United States Senate election in New York, 1867

The 1867 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 15, 1867, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

Contents

Background

Republican Ira Harris had been elected in February 1861 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1867.

At the State election in November 1865, 27 Republicans and 5 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1866-1867) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1866, 82 Republicans and 46 Democrats were elected for the session of 1867 to the Assembly. The 90th State Legislature met from January 1 to April 20, 1867, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

Republican caucus

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 10, State Senator Charles J. Folger presided. State Senator Thomas Parsons (28th D.) was absent, but had his vote cast by proxy. They nominated Congressman Roscoe Conkling for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent Senator Ira Harris was voted down.

1867 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
Office Candidate Informal
ballot
First
ballot
Second
ballot
Third
ballot
Fourth
ballot
Fifth
ballot
U.S. Senator Roscoe Conkling 33 39 45 53 59
Noah Davis 30 41 44 50 49
Ira Harris 32 24 18 6
Ransom Balcom[1] 7 4 2 wd
Horace Greeley 6 wd
Charles J. Folger 1 1 1

Notes:

Democratic caucus

The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met also on January 10. State Senator Henry C. Murphy was nominated on the first ballot with 25 votes against 21 for Ex-D.A. of New York A. Oakey Hall.

Result

Roscoe Conkling was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.

1867 United States Senator election result
Office House Republican Democrat Democrat
U.S. Senator State Senate
(32 members)
Roscoe Conkling 24 Henry C. Murphy 2 George F. Comstock 1
State Assembly
(128 members)
Roscoe Conkling 78 Henry C. Murphy 42

Notes:

Aftermath

Conkling was re-elected in 1873 and 1879, and remained in office until May 17, 1881, when he resigned in protest against the distribution of federal patronage in New York by President James A. Garfield without being consulted. The crisis between the Stalwart and the Half-Breed factions of the Republican party arose when the leader of the New Yorker Half-Breeds William H. Robertson was appointed Collector of the Port of New York, a position Conkling wanted to give to one of his Stalwart friends.

Notes

  1. ^ Ransom Balcom (1818-1879), of Binghamton, justice of the New York Supreme Court (6th D.) 1856-77

Sources