1844 New York gubernatorial election

none January 2025 November 2013 1844 New York gubernatorial election New York 1778 Presidential no 1842 New York gubernatorial election 1842 1846 New York gubernatorial election 1846 November 5, 1844 x150px Silas Wright Democratic Party (United States) 241,090 49.48% x150px Millard Fillmore Whig Party (United States) 231,057 47.42% Governor William C. Bouck Democratic Party (United States) Silas Wright Democratic Party (United States) Results by countyWright: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70%Fillmore: #FEE391 40–50% #FED463 50–60% File:1844 New York gubernatorial election results map by county.svg The 1844 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1844. Incumbent Governor William C. Bouck lost his bid for nomination to U.S. Senator Silas Wright. In the general election, Wright defeated former U.S. Representative and future President of the United States Millard Fillmore. Both Wright and Fillmore had been candidates for the vice presidency earlier in the year, but Wright declined the nomination by the Democratic National Convention, while Fillmore's active efforts were blocked by party boss Thurlow Weed. Democratic nomination Background Governor William C. Bouck was elected in 1842 over Whig Luther Bradish. His term was occupied primarily with the state's response to the Anti-Rent War.Mayham 1906 Tenants who held perpetual leases under the patroon system, first implemented when New York was a Dutch colony, objected to the "quarter sale" provision of their leases.Torrance 1939 Under this provision if a tenant sold his lease, he had to pay his patroon one quarter of the sale price or one additional year's rent.Torrance 1939 In addition, while the wealthiest patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, had generally proved a benevolent landlord usually willing to accept partial or late payments rather than evict tenants who fell behind on their rent, after his death in 1839 his heirs attempted to collect long-overdue payments.Persico 1974 When the tenants could not pay and could not negotiate for favorable repayment terms, they were threatened with eviction and a revolt ensued.Persico 1974 Bouck was sympathetic to the tenants,Summerhill 2005 67–68 but as part of the effort to restore order during a violent demonstration, near the end of his term he sent units of the state militia to Hudson, which was viewed unfavorably by the tenants and their supporters.Dearstyne 2015 Bouck's popularity within his own party also slipped, as Democrats sought a candidate who would consistently enforce the law against rioters.Dearstyne 2015 The 1844 election was also cast in the shadow of the election for president. Senator Silas Wright, a critic of the annexation of Texas and slavery, supported his ally Martin Van Buren for the presidency.Hammond 1848 456=457 When the 1844 Democratic National Convention deadlocked and James K. Polk of Tennessee was nominated, southerners sought to appease the Van Buren wing of the party by nominating Wright for Vice President, but he firmly declined.Jenkins 1851 779 Whig nomination Background In contrast to Wright, former U.S. representative Millard Fillmore, who had chaired the influential House Ways and Means Committee during his time in Congress, actively sought the vice presidency on the Whig ticket.Scarry 2001 1776–1820Rayback 1959 2417 However, he was blocked by party boss Thurlow Weed, who preferred the spot for former governor William H. Seward. Although Weed promised Fillmore the governorship, Fillmore wrote back, "I am not willing to be treacherously killed by this pretended kindness... do not suppose for a minute that I think they desire my nomination for governor."Rayback 1959 2425–2471 Although Weed failed to secure the nomination for Seward, he succeeded in blocking Fillmore; Theodore Frelinghuysen of New Jersey was the eventual nominee.Rayback 1959 2471–2486 Putting a good face on his defeat, Fillmore met and publicly appeared with Frelinghuysen and quietly spurned Weed's offer to get him nominated as governor at the state convention. Fillmore's position in opposing slavery only at the state level made him acceptable as a statewide Whig candidate, and Weed saw to it the pressure on Fillmore increased. Fillmore had stated that a convention had the right to draft anyone for political service, and Weed got the convention to choose Fillmore, who had broad support, despite his reluctance.Rayback 1959 2486–2536 General election Candidates Millard Fillmore, former U.S. Representative from Buffalo Alvan Stewart, nominee for governor in 1842 (Liberty) Silas Wright, United States Senator (Democratic) Campaign Although Fillmore worked to gain support among German-Americans, a major constituency, he was hurt among immigrants by the fact that in New York City, Whigs had supported a nativist candidate in the mayoral election earlier in 1844, and Fillmore and his party were tarred with that brush.Rayback 1959 2536–2562 Results 1844 New York gubernatorial electionhttps://books.google.com/books?id=5SY1AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA367 Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York 1852 367 Silas Wright Democratic Party (United States) 241,090 49.48% 2.35 Millard Fillmore Whig Party (United States) 231,057 47.42% 1.06 Alvan Stewart Liberty Party (United States, 1840) 15,136 3.12% 1.31 487,283 100.00% See also New York gubernatorial elections New York state elections References Bibliography Dearstyne Bruce W. 2015 The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History https://books.google.com/books?id=9tiUBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56 Albany, NY State University of New York Press 56 978-1-4384-5659-1 Google Books Hammond Jabez D. 1848 Life and Times of Silas Wright, Late Governor of the State of New York https://archive.org/details/lifetimesofsilas00hamm/page/n10 Syracuse, NY Hall and Dickson Jabez Delano Hammond Jenkins John S. 1846 History of Political Parties in the State of New-York https://books.google.com/books?id=MWQqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA466 Alden & Markham 466 Jenkins John S. 1851 Lives of the governors of the state of New York https://archive.org/details/livesgovernorss00jenkgoog 724 Auburn, NY Derby and Miller Mayham Albert Champlin 1906 The Anti-Rent War on Blenheim Hill https://archive.org/details/cu31924030043131 Jefferson, NY Frederick L. Frazee 39-40 Internet Archive Persico Joseph E. October 1974 Feudal Lords On Yankee Soil https://www.americanheritage.com/feudal-lords-yankee-soil#targetText=Stephen%20Van%20Rensselaer%20in%20was,his%20laxity%20in%20collecting%20rents. American Heritage 25 6 Rockville, MD American Heritage Publishing Company Joseph E. Persico Rayback Robert J. Millard Fillmore: Biography of a President Pickle Partners Publishing 1959 Kindle Scarry Robert J. Millard Fillmore McFarland & Co., Inc. 2001 978-1-4766-1398-7 Kindle Summerhill Thomas 2005 Harvest of Dissent: Agrarianism in Nineteenth-century New York https://books.google.com/books?id=2ngKXTP3hL0C&pg=PA66 Champaign, IL University of Illinois Press 978-0-2520-2976-9 Google Books Torrance Mary Fisher 1939 The Story of Old Rensselaerville https://archive.org/details/storyofoldrensse00torr New York, NY Privately Printed 16 Internet Archive 1844 New York Gubernatorial election Category:November 1844