1858 New York gubernatorial election


The 1858 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1858. Incumbent Governor John A. King did not run for re-election to a second term in office. In the race to succeed him, Edwin D. Morgan defeated Amasa J. Parker and Lorenzo Burrows.

Radical Abolitionist and Temperance nominations

A mass convention to nominate Gerrit Smith for Governor met on August 4 at Syracuse, New York. It was the first nominating convention of the campaign season, bringing together members of the anti-slavery and temperance movement in the state. Frederick Douglass, William Goodell and Max Langenschwartz of Germany were featured speakers, and the convention was open to women.
The convention adopted a platform denouncing slavery as "a crime against God and man of such matchless magnitude that no forms of law can change its infernal character." Despite the stated purpose of the event, Republicans attempted to interrupt the proceedings to oppose Smith's nomination, and Frederick Douglass spoke at length against the nomination of Smith without a vote or debate, but Smith was ultimately nominated without explicit opposition.

Republican nomination

Candidates

Declined to be drafted

Results

The Republican and American Party state conventions both met on September 8 at Syracuse, New York. At the Republican convention, there was some debate about the nomination of a joint ticket with the American Party. A motion to nominate candidates for governor was voted down by 166 to 67, and the convention adjourned. The American convention, after much debate, adjourned too.
The Republican convention re-assembled on September 9, and balloting was taken for governor. Edwin D. Morgan led on the first balllot by a large margin, receiving the first vote ever cast by Thurlow Weed at a state convention. Before the second ballot could be taken, a delegation from the American convention arrived. morgan received a large majority on the second ballot, and the Americans returned to their convention with a delegation of Republicans, who offered to nominate Americans for Canal Commissioner and Prison Inspector, forming a joint ticket. However, the Americans decided against their proposal, nominating Lorenzo Burrows by acclamation.

General election

Candidates