1861 Vermont gubernatorial election

1861 Vermont gubernatorial election

September 3, 1861 (1861-09-03)

Nominee Frederick Holbrook Andrew Tracy Benjamin H. Smalley Party Republican National Union Peace Democrat Popular vote 33,152 5,722 3,190 Percentage 77.5% 13.4% 7.5%

County results Holbrook:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election Erastus Fairbanks Republican Elected Governor Frederick Holbrook Republican

The 1861 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 3.^[1] In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Erastus Fairbanks, who had also served as governor from 1852 to 1853, was not a candidate for a third one-year term.^[2][3] The Republican nominee was Frederick Holbrook, a former member of the Vermont Senate.^[2] With the Democratic Party split nationally over the response to the American Civil War, Andrew Tracy, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, was nominated by the Union Party, which drew support from War Democrats and conservative Republicans.^[4] Benjamin H. Smalley ran as a Peace Democrat, representing Democrats who favored a compromise with the states that had formed the Confederacy.^[5]

Vermont continued to oppose slavery and support the Union, which was reflected in its support of Republican candidates.^[2] Holbrook easily defeated both Democrats and won a one-year term that began on October 15.^[2][6] Illness confined Holbrook at home for most of October,^[7] and he delayed traveling to Montpelier to take his oath of office until October 22.^[8]

General election

Results

1861 Vermont gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Frederick Holbrook	33,152	77.5%
	National Union	Andrew Tracy	5,722	13.4%
	Peace Democrat	Benjamin H. Smalley	3,190	7.5%
		Scattering	732	1.6%
Total votes			'42,796'	'100'

References

1. "State Election". The Vermonter. Vergennes, VT. August 30, 1861. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 274 – via Google Books.
3. Hand, Samuel B. (2003). "Mountain Rule Revisited" (PDF). Vermont History. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Historical Society. pp. 140, 143.
4. "The Union People's Convention". The Daily Journal. Montpelier, VT. August 22, 1861. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Dell, Christopher (1975). Lincoln and the War Democrats: The Grand Erosion of Conservative Tradition. Teaneck, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-8386-1466-2 – via Google Books.
6. "Legislative Proceedings: The House, October 15". The Weekly Times. Burlington, VT. October 19, 1861. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Walton; E. P., eds. (October 18, 1861). "Who Will Be Governor?". Watchman & State Journal. Montpelier, VT. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Howard, S. Jr., ed. (October 25, 1861). "Gov. Holbrook Took the Oath of Office on Tuesday". Lamoille Newsdealer. Hyde Park, VT. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.