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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD
William Henry Seward, 14th governor (1839-42) ; born at Florida, Orange county, N. Y., May 16, 1801; lawyer; member state senate, 1831-1834; unsuccessful as whig candidate for gov- ernor, 1834; elected 1838, served 1839-42; elected to United States senate in 1849 and served until March 3, 1861; secre- tary of state in President Lincoln's and President Johnson's cabinet (March 5, 1861, to March 3, 1869) ; largely instrumental in securing redress from Great Britain for damages wrought American shipping on the high seas by the Alabama and in concluding with Russia the arrangements for the purchase of Alaska; died at Auburn, N. Y., October 10, 1872.
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HISTORY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL
EDITED BY RAY B. SMITH
EXCELSIOR
VOLUME II 1822 - 1864 BY
WILLIS FLETCHER JOHNSON
THE SYRACUSE PRESS, INC. SYRACUSE. N. Y. 1922
COPYRIGHTED THE SYRACUSE PRESS, INC. 1922
1485709
CONTENTS OF VOLUME II
CHAPTER I, 1822
THE ALBANY REGENCY
End of rule by the great families
15
Growth in population.
16
Beginnings of the Regency.
17
Samuel A. Talcott
18
Benjamin F. Butler; William L. Marcy.
19
High character of the Regency.
20
Its first achievement.
22
Democratic supremacy
22
CHAPTER II, 1823-1824
GOVERNOR YATES'S ADMINISTRATION
The Forty-sixth Legislature.
24
Recommendations by the Governor ....
25
Contention over judicial nominations
27
Ambrose Spencer's disgruntlement and revenge
29
The State Printers
31
Edwin Croswell.
32
National politics in 1823
33
The question of choosing Presidential Electors
35
The Forty-seventh Legislature
37
Battle royal over the Electors
39
Crawford, Jackson, Adams.
41
Yates incurs unpopluarity
42
The Regency turns to Samuel Young.
43
DeWitt Clinton favors Jackson for President.
44
The scheme to remove Clinton from the canal board.
45
Henry Cunningham's eloquent speech.
46
The scheme put through.
47
CHAPTER III, 1824-1825
THE RETURN OF CLINTON
Popular wrath
48
Alfred Conkling's resolutions.
49
Governor Yates reconvenes the Legislature
51
Contest over the Electors resumed
52
Enter the People's party.
53
Clinton nominated for Governor
54
His triumphant election.
56
The great Presidential struggle.
57
The Legislature chooses the Electors.
59
Thurlow Weed manipulates for Adams
60
The divided result. 62
Stephen Van Rensselaer gives the casting vote at Washington. 63
The popular will as to the Electors finally prevails. 65
CHAPTER IV, 1825-1826
CLINTON THE CONQUEROR
Clinton's third term; the Forty-eighth Legislature. 67
Message of 1825.
68
The great Suffrage amendment of 1826 69
A bitter Senatorial fight.
71
Clinton declines a flattering offer.
72
Opening of the Erie canal
74
Van Buren consults expediency.
75
The Forty-ninth Legislature ..
76
Nathan Sanford wins the Senatorship.
77
Jasper Ward demands an inquiry; is accommodated
79
The State highway project.
79
Clinton renominated
80
The regulars put up Judge Rochester.
81
Clinton again wins.
82
CHAPTER V, 1826-1828
WILLIAM MORGAN, "AFTER ELECTION"
Morgan sets out to expose the Masons
83
The abduction.
84
Sensational developments.
85
"A good enough Morgan"
86
The Fiftieth Legislature.
87
The Governor offers a reward; Van Buren reelected
88
The Anti-Masonic movement.
89
Its spread nationally.
91
Subsidence and end.
92
Henry Clay and his System.
93
Tammany endorses Jackson
94,95
The Fifty-first Legislature.
95
Death of DeWitt Clinton.
