Governor of Massachusetts
In the election of 1800 Strong was nominated by the Federalists as their candidate for governor; his principal opponent was Elbridge Gerry, nominated by the Democratic-Republicans. Strong was criticized by his opponents for his lack of military service and the fact that he was a lawyer; he countered with his association with the patriotic Hawley. His popularity in the western part of the state was decisive: the wide margin by which he won there overcame the smaller advantage by which Gerry carried the east. Acting Governor Moses Gill died ten days before Strong took office at the end of May.
Strong's time in office was marked by virulent political debate in the state, principally over foreign policy related to British interference with maritime trade (a consequence of the ongoing Napoleonic Wars engulfing Europe). Over the years of Strong's tenure the Republicans slowly gained in power.
By the 1806 election they finally secured a majority then Massachusetts assembly, and the gubernatorial election was notably close. Running mainly against James Sullivan, Strong barely received a majority of the votes cast. With fewer than 200 votes in the balance, the Republican-controlled legislature scrutinized the returns in a partisan manner, eventually finding that Strong in fact lacked a majority of votes, which was what was then required to carry the election (as opposed to a plurality). Strong's Federalist allies in the legislature, were able to publicize the partisan nature of the analysis, and he was proclaimed the winner after further analysis, made in the face of public opinion that was hostile to the process, corrected the count in his favor. In the 1807 election the rising tide of Republicanism finally swept Strong (along with other New England Republicans) out of office.
Read more about this topic: Caleb Strong
Famous quotes related to governor of massachusetts:
“Three years ago, also, when the Sims tragedy was acted, I said to myself, There is such an officer, if not such a man, as the Governor of Massachusetts,—what has he been about the last fortnight? Has he had as much as he could do to keep on the fence during this moral earthquake?... He could at least have resigned himself into fame.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)