1868 and 1869 United States Senate elections

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For related races, see 1868 United States elections.
1868 and 1869 United States Senate elections
← 1866 & 1867 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)		 1870 & 1871 →
25 of the 66 (8 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
34 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
  Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg Blank2x3.svg
Leader Henry B. Anthony[a]
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863
Leader's seat Rhode Island
Last election 39 seats 10 seats
Seats before 57 9
Seats won 17 5
Seats after 57 9
Seat change Steady Steady
Seats up 17 5
Majority Party before election


Republican

Elected Majority Party


Republican

The 1868 and 1869 United States Senate elections were elections which had the Republican Party maintain their majority in the United States Senate. However, six former Confederate states were also 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.

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Results summary[]

Senate 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[]

Beginning of 1868[]

D3 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[]

D3 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[]

After 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[]

D3 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:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries[]

Elections during the 40th Congress[]

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1868 or in 1869 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Kentucky
(Class 2) 		James Guthrie Democratic 1865 Incumbent resigned due to failing health.
Winner elected February 19, 1868.
Democratic hold.
Maryland
(Class 3) 		Vacant since March 3, 1867, when
Senator-elect Philip F. Thomas failed to qualify. 		Winner elected March 7, 1868.
Democratic gain.
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.
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.
  • ▌Green tickY Alexander McDonald (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
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.
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.
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.
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.
  • ▌Green tickY William P. Kellogg (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
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.
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.
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.
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.
  • ▌Green tickY John Pool (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
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.
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.
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.[1]
Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below.
  • ▌Green tickY James A. Bayard, Jr. (Democratic)
  • [data unknown/missing]

Races leading to the 41st Congress[]

In 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
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. 		▌Green tickY Eugene Casserly (Democratic)
[data unknown/missing]
Connecticut James Dixon Republican 1856
1863 		Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold. 		▌Green tickY William Buckingham (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Delaware James A. Bayard, Jr. Democratic 1851
1857
1863
1864 (Resigned)
1867 (Appointed)
1869 (Special) 		Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1869.
Democratic hold. 		▌Green tickY Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. (Democratic)
[data unknown/missing]
Florida Adonijah Welch Republican 1868 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold. 		▌Green tickY Abijah Gilbert (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Indiana Thomas A. Hendricks Democratic 1862 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868.
Republican gain. 		▌Green tickY Daniel D. Pratt (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Maine Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (Special)
1863 		Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1869.
Republican hold. 		▌Green tickY Hannibal Hamlin (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1868 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Democratic hold. 		▌Green tickY William T. Hamilton (Democratic)
[data unknown/missing]
Massachusetts Charles Sumner Republican 1851 (Special)
1857
1863 		Incumbent re-elected in 1869. ▌Green tickY Charles Sumner (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Michigan Zachariah Chandler Republican 1857
1863 		Incumbent re-elected in 1869. ▌Green tickY Zachariah Chandler (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Minnesota Alexander Ramsey Republican 1863 Incumbent re-elected in 1869.
  • ▌Green tickY Alexander Ramsey (Republican) 52 votes (80%)
  • ▌Charles W. Nash (Democratic) 13 votes (20%)[2]
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. 		▌Green tickY Carl Schurz (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Nebraska Thomas Tipton Republican 1867 Incumbent re-elected in 1869. ▌Green tickY Thomas Tipton (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Nevada William M. Stewart Republican 1865 Incumbent re-elected in 1869. ▌Green tickY William M. Stewart (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
New Jersey Frederick T. Frelinghuysen Republican 1866 (Appointed)
1867 (Special) 		Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1869.
Democratic gain.
  • ▌Green tickY John P. Stockton (Democratic)
  • ▌Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
New York Edwin D. Morgan Republican 1863 Incumbent lost renomination.
Winner elected January 19, 1869.
Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Reuben E. Fenton (Republican)
  • ▌Henry C. Murphy (Democratic)
  • ▌Henry S. Randall (Democratic)
Ohio Benjamin Wade Republican 1851
1856
1863 		Incumbent lost renomination.
Winner elected in 1868.
Democratic gain. 		▌Green tickY Allen G. Thurman (Democratic)
[data unknown/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. ▌Green tickY William Sprague IV (Republican)
[data unknown/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.
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. ▌Green tickY George F. Edmunds (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Virginia Vacant since January 2, 1864, when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated.[4] 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 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold. 		▌Green tickY Arthur I. Boreman (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]
Wisconsin James R. Doolittle Republican 1857
1863 		Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1868 or 1869.
Republican hold. 		▌Green tickY Matthew H. Carpenter (Republican)
[data unknown/missing]

Elections during the 41st Congress[]

There were no elections in 1869 during this Congress after March 4.

Delaware[]

Interim appointed Senator James A. Bayard, Jr. was elected January 19, 1869 to finish his term.[1]

Minnesota[]

The 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.[2]

1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate election[2]
Republican Alexander Ramsey (inc.) 52 80.00
Democrat Charles W. Nash 13 20.00

New York[]

Main article: 1869 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

The 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.

1869 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
Candidate First ballot Second ballot
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.

1869 United States Senator election result
House Republican Democratic Democratic
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[]

Main article: 1869 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held January 19, 1869. John Scott was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[5] 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:

State Legislature Results[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
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%

Notes[]

  1. ^ as Republican Conference Chair

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Byrd and Wolff, page 90
  2. ^ a b c University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  3. ^ Coulter, E. Merton (1999). William G. Brownlow: Fighting Parson of the Southern Highlands. p. 347. ISBN 9781572330504.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1869" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  6. ^ "PA US Senate - 1869". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 22 December 2012.

Further reading[]

Retrieved from ""