The 1874 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1874, to select the

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

and lieutenant governor of the state of

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

Daniel Henry Chamberlain Daniel Henry Chamberlain (June 23, 1835April 13, 1907) was an American planter, lawyer, author and the 76th Governor of South Carolina from 1874 until 1876 or 1877. The federal government withdrew troops from the state and ended Reconstruction ...

won the election and became the 76th governor of South Carolina. This was the last South Carolina gubernatorial election won by a Republican until 1974. Since the 1990s, the Republican Party has become more dominant in the state. As of 2023, all of the statewide officeholders are held by Republicans.

Campaign

At the convention of the state Republicans on September 8 through September 11 in Columbia, the delegates felt that reform was vital for the continuation of Republican power. Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr. was caught up in corruption scandals and never considered as a nominee for reelection to Governor. Instead,

was nominated for Governor and soundly won the nomination. Chamberlain had been the

Attorney General of South Carolina The Attorney General of South Carolina is the state's chief legal officer and prosecutor. History Alexander Moultrie, half-brother of Revolutionary War figure and future governor William Moultrie, was named the state's first Attorney General un ...

from 1868 to 1872 and pushed for reform of the state government. His association with

Radical Republicans The Radical Republicans (later also known as "Stalwarts") were a faction within the Republican Party, originating from the party's founding in 1854, some 6 years before the Civil War, until the Compromise of 1877, which effectively ended Recons ...

such as Senator John J. Patterson and former Governor

Robert Kingston Scott Robert Kingston Scott (July 8, 1826August 12, 1900) was an American Republican politician, the 74th governor of South Carolina, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In 1891 he built a Queen Anne Italianate Victorian ho ...

enabled him to keep the support of stalwart Republicans while preaching a reform message. It was this close association with Radical Republicans that again caused a split within the Republican party. The Independent Republicans met in Charleston on October 2 to select candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. John T. Green was chosen to be their nominee for Governor and

Martin Delany Martin Robison Delany (May 6, 1812January 24, 1885) was an abolitionist, journalist, physician, soldier, and writer, and arguably the first proponent of black nationalism. Delany is credited with the Pan-African slogan of "Africa for Africans." ...

, a black man, was their candidate for lieutenant governor. The Independent Republicans adopted the Republican platform and the only difference between the two parties was that the Independent Republicans claimed their intention to clean up state government if elected. The Conservative Party of South Carolina formed in 1874 from the members of the State Tax Union advocating for change. They endorsed the Independent Republican ticket for statewide offices and their platform consisted entirely of restoring honesty and efficiency in state government.

General election

The general election was held on November 3, 1874, and

was elected as governor of South Carolina. Turnout was the highest for a gubernatorial election thus held in South Carolina, although many white voters stayed away from the polls. , - , bgcolor="#ff00ff" , , Independent Republican , John T. Green , align="right" , 68,818 , align="right" , 46.1 , align="right" , +11.8 , - , - , , colspan=5 ,

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

hold , -

References

*"Election Returns." ''Reports and Resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina at the Regular Session, 1873-'74''. Columbia, South Carolina: Republican Printing Company, 1874, p. 85. * *

External links

SCIway Biography of Governor Daniel Henry Chamberlain
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 1874 1874 United States gubernatorial elections 1874

Gubernatorial A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

November 1874 events

Campaign

General election

See also

References

External links