1859 New Jersey gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1859 New Jersey gubernatorial election New Jersey Presidential no 1856 New Jersey gubernatorial election 1856 1862 New Jersey gubernatorial election 1862 November 8, 1859 x175px Charles Smith Olden Opposition Know-Nothing F0DC82 53,315 50.76% x175px Edwin R. V. Wright Democratic Party (United States) 51,714 49.24% 1859 New Jersey gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County ResultsOlden: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Wright: #7996e2 50–60% Governor William A. Newell Opposition Party (Northern U.S.) Charles Smith Olden Opposition Party (Northern U.S.) The 1859 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1859. Opposition Party nominee Charles Smith Olden defeated Democratic nominee Edwin R. V. Wright with 50.76% of the vote. Democratic nomination Candidates Thomas H. Herring, state senator from Bergen County and president of the New Jersey Senate Joseph E. Potts, former state senator from Atlantic County Charles Sitgreaves, former state senator from Warren County Charles Skelton, former U.S. Representative from Trenton Garrett Sykes Alexander Wertz Edwin R.V. Wright, former mayor of Hudson City and Hudson County prosecutor Convention The Democratic Party held a convention in Trenton on August 24. Entering the convention, the leading candidates were Edwin R.V. Wright, Charles Skelton, Alexander Wertz, and Garrett Sykes.New Jersey Democratic State Convention 24 Aug 1859 New York Daily Tribune 5 At the start of the convention, there were many disputes between delegations over the Lecompton Constitution; Lecomptonites outnumbered opponents four-to-one. A lengthy dispute between rival delegations from Sussex, split over the Lecompton question, resulted in neither delegation being seated.New York Daily Herald 1 25 Aug 1859 THE DEMOCRACY IN NEW JERSEY Names were placed in nomination for Governor, including Wright, Skelton, Wertz, Sykes, joined by Charles Sitgreaves, Joseph Potts, and Thomas H. Herring. Before balloting began, the Party adopted a platform embracing the Buchanan administration and opposing any attempt by Congress to regulate slavery in the territories. The party also denounced any attempt to revive the Atlantic slave trade. Balloting commenced, with Wright taking a strong plurality on the first ballot and extending his lead on the second. After the Sussex delegates failed to reach an agreement, there was a motion to exclude their votes entirely, causing a lengthy delay as the convention recessed. After the convention was recalled to order, balloting restarted, Wright maintaining his large plurality. Herring's name was also withdrawn. On the fifth ballot, it became clear Wright had a majority. Many delegations switched their votes to make his nomination unanimous. 1859 Democratic Convention Ballot1 2 3 4 5Before shifts. 5After shifts.Wright193 203 240 290 248 388Skelton82 103 114 124 120 -Herring5454 40 28 0 -Wertz8688 76 28 90 -Sykes7 13 11 11 11 -Potts7 0 2 2 2 -Sitgreaves29 1 - - - -Scattering35 0 6 9 19 - Total 493 462 489 492 493 388 Wright was notified of his victory and appeared at the convention to make an acceptance speech.New Jersey Democratic State Convention 26 Aug 1859 New York Times 1 Opposition nomination Candidates Andrew K. Hay, businessman and former Whig U.S. Representative from Winslow Township William K. McDonaldSpelled alternatively as "McDonnell." Ephraim Marsh, former state senator from Morris County Charles Smith Olden, former Whig state senator from Mercer County Joseph W. Porter Withdrew at convention Joseph W. Allen, former state senator from Burlington County (before balloting) Dudley S. Gregory, former Whig U.S. Representative and Mayor of Jersey City (during first ballot) Edward Y. Rogers, former state senator from Middlesex County (after second ballot) Convention Once again, elements opposed to the incumbent Democratic administration in Washington joined together to present a candidate for Governor. Upon a public call by opposition legislators, they met at Temperance Hall in Trenton on September 7. The plurality of the convention were Know-Nothings, joined by a large number of Republicans and a significant minority of Democrats opposed to the Lecompton Constitution.NEW JERSEY: Opposition State Convention 8 New York Daily Tribune 8 Sep 1859POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY:The Republican and American State Conventions 8 Sep 1859 New York Herald 1 Charles Smith Olden, Joseph W. Allen, Joseph W. Porter, Andrew K. Hay, William K. McDonald,Spelled alternatively as "McDonnell." Ephraim Marsh, Edward Y. Rogers, and Dudley S. Gregory were nominated. Before balloting began, Allen's name was withdrawn. On the first ballot, Smith led. Gregory's name was withdrawn by his request. After the second ballot, Olden led by a larger margin and Rogers's name was withdrawn. A motion was made to nominate Olden by acclamation, but it was shouted down. On the third ballot, Olden received a majority, and his nomination was made unanimous by acclamation. Some hesitation ensued after a delegate announced that the American convention, meeting elsewhere in Trenton, had nominated Peter Clarke, thus splitting the opposition. However, word soon came that the Americans had nominated Olden as well, and the convention concluded with speeches made in favor of the candidate. 1859 Opposition Convention Ballot1 2 3 Olden 183 241 296Marsh 89 112 104McDonald 79 91 92Gregory 68 0 0 Hay 66 62 53Porter 64 42 18Rogers 47 14 0 Total 596 562 563 The convention adopted a moderate platform that was nearly silent on the issue of slavery, except that it opposed any effort to revive the Atlantic slave trade. It endorsed a protective tariff and denounced the Buchanan administration as corrupt, extravagant, and oppressive of free speech and thought.The New York and New Jersey Republican Conventions Republican Banner 14 Sep 1859 2 American Party convention The American Party met simultaneous to the Opposition convention at the Trenton Atheneum. During the first ballot for Governor, word arrived that the Opposition convention had nominated Olden. On the first ballot, the Americans nominated Olden by 96 votes against 35 for Peter J. Clarke. General election Candidates Charles Smith Olden, former state senator from Mercer County (Opposition and American) Edwin R. V. Wright, former mayor of Hudson City and Hudson County prosecutor (Democratic) Results New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1859https://books.google.com/books?id=9CZECwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1714 Guide to U.S. Elections 24 December 2015 9781483380353 2016-02-17 Kalb Deborah Opposition #F0DC82 Charles Smith Olden 53,315 50.76% Democratic Party (United States) Edwin R. V. Wright 51,714 49.24% Opposition #F0DC82 Notes References 1859 New Jersey Category:1859 New Jersey elections Category:November 1859 in the United States