Election
1854 Vermont gubernatorial election
County resultsRoyce: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
The 1854 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont took place on September 5.[ 1] The Whig nominee was Stephen Royce , former Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court .[ 2] The Democratic nominee was Merritt Clark ,[ 3] and Lawrence Brainerd ran as the nominee of the Free Soil Party [ 4] even as he was one of the organizers of the new anti-slavery Republican Party [ 5] and appeared as a Whig candidate for the Vermont Senate on the ballot in Franklin County .[ 6] Whig William C. Kittredge was nominated for governor against his wishes by advocates of the Temperance movement [ 7] and Democrat Horatio Needham also attracted the support of some Free Soil advocates.[ 4]
With the Whig Party splintering nationally over the slavery issue, the Republican Party was formed as the main abolitionist party, and Royce was endorsed by the new organization.[ 8] In the September voting, Free Soil advocates, Republicans, and anti-slavery Whigs largely backed Royce, who was easily elected with 62.6 percent to 33.9 for Clark and 1.4 for Brainerd.[ 9] Kittredge, Needham, William R. Shafter, and other write-in candidates all received less than one percent each.[ 9] Royce took the oath of office and began a one-year term on October 12.[ 10]
^ Walton, Eliakim Persons , ed. (September 1, 1854). "Election September 5" . Vermont Watchman & State Journal . Montpelier, VT. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Whig State Ticket: For Governor, Stephen Royce of Berkshire" . The Brattleboro Eagle . Brattleboro, VT. September 1, 1854. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Nominations of the Democratic State Convention" . The Burlington Weekly Sentinel . Burlington, VT. June 22, 1854. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Armstrong, Howard E. (1955). Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual . Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. p. 273 – via Google Books .
^ Walton, E. P. Jr. , ed. (August 11, 1854). "State Ticket --- All Right!" . Vermont Watchman & State Journal . Montpelier, VT. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Franklin County Convention" . St. Albans Messenger . St. Albans, VT. July 20, 1854. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "A Rebuke" . Vermont Journal . Windsor, VT. September 8, 1854. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Thompson, Daniel P. , ed. (August 17, 1854). "Republican State Ticket: For Governor, Stephen Royce" . The Freeman . Montpelier, VT. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b Vermont House of Representatives (1855). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Vermont . Montpelier, VT: E. P. Walton, Jr. p. 484 – via Google Books .
^ "Editorial Correspondence No. 1" . The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. October 14, 1854. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .