1852–53 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
November 8, 1852 (1852-11-08) (popular)
January 12, 1853 (1853-01-12) (legislative)
 
Nominee John H. Clifford Henry W. Bishop Horace Mann
Party Whig Democratic Free Soil
Popular election 62,233
(44.95%)		 37,763
(28.00%)		 36,740
(26.54%)
Senate vote 29
(87.88%)		 4
(12.12%)		 Did not qualify
Governor before election

George S. Boutwell
Democratic

 Elected Governor

John H. Clifford
Whig

The 1852–53 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular vote held on November 8, 1852, followed by a legislative vote conducted on January 12, 1853, which elected Whig Party nominee John H. Clifford. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election.

Incumbent Democratic Governor George S. Boutwell declined to run for a third term in office.

Democratic nominations

Candidates

  • Henry W. Bishop, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
  • David Henshaw, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy

Convention and split

With the imminent presidential election creating an increased emphasis on national politics, the Democratic Party became divided over the issue of slavery and its expansion in the western territories. Coalitionists favored a moderate approach which allowed the party to reconcile with its ally in the past three elections, the Free Soil Party. Without the Free Soilers, the party likely had no chance at winning. The Coalitionists held the majority of the party and nominated Henry W. Bishop of Lenox for governor in September. A breakaway faction calling themselves "National Democrats" rejected the Bishop ticket.[1] The National Democrats nominated David Henshaw, a long-time ally of John C. Calhoun who had served as Secretary of the Navy in the John Tyler administration.

General election

Candidates

  • Henry W. Bishop, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Democratic)
  • John H. Clifford, Attorney General of Massachusetts (Whig)
  • David Henshaw, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy (Ind. Democratic)
  • Horace Mann, U.S. Representative from Newton (Free Soil)
  • Edward A. Vose (Independent)

Results

1852 Massachusetts gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John H. Clifford 62,233 44.95 Decrease1.98
Democratic Henry W. Bishop 38,763 28.00 Decrease3.93
Free Soil Horace Mann 36,740 26.54 Increase5.69
Ind. Democrat David Henshaw 357 0.26 N/A
Write-in 195 0.14 Decrease0.05
Independent Edward A. Vose 148 0.11 N/A
Total votes 138,436 100.00

Legislative vote

As a result of the failure for a candidate to secure the needed majority to be elected through the popular vote, the election of the Governor was placed before the two chambers of the state legislature: the Massachusetts General Court. The process for the legislature to elect a governor saw the Massachusetts House of Representatives first hold votes to select two candidates from which the Massachusetts State Senate would then select a winner. The House balloting to select candidates required a candidate to receive a simple majority in a ballot round in order for that candidate to be successfully selected as one of the two candidates for consideration by the Senate. The General Court held its votes to elect the governor on January 12, 1853.[3]

Massachusetts House of Representatives vote to select the first candidate to be placed before the Massachusetts State Senate[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John H. Clifford 148 52.30
Democratic Henry W. Bishop 84 29.68
Free Soil Horace Mann 51 18.02
Independent Edward A. Vose 0 0.00
Total votes 283 100.00
Massachusetts House of Representatives vote to select the second candidate to be placed before the Massachusetts State Senate[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry W. Bishop 189 75.90
Free Soil Horace Mann 59 23.69
Independent Edward A. Vose 1 0.40
Total votes 249 100.00
Spoilt vote J.S. Wiggin (not an eligible candidate) 1 N/A
Massachusetts State Senate Senate vote for governor[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John H. Clifford 29 87.88
Democratic Henry W. Bishop 4 12.12
Total votes 33 100.00

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Massachusetts Democracy". The New York Times. September 9, 1852. p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 117. ISBN 9780786414390.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Massachusetts Legislature". Boston Evening Transcript. January 12, 1853. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.