96
Nathaniel Pitcher, Acting-Governor
97
Reuben H. Walworth, Chancellor
99
CHAPTER VI, 1828-1829
VAN BUREN AND THROOP
The master politician looks ahead 101
The National Republicans; Francis Granger 102
Honest John Crary declines to decline. 103
Van Buren at the zenith of his career. 104
An intimate view. 105
Enos T. Throop. 106
+
Van Buren and Throop nominated 108 They are elected. 109
The Fifty-second Legislature 110
Governor Van Buren's humility 111 A board of Bank Commissioners 112
Van Buren becomes Jackson's Secretary of State. 113
Acting-Governor Throop 115
Death of John Jay. 116
CHAPTER VII, 1830-1831 THE RISE OF NEW FORCES
The Fifty-third Legislature. 117
Throop advocates prison reform. 118
Weed founds the Albany Evening Journal.
119
A remarkable reencounter. 120
Francis Granger runs for Governor. 121
Throop renominated; Erastus Root's circumspection. 122
Throop elected; the Fifty-fourth Legislature 123
Imprisonment for debt abolished. 125
Marcy elected Senator. 125
President Jackson and the United States Bank
126
CHAPTER VIII, 1831-1832
A DIPLOMATIC INTERLUDE
Van Buren takes another look ahead
128
The virtue of Mrs. Eaton. 130
Jackson's immortal toast. 132
Van Buren the recognized successor 133
Resigns from the cabinet; Minister to England
134
His recall
136
Nominated for Vice-President in 1832. 137
CHAPTER IX, 1832-1833
MARCY BECOMES GOVERNOR
The Fifty-fifth Legislature 138
Railroads; The United States Bank 139
Boards of Health instituted. 140
State nominations of 1832 141-143
143
The issue of Marcy's trousers
144
Marcy elected Governor ..
145
The Fifty-sixth Legislature .. '146
The Nullificationists denounced. 147
Silas Wright succeeds Marcy in the Senate. 148
Albert H. Tracy returns to the fold. 149
Party issues. 150
Butler made Attorney-General of the United States 151
Things are explained to the Chenango people ..
CHAPTER X, 1834 THE RISE OF THE WHIGS Business depression 152
The Fifty-seventh Legislature. 153
Schools and farms
155
A close New York City election 158
The Whig party comes on the scene.
159
William H. Seward
161
His first nomination for Governor. 162
Marcy reëlected 163
CHAPTER XI
STATE CARE FOR AGRICULTURE
Governor Marcy's recommendations of 1834. 164
The State Agricultural Society's early program. 165
Genesis of the State Fair. 166
The first Fair 167
The second and third Fairs. 168, 169
Daniel Webster addresses the farmers 170
Progress of the Fair. 172
The Elmira contract. 173
Permanent home at Syracuse.
173
State control. 175
CHAPTER XII, 1835-1836
VAN BUREN . AND SLAVERY
The Fifty-eighth Legislature. 177
179
Governor Marcy on prison labor
180
Van Buren nominated for President 182
183
Southern favor sought by Van Buren
185
The Loco Focos.
186
The Fifty-ninth Legislature.
188
Speculation rampant.
189
Marcy on the Abolitionists
190
Applications from the south.
191
Corrupt legislators.
192
CHAPTER XIII, 1836-1837 THE REVOLUTION OF 1837
Democratic anxiety 194
Whig confusion.
195
Governor Marcy renominated, 1836.
197
Jesse Buel leads a forlorn hope.
198
The railroads seek a loan
Anti-slavery activities.
Van Buren and Marcy win.
199, 200
The Sixtieth Legislature. 201 Financial ills. 203
The panic. 205
Prohibition of small banknotes. 206
The Whigs carry New York City
207
Van Buren's attitude. 208
Election of 1837-sweeping Whig victory.
209
CHAPTER XIV, 1838-1839
"SEWARD, WEED AND GREELEY"
The Sixty-first Legislature
211
The "Caroline" affair.
213
Canal enlargements
214
Marcy's fourth nomination for Governor.
215
Seward nominated by the Whigs
218
Greeley attracts Weed.
219
The Jeffersonian
220
Gerrit Smith's obduracy
221
Pessimism of Granger and Fillmore
222
Seward elected
223
Weed and the charge of dictatorship.
225
The new Governor's progressive policies
227
Nathaniel P. Talmadge reelected Senator.
229
The Anti-Rent war.
