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The1869 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1869, by theNew York State Legislature. Incumbent SenatorEdwin D. Morgan stood for a second term in office, but lost the support of the Republican legislative caucus in favor ofReuben Fenton.
RepublicanEdwin D. Morgan had been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869.
At theState election in November 1867, 17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1868–1869) in the State Senate. At theState election in November 1868, DemocratJohn T. Hoffman was elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The92nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 11, 1869, atAlbany, New York.
The caucus ofRepublican State legislators met on January 16, AssemblymanJohn H. Selkreg presided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-GovernorReuben E. Fenton for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. SenatorEdwin D. Morgan was very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. SpeakerTruman G. Younglove had held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.
| Candidate | First ballot | Second ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Reuben E. Fenton | (50) | 52 |
| Edwin D. Morgan | (42) | 40 |
| blank | (1) |
Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot.
The caucus of theDemocratic State legislators met on January 18. State SenatorHenry C. Murphy was again nominated, like in 1867.
In the Assembly, Republicans DeWitt C. Hoyt (Saratoga Co.) and James O. Schoonmaker (Ulster Co.); and Democrats James Irving (NYC), Lawrence D. Kiernan (NYC), Harris B. Howard (Rensselaer Co.), James B. Pearsall (Queens), John Tighe (Albany Co.) and Moses Y. Tilden (Columbia Co.); did not vote.
In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale (16th D.) and Charles Stanford (15th D.); and Democrats Cauldwell,Thomas J. Creamer, Michael Norton (5th D.) and John J. Bradley (7th D.); did not vote.
Reuben E. Fenton was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
| House | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Senate (32 members) | Reuben E. Fenton | 15 | Henry C. Murphy | 10 | Henry S. Randall | 1 |
| State Assembly (128 members) | Reuben E. Fenton | 73 | Henry C. Murphy | 46 | ||
Notes:
Fenton served one term, and remained in office until March 3, 1875.
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