1859 New Jersey gubernatorial election
← 1856 November 8, 1859 1862 →
 
Nominee Charles Smith Olden Edwin R. V. Wright
Party Opposition Democratic
Alliance Know-Nothing
Popular vote 53,315 51,714
Percentage 50.76% 49.24%
County Results
Olden:      50-60%      60–70%
Wright:      50–60%
Governor before election

William A. Newell
Opposition Party (Northern U.S.)

Elected Governor

Charles Smith Olden
Opposition Party (Northern U.S.)

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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

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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 Herring's name was also withdrawn.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.[2]

1859 Democratic Convention[2]
Ballot 1 2 3 4 5[a] 5[b]
Wright 193 203 240 290 248 388
Skelton 82 103 114 124 120 -
Herring 54 54 40 28 0 -
Wertz 86 88 76 28 90 -
Sykes 7 13 11 11 11 -
Potts 7 0 2 2 2 -
Sitgreaves 29 1 - - - -
Scattering 35 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.[3]

Opposition nomination

Candidates

Withdrew at convention

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.[4][5]

Charles Smith Olden, Joseph W. Allen, Joseph W. Porter, Andrew K. Hay, William K. McDonald,[d] 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.[4]

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.[4]

1859 Opposition Convention[5]
Ballot 1 2 3
Olden 183 241 296
Marsh 89 112 104
McDonald 79 91 92
Gregory 68 0 0
Hay 66 62 53
Porter 64 42 18
Rogers 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.[6]

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.[4]

General election

Candidates

Results

New Jersey gubernatorial election, 1859[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Opposition Charles Smith Olden 53,315 50.76%
Democratic Edwin R. V. Wright 51,714 49.24%
Majority
Turnout
Opposition hold Swing

Notes

  1. ^ Before shifts.
  2. ^ After shifts.
  3. ^ Spelled alternatively as "McDonnell."
  4. ^ Spelled alternatively as "McDonnell."

References

  1. ^ "New Jersey Democratic State Convention". New York Daily Tribune. August 24, 1859. p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c d e "THE DEMOCRACY IN NEW JERSEY". New York Daily Herald. August 25, 1859. p. 1.
  3. ^ "New Jersey Democratic State Convention". New York Times. August 26, 1859. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c d "NEW JERSEY: Opposition State Convention". New York Daily Tribune. September 8, 1859. p. 8.
  5. ^ a b "POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY:The Republican and American State Conventions". New York Herald. September 8, 1859. p. 1.
  6. ^ "The New York and New Jersey Republican Conventions". Republican Banner. September 14, 1859. p. 2.
  7. ^ Kalb, Deborah (December 24, 2015). Guide to U.S. Elections. ISBN 9781483380353. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
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