1788 Class 1 Senate Election: Dalton vs Dane

When the United States ratified the Constitution in June of 1788, the Federalist party had essentially won. The Federalists wanted a strong central government where only the rich and powerful could decide the fate of the country. The three biggest names in the party were Alexander Hamilton, General George Washington and Massachusetts diplomat John Adams. While the House of Representatives would replace the Congress of the Confederacy, they would be considered the "lower" branch of the government. The upper branch would be the United States Senate. Finally, the executive branch would have a singular monarch (soon to be named President) with his own cabinet. The Senate would have two members from each State and would serve six years each term. There would be three "Classes" of Senators known as Class 1 (senior), Class 2 (junior) and in some cases Class 3. The reason for different classes is rather than have mass turnover every six years, they would rotate elections so it would be every two years for a Class 1, 2 or 3 election. Unlike the incoming President, there would be no term limits for Senate members. They could serve until they drop dead! 
                                                        Let's legislate!

Massachusetts was given two senator choices, one for Class 1 and one for Class 2. For the Class 1 election, who would be in the running? Newburyport Representative Tristram Dalton would be running against Ipswich Representative Nathan Dane, Boston Representative Charles Jarvis and Marblehead's Azor Orne who established a smallpox medical facility during the Revolutionary War.
                                                 Charles Jarvis' speech is in here

Azor Orne was a merchant mogul from Marblehead that tried to quell a smallpox outbreak in 1773 by attempting to build a hospital on what we now call Children's Island. Ironically, Elbridge Gerry helped Orne get Essex Hospital done but the townspeople revolted, burning the damn place down in 1774. Ungrateful infidels!
                                      "Fine! Die of smallpox! See if I care!!" - Azor Orne

Nathan Dane was a near deaf Representative from Ipswich who actually helped write the Northwest Ordinance in 1785 following the Revolutionary War. He also snuck in a ban of slavery at the last second and either nobody cared or noticed, so it passed. He himself didn't think it would pass but Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan would all be free states. Dane also had a hand in writing the Articles of Confederation at the Philadelphia Convention and wrote a letter encouraging the ratification of the US Constitution.
                  "I may be deaf but I'm not dumb, we need a Bill of Rights!" - Nathan Dane

Tristram Dalton graduated from Harvard University with none other than John Adams as his classmate. He became one of the wealthiest merchants in Newburyport after inheriting his late father's business in 1770. During the Revolutionary War he was on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress before being elected both to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and state senate.
                                                        "Vote for me!" - Tristram Dalton

Unlike the Gubernatorial elections, this one was wide open since none of these guys had the money or the power John Hancock had. You had three Representatives and one hospital builder. Who'd be the first Class 1 Senator in Massachusetts history? Let's find out.
                                                            4 Way Dance......fight!

On November 24, 1788 the votes were tallied. Orne, Dane and Jarvis combined for 46% of the vote for 67 total votes. Dalton by himself won the election with 54% of the vote and 78 votes. There was still the matter of the Class 2 election but in terms of the "senior" senator, it would be Tristram Dalton representing Massachusetts in New York City when Congress would convene again. The next Class 1 election would be two years later but it would be Tristram Dalton holding the fort for now.
      The winner....anddd.......NEWWWWW...CLASS 1 SENATOR OF MASSACHUSETTS...TRISTRAMMMM DALTON!!!!






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