1877 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
November 6, 1877 (1877-11-06)
 
Nominee Alexander H. Rice William Gaston Robert C. Pitman
Party Republican Democratic Prohibition
Popular vote 91,255 73,185 16,354
Percentage 49.47% 39.68% 8.87%
Governor before election

Alexander H. Rice
Republican

 Elected Governor

Alexander H. Rice
Republican

The 1877 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 6. Incumbent Republican Governor Alexander H. Rice was re-elected to a third term in office over former Governor William Gaston.

Republican nomination

Candidates

Campaign

Some opposition was rallied against Governor Rice by legislators and members of the so-called "Hoosac Tunnel ring," over his opposition to restrictions on liquor. Opponents suggested former acting Governor Thomas Talbot, Speaker of the Massachusetts House John Davis Long, and former Speaker John E. Sanford. Nevertheless, Rice retained the support of Boston business interests.[1]

Rice's nomination was seen as practically assured, but some effort was made by supporters of Long, Talbot, and Henry L. Pierce to have a formal count taken of the votes. Long's was seen as the strongest group if Rice should falter.[2] Some opposition was also voiced to renominating Rice's ticket, particularly Lieutenant Governor Horatio G. Knight and Attorney General Charles R. Train.[2]

Convention

The convention reassembled after dinner with Senate President John B. D. Cogswell presiding. The results of the informal ballot were announced as follows:[3]

1877 Massachusetts Republican Convention[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alexander H. Rice (incumbent) 478 53.05%
Republican John Davis Long 217 24.08%
Republican Thomas Talbot 181 20.09%
Republican Paul A. Chadbourne 17 1.89%
Republican John E. Sanford 4 0.44%
Republican Henry L. Pierce 3 0.33%
Republican Charles Devens 1 0.11%
Total votes 901 100.00%

Alanson W. Beard moved to take a formal ballot to declare Rice the nominee, and the motion carried. Stillman B. Allen declared that it was Long's previously stated wish that, under such circumstances, his name be withdrawn. The entire ticket was then formally renominated by acclamation.[3]

Democration nomination

Candidates

Declined

Convention

Charles Theodore Russell was named president of the convention, and he gave a speech denouncing the 1876 presidential election as the result of election fraud and Rutherford B. Hayes as the illegitimate occupant of the White House. Russell also denounced Reconstruction policy in the South, but commended the administration for undertaking civil service reform. He concluded by reaffirming the party's commitment to the principles of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson and discussing state affairs.[4]

After a brief three-minute recess, Francis W. Bird rose to withdraw Charles F. Adams from consideration for a second consecutive nomination.[4]

Patrick Collins of Boston nominated former Governor William Gaston as "the only man... capable of leading the Democrats in the next election." Mr. Drew of Cambridge then rose to nominate Charles Perkins Thompson, a former U.S. Representative who had traveled to Florida to investigate allegations of Republican election fraud there.[4]

John K. Tarbox then seconded the Gaston nomination. Reuben Noble seconded the Thompson nomination and delivered a speech arguing that Gaston, during his time as Governor, was unable to overcome the domination of Benjamin Butler.[4] Boston Alderman John E. Fitzgerald gave his public endorsement to Thompson as a man without enemies in the party, unlike Gaston or Adams.[4] Thomas Riley countered that Thompson was not a candidate of his own accord, but was being offered by enemies of Gaston to weaken him.[4]

On the first ballot, Gatson won an overwhelming majority:

1877 Massachusetts Democratic Convention[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Gaston 1,190 82.52%
Democratic Charles Perkins Thompson 236 16.37%
Democratic Scattering 16 1.11%
Total votes 1,442 100.00%

A motion was made to declare Gaston the unanimous nominee, but it failed.[4]

General election

Candidates

Results

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1877[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Alexander H. Rice (incumbent) 91,255 49.47% Decrease 4.12
Democratic William Gaston 73,185 39.68% Decrease 1.91
Prohibition Robert C. Pitman 16,354 8.87% Increase 4.09
Greenback Wendell Phillips 3,552 1.93% N/A
Write-in 108 0.06% Increase 0.01
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Boston Correspondence: Governor Rice and Governor Talbot". Hartford Daily Courant. September 8, 1877. p. 1.
  2. 1 2 "TODAY'S CONVENTION: Mr. Rice's Renomination Almost Assured". Boston Daily Globe. September 19, 1877. p. 1.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Business Perfected". Boston Daily Globe. September 20, 1877. p. 2.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRACY: Wm. Gaston for Governor". New York Tribune. September 14, 1877. p. 8.
  5. ↑ "1877 Massachusetts governor results".
  6. ↑ Manual for the General Court, 1878. Boston, MA: Rand, Avery, & Co., Printers to the Commonwealth. 1878.
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