1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election South Carolina presidential no 1868 South Carolina gubernatorial election 1868 October 19, 1870 1872 South Carolina gubernatorial election 1872 File:Robert Kingston Scott - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg 150x150px Robert Kingston Scott Republican Party (United States) - 85,071 62.27% 1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 250px County results Scott: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90%Carpenter: #FF9A50 50–60% #EE8E50 60–70% Governor Robert Kingston Scott Republican Party (United States) Robert Kingston Scott Republican Party (United States) File:3x4.svg Richard B. Carpenter Union Reform Democratic 51,537 37.72% ff00ff The 1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on October 19, 1870, to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Governor Robert Kingston Scott easily won reelection based entirely on the strength of the black vote in the state. The election was significant because white conservatives of the state would justify later actions with assertions that their loss demonstrated the impossibility of political harmony between the white and black race, and that only through violent insurrection and the use of terror would they be able to seize control of the state government.8 July 2025 Jarrell Hampton M. https://archive.org/details/wadehamptonnegro0000hmja Wade Hampton and the Negro: The Road Not Taken June 1969 University of South Carolina Press 35 9780872490178 Union Reform Convention The Radical Republican reforms and alleged corrupt schemes initiated by Governor Scott after he assumed office in 1868 infuriated the white population of the state. However, the Democratic Party of the state was so thoroughly defeated in the previous gubernatorial election that white conservatives realized the only way to seriously contest the election of 1870 was through the formation of a new political party. They organized a conference in Columbia on March 16 to formulate policies for the upcoming campaign. From the results of the previous election, white conservatives concluded that running a white supremacist campaign in a state where African-Americans were in the majority was futile and ineffective. The conference adopted two policies that would recognize African-American equality and ensure their protection under the law. The other resolution adopted was a campaign to wage against alleged radicalism in favor of a perception for a good and honest government.Reynolds John S. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028790208/ Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877 1905 Columbia, S.C. : State Co. 139 8 July 2025 Union Reform nomination for GovernorCandidateVotes% Richard B. Carpenter 77.5 95.0 George S. Bryan 4 5.0 A nominating convention was held in Columbia on June 15 to select nominees for the state offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. In addition, a committee was formed at the convention to finalize the platform that the party would run on in the fall campaign. The chairman of the committee, Matthew Butler, submitted a paper with positions that would enforce the Fifteenth Amendment, uphold the existing laws enacted by the Radical Republicans, and to restore their perception of honesty and accountability in the state government. Furthermore, it was recommended that the new political party be called the Union Reform Party of South Carolina. Richard B. Carpenter, called a carpetbagger judge by some was from Charleston and considered of questionable reputation, won the nomination for Governor although he had never sought the position.After Slavery: the Negro in South Carolina during Reconstruction, 1861-1877 University Press of New England Williamson Joel 1990 353 Republican Convention The state Republicans renominated Governor Scott unanimously for a second two-year term at their state convention in Columbia on July 26 and July 27. Policies adopted on their platform included the continuation of support for civil rights and to request Congress to sell public lands in the South to the landless. Campaign Republican support was primarily from recently freed slaves. Reports vary as to alleged black militias drilling into the streets with bayonets fixed, threatening anyone who cast a vote against the Republicans. In addition, leaders of the Union League were influential to many African-American Republicans. As a result, violence erupted within the local communities.Jarrell 1969 35Reynolds 1905 145 Additionally, former Governor Orr advocated for white voters to support the Republican ticket because only through the Republican party would reform be achieved and many of their policies were favorable to the white people. Even though most African-Americans faced grave threats if they opted to support the Union Reform ticket, many sincerely refused to even consider a candidate other than a Republican. One African-American told white conservatives that "before the war you wouldn't let me join your party and now I don't choose to."Williamson 1990 355 It was virtually impossible for whites to convince African-American voters to vote for their candidates because Republican leaders repeatedly pointed out that whites only recognized black suffrage at the point of a bayonet. Not only did the Union Reform party have a difficult task at attracting African-American voters, it also faced a disillusioned white electorate. The more extreme base of white voters simply were not willing to vote for any political party that allowed for African-Americans to participate as equals to the whites. Wade Hampton returned from his affairs in Mississippi to rally support for the Union Reform cause, but he encountered lukewarm support at best.Jarrell 1969 34 It was estimated that less than half of the white voters in the state bothered to cast a ballot in the election.Williamson 1990 354 Election results The general election was held on October 10, 1870, and Robert Kingston Scott was reelected as governor of South Carolina. Turnout for the election was high as Radical Republicans sought to discourage any future attempts of an organized opposition by show of force at the polls. The devastating defeat suffered by the Union Reform Party led to its demise and it never again functioned as a political party. Moreover, white men who had participated in the Union Reform effort felt they had disrespected their honor associating with African-Americans as their political equal.Williamson 1990 355 South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1870 Republican Party (United States) Robert Kingston Scott (incumbent) 85,071 62.3 -12.8 |- | style="color:inherit;background:#ff00ff" | | Union Reform | Richard B. Carpenter | align="right" | 51,537 | align="right" | 37.7 | align="right" | +37.7 |- No party Write-Ins 14 0.0 0.0 33,534 24.6 -25.6 136,622 |- | Republican Party (United States) | colspan=5 |Republican hold |- thumb|300px|none|1870 South Carolina gubernatorial election map, by percentile by county. #f00 65+% won by Scott #f66 60%-64% won by Scott #faa 55%-59% won by Scott #fcc 50%-54% won by Scott #fcf 50%-54% won by Carpenter #faf 55%-59% won by Carpenter #f7f 60%-64% won by Carpenter See also Governor of South Carolina List of governors of South Carolina South Carolina gubernatorial elections References "Abstract from the Election Returns for 1870." Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session, 1870-'71. Columbia, South Carolina: Republican Printing Company, 1871, p. 517. The Election Farce The Charleston Daily Courier 10 November 1870 2 External links SCIway Biography of Governor Robert Kingston Scott 1868 South Carolina gubernatorial elections 1872 Category:1870 United States gubernatorial elections 1870 Gubernatorial Category:October 1870 in the United States