Massachusetts 1806 Senate President, Ballot 4

Office:
Senate President (State)
Title:
Senate President
Jurisdiction:
State
Label:
Massachusetts 1806 Senate President, Ballot 4
Date:
1806
State:
Massachusetts
Type:
Legislative
Iteration:
Fourth Ballot
Office/Role:
Senate President/Senate President
Candidates:
John Bacon, Harrison G. Otis, scattering
Candidates: John BaconHarrison G. Otisscattering
Affiliation:Federalist
Final Result: [1][2]19182
State Senate19182

Notes:

[1]"In the afternoon, the balloting was resumed; but with no better success. - In this dilemma, it was moved, that the Senior Senator should be appointed to preside as Chairman, until a President shall be appointed. A debate ensued. - this appointment was opposed by Messrs. Otis, Gore, Phillips, Brigham and Bliss, as unprecedented, unconstitutional, and tending to embarrass the proceedings of the Government. The motion was advocated by Messrs. Hill, Dana, Howe and Smith, on the ground that the Constitution was silent on the subject when the President should be chosen; that the two branches could meet together, fill the vacancies in the Senate and then elect their President. A motion to amend the motion, by making the Senior Senator the permanent President was opposed by the democratic side of the board, and negatived 20 to 19. The original motion, That the Senior Senator should preside as Chairman of the Board, was put by the Hon. Mr. Bacon (who acted as Senior Member;) when the Yeas were found to be 19 - The Nays 19 - He then declared the motion carried in the affirmative. - A question then arose who was the Senior Senator - there being two Senators (Messrs. Bacon and Hastings) who were elected the same year; A committee was raised, consisting of Messrs. Hill, Dana, and Otis to report on the subject; who reported in favor of Mr. Bacon, he took the Chair." Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). May 31, 1806.
[2]"The Senate resumed the business of the election of a President; but as in the forenoon, was ineffectual. A motion was finally made declaring, The eldest member should preside as President pro tem until a choice could be made. The votes were taken on this motion by yeas and nays and stool thus - Federal 19, Democratic 19. The Chairman (Hon. Mr. Bacon) who was the democratic candidate, after a few remarks declared his vote in favour of himself. On this decison, a variety of debate ensued on the constitutionality of this mode of procedure and on the question whether the Hon. Chairman was the senior member in that body. A committee was at length appointed to ascertain and report was the eldest member." Connecticut Herald (New Haven, CT). June 3, 1806.

References:

Columbian Centinel. Massachusetts Federalist (Boston, MA). May 31, 1806.
Hampshire Federalist (Springfield, MA). June 2, 1806.
Connecticut Herald (New Haven, CT). June 3, 1806.
The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). June 3, 1806.
New-England Palladium (Boston, MA). June 6, 1806.
Political Observatory (Walpole, NH). June 6, 1806.
Middlebury Mercury (Middlebury, VT). June 11, 1806.

Page Images

handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).
handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).
handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).

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