republican hold. |
▌ Arthur I. Boreman (Republican) 43(H), 19(S) ▌Daniel Lamb (Republican) 10(H), 3(S) |
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 missing] |
Elections during the 41st Congress
editThere were no elections in 1869 during this Congress after March 4.
Delaware
editInterim appointed Senator James A. Bayard Jr. was elected January 19, 1869 to finish his term.[2]
Maryland
editMaryland (special)
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
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80 members of the Maryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
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William Pinkney Whyte won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat to fill the vacancy created by Reverdy Johnson.[6]
Maryland (regular)
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
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80 members of the Maryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
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William Thomas Hamilton won election against Thomas Swann by a margin of 9.09%, or 10 votes for the Class 1 seat.[7]
Maryland (March special)
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
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80 members of the Maryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
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Philip Francis Thomas, a Democrat, was elected in 1867, however, failed to qualify for the seat due to his support for the Confederacy. George Vickers was elected to finish the rest of the term by a margin of 17.65%, or 18 votes, for the Class 3 seat.[8]
Minnesota
editThe Minnesota U.S. Senate election was held by the state legislature on January 19, 1869, with each chamber voting separately. Republican Senator Alexander Ramsey received 16 of 21 votes in the state Senate and 36 of 44 in the state House. The legislature declared Ramsey the duly elected U.S. Senator in a joint convention on January 20, 1869. Democratic nominee Charles W. Nash was an attorney from Hastings, former state Senator for the 7th Senate District (1862–1864), and the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1865.[3]
1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate election[3] | |||
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Republican | Alexander Ramsey (inc.) | 52 | 80.00 |
Democrat | Charles W. Nash | 13 | 20.00 |
New York
editThe 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.
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.
Candidate | First ballot | Second ballot |
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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.
House | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
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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:
- The vote for Ex-Secretary of State Randall was cast by Henry C. Murphy.
- The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Pennsylvania
editThe Pennsylvania election was held January 19, 1869. John Scott was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[9] 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:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | John Scott | 78 | 58.65 | |
Democratic | William A. Wallace | 51 | 38.35 | |
Democratic | Hiester Clymer | 1 | 0.75 | |
N/A | Not voting | 3 | 2.26 | |
Totals | 133 | 100.00% |
West Virginia
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Needed to win: Majority of votes cast in each House of the Legislature 53 votes cast in the House; 27 votes needed 22 votes cast in the Senate; 12 votes needed | ||||||||||||||||
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On February 2, 1869, the West Virginia Legislature held an election for senator to replace Peter Van Winkle. Nominated were Arthur Boreman, the first governor of West Virginia, and Daniel Lamb, a member of West Virginia's constitutional convention and former delegate.[11] Boreman, having received majorities of the vote in both the House and Senate, was declared duly as elected senator on February 3, 1869.[12]
Party | Candidate | House | Senate | |||
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Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
Republican | Arthur Boreman | 43 | 81.1 | 19 | 86.4 | |
Democratic | Daniel Lamb | 10 | 18.9 | 3 | 13.6 | |
Total | 53 | 100 | 22 | 100 | ||
Needed to win | 27 | >50 | 12 | >50 |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Byrd and Wolff, page 90
- ^ a b c University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Coulter, E. Merton (1999). William G. Brownlow: Fighting Parson of the Southern Highlands. Univ. of Tennessee Press. p. 347. ISBN 9781572330504.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1863". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 17, 1868". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1865". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
- ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1869" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "PA US Senate - 1869". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Atkinson, George Wesley (1890). Prominent Men of West Virginia. W.L. Callin. p. 257.
- ^ Journal of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Volume 7. West Virginia Legislature. 1869. p. 57.
Further reading
edit- "Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present". United States Senate.
- Byrd, Robert C. (October 1, 1993). Wolff, Wendy (ed.). The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992. United States Senate Historical Office (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160632563.
- Taft, George S. (1885). Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1885. United States Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Members of the 41st United States Congress
- Result state election 1867 in The Tribune Almanac for 1868 compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune
- Result state election 1868 in The Tribune Almanac for 1869 compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune
- ALBANY.; Caucus of the Republican Members of the Legislature; Reuben E. Fenton Nominated United States Senator in NYT on January 17, 1869
- ALBANY.; Election of United States Senator in NYT on January 20, 1869
- Result New York State Senate in Journal of the Senate (92nd Session) (1869; pg. 58f)
- Result New York Assembly in Journal of the Assembly (92nd Session) (1869; Vol. I, pg. 75f)
- Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project