1850 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
The 1850 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 12.
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Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs ran for an eighth term in office, but was defeated by the Democratic-Free Soil coalition, which successfully maneuvered to deny him a popular majority and gain control of the legislature. The coalition elected George S. Boutwell, a Democratic businessman.
Background
During his failed campaign for Governor in 1849, Democrat George S. Boutwell became acquainted with Free Soil Party leaders Charles Sumner and Henry Wilson.[1]
In 1850, the United States Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act and Compromise of 1850, increasing anti-slavery agitation in Massachusetts. Democrats and Free Soilers formed a coalition in an attempt to unseat the Whig majority in the Massachusetts General Court, an alliance of the state's wealthy merchants and textile manufacturers, both groups dependent on Southern cotton and in turn, slave labor.[2]
As part of this agreement, Free Soilers agreed to support Boutwell for Governor and fellow Democrat Nathaniel Prentice Banks for Speaker of the Massachusetts House, while Sumner would be elected U.S. Senator and Wilson would become President of the Massachusetts Senate.[3]
General election
Candidates
- George S. Boutwell, Groton businessman and nominee for Governor in 1849 (Democratic)
- Francis Cogswell (Independent)
- George N. Briggs, incumbent Governor since 1844 (Whig)
- Stephen C. Phillips, former Whig U.S. Representative and Mayor of Salem (Free Soil)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whig | George N. Briggs (incumbent) | 56,778 | 46.78% |  2.45 | |
| Democratic | George S. Boutwell | 36,023 | 29.68% |  2.24 | |
| Free Soil | Stephen C. Phillips | 27,636 | 22.77% | 0.29 | |
| Independent | Francis Cogswell | 689 | 0.57% | N/A | |
| Write-in | 239 | 0.20% | 0.02 | ||
| Total votes | 121,365 | 100.00% | |||
Legislative vote
The Massachusetts House of Representatives certified the popular returns on January 12. The House voted to nominate Boutwell and Phillips for consideration by the Senate. On the first House ballot, Boutwell defeated Briggs 218–171. On the second, Phillips defeated Briggs 216–170. In the Massachusetts State Senate, Boutwell was elected unanimously with 32 votes with three blanks.[5]
Aftermath
Wilson and Banks were also elevated to Speaker and Senate President, but Sumner's election to the U.S. Senate was far more contentious due to opposition by conservative Democrats, who joined with the Whig minority.[6] The election took several months to reach a conclusion, with Sumner prevailing by only one vote in the House. Sumner blamed Boutwell's failure to intercede for his difficulty and would continue to blame Boutwell for the coalition's eventual collapse.[7]
See also
References
- Brown, Thomas H (1989). George Sewall Boutwell, Human Rights Advocate. Groton, MA: Groton Historical Society. pp. 27–28. ISBN 9780866100687. OCLC 21376428.
- Hart, Albert Bushnell (1927). Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. IV. New York: The States History Company. pp. 473–76. OCLC 1543273.
- Hart, Albert Bushnell (1927). Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. IV. New York: The States History Company. pp. 476–78. OCLC 1543273.
- "MA Governor, 1850". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- The Massachusetts Register for the Year 1851. 1852. p. 34.
- Hart, Albert Bushnell (1927). Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. IV. New York: The States History Company. pp. 476–78. OCLC 1543273.
- Brown, Thomas H (1989). George Sewall Boutwell, Human Rights Advocate. Groton, MA: Groton Historical Society. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9780866100687. OCLC 21376428.