Hail, Columbia! (The Election of 1832, Round 2)

[Cranberry]

The hung outcome of the first ballot in the Electoral College in 1832 triggered a second round between the top two finishers : Former Governor Jeremiah Smith of New Hampshire, of the Liberal Party - traditionally only the "third" force between Whigs and Continentals - and Secretary of State Henry Clay of Kentucky, the Continental candidate. The Whigs are not represented in this second ballot, and are expected to be the decisive votes.

3 days

[Goldwater]

Smith.

[Mr. Smith]

Smith.

[Supersonic]

Henry Clay.

[Zioneer]

Looks like the Clay fans are out in force today.

[Intell]

Smith!

[TDAS04]

Smith!

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

still  Smith

[Cranberry]

Simultaneously with the first round of the Presidential election, November 1832 also saw Congressional elections for all 182 members of the House of Commons and half of the Senate. While the lower house is elected popularly, the Senate is elected popularly in a majority of provinces in the North and in the frontier areas, but elected by the legislature in a minority (VA, NC, SC, GA, EF, WF, LA, TX, NL, MX, YU). 

Congress in 1832: (17th Congress)

House of Commons: (182 members)
Continental Party - 75 (-15)
Whig Party - 68 (-7)
Liberal Party - 39 (+22)

Senate: (31 members)
Whig Party - 14 (-2)
Continental Party - 12 (-1)
Liberal Party - 5 (+3)

MC John Taylor, a Continental representing the constituency of Albany (NY), was re-elected Speaker of the Commons on the votes of the Continental members and most Liberals. The Vice President as President of the Senate would be elected by both chambers of Congress only after the Presidential Election concluded.

[Cranberry]

A day to go there

It's everyone's game, I suppose

[Cranberry]

The Election of 1832 - Round 2

In the end it was a tight contest, but the winner of the popular vote and the first round was not able to repeat his sucess in the second - Secretary of State Henry Clay was chosen over Jeremiah Smith in the second round of the Electoral Councils vote. The Whig provinces delegations were what determined the outcome - while the frontier province Whigs (as well as, surprisingly, Georgia's delegation) chose Smith, most of the Southeast broke for Clay, giving him a narrow victory. While Smith and his Liberals ran short this time, they nevertheless managed to establish themselves as a potent third force next to Whigs and Continentals, with an unexpected appeal in the frontier areas. Senator John Calhoun of South Carolina was elected Vice President, possibly as a token of gratitude for Whig support of Clay.

Secretary of State Henry Clay of Kentucky [Continental] - 42 Electors
Former Governor Jeremiah Smith of New Hampshire [Liberal] - 39 Electors