230
Seward refuses to surrender fugitive slaves
231
President Van Buren comes to mend his fences 232
Democratic hopes revive. 233
The Whigs retain the advantage in New York. 233
The Whig national convention nominates Harrison. 234
CHAPTER XV, 1840
"TIPPECANOE AND TYLER TOO'
Van Buren and the Sub-Treasury. 236
The strange error of the godlike Daniel 237
The Democrats renominate Van Buren 238
The Abolitionists start a party. 239
Greeley's Log Cabin. 240
Governor Seward suffers criticism 241, 242
Harrison and Seward successful.
243
The Sixty-third Legislature. 243
Railroads and canals. 244
The Anti-Rent troubles continue 245
To the Whigs belong the spoils
246
Statistical
247-249
CHAPTER XVI, 1841-1842 WHIG DISASTER
The Sixty-fourth Legislature. 251
Glentworth the pipe-layer. 252
Seward and the education of immigrants' children .. 253
254
The schools; capital punishment.
255
McLeod's prevarication 256-257
President Harrison dies; Tyler's recreancy. 257
The Sixty-fifth Legislature. 258
259
Seward the inflexible.
260
The Legislature and Governor at odds 260-263
John C. Spencer appointed Secretary of War. 263
Governor Seward's valedictory 266
State nominations in 1842. 266
Democrats win a complete victory; Bouck elected Governor 267
CHAPTER XVII
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
A system of secret service for fugitive slaves. 268
New York's importance in the system. 269
The first Fugitive Slave law, 1793. 270
The drastic law of 1850 271
Syracuse organizes a vigilance committee.
272
The necessity for secrecy
273
Routes
274
The grapevine telegraph.
276
Gerrit Smith
278
John Brown.
280
The Anthony Burns case in Boston
282 283
"The satanic Daniel Webster"
286
Thurlow Weed's assistance ..
286
John Jay the second. 287
A thrilling rescue in New York City
288
CHAPTER XVIII, 1843-1844 GOVERNOR BOUCK
The first farmer Governor. 291
The Sixty-sixth Legislature. 292
State and Federal relations 293
Bouck favors delivery of fugitive slaves. 293
Croswell ousts Weed as State Printer. 294, 295
Wright reelected to the Senate 295
Validity of the State bonds. 296
Frederick Douglass
277
The Jerry rescue in Syracuse.
Demands from Virginia.
Further southern communications.
Factional troubles do not prevent Democratic success. 297 The New York Tribune. 298
Governor Bouck not big enough. 299
The Sixty-seventh Legislature .. 300
The enemies of the canals put up a fight.
302
Horatio Seymour to the rescue. 302
Normal schools 304.
Van Buren loses the Presidential nomination 306-307
Wright refuses to run for Vice-President. 307-308
He is nominated by the Democrats for Governor. 308-309
Millard Fillmore nominated by the Whigs. 309
Democratic victory in State and Nation 310
CHAPTER XIX, 1845-1846 SILAS WRIGHT
The Sixty-eighth Legislature. 312
Horatio Seymour, Speaker. 313
The people vote for a Constitutional convention 315
Croswell as philosopher and guide to President Polk. 315-316
Marcy apopinted Secretary of War. 317
John Young seeks and finds his opportunity. 317-319
Troubles thicken for the Democrats. 321
Governor Wright invites a referendum
323
The Democrats still hold the Legislature.
324
The Sixty-ninth Legislature
325
The office of State Printer abolished
328
State nominations of 1846
329-331
John Young elected Governor
332
The end of Wright's career. 332
CHAPTER XX, 1846 THE THIRD. CONSTITUTION
The Democrats organize the convention. 334
Conspicuous members-and absentees. 334-335
Veto power, Senators, Assemblymen.
336
Judges made elective; other judicial changes.
337
Negroes, banks, State debt, canals
337
Ratification of the Constitution.
338
County organization up to 1846.
338-339
Population and its distribution.
340
CHAPTER XXI
THE WOMAN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT
A long struggle 341
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton 342
The Seneca Falls convention, 1848. 343
Judge Cady upbraids his daughter 344
The Syracuse convention