ASee quotation 1828.
1803. (Dec. 2). In several states, many great offices are filled, and even the chief magistracy, by various modes of election. The public will is sometimes expressed by pluralities instead of majorities.—Mr. Tracy in the U.S. Senate: Mass. Spy, Jan. 18, 1804.
1809. Hon. William Tudor, Secretary of State, Rechosen by a plurality of 95. Josiah Dwight, Esq., Treasurer, Re-elected by a plurality of 98.—Mass. Spy, June 14.
1828. In elections, a plurality of votes is when one candidate has more votes than any other, but less than half of the whole number of votes given. It is thus distinguished from a majority, which is more than half of the whole number.—Noah Webster, Dictionary.
1846. In 1840 [Pennsylvania] did cast her vote for the Whig candidate; not indeed by a majority, but by less than a majority. Her vote for General Harrison was a plurality vote only.—Mr. McClean of Pa., House of Repr., June 18: Cong. Globe, p. 992.
1860. The election of any one of our fellow-citizens to the office of President does not of itself afford just cause for dissolving the Union. This is more especially true if his election has been effected by a mere plurality, and not a majority of the people, and has resulted from transient and temporary causes, which may probably never again occur.—Fourth Annual Message of President James Buchanan, Dec. 3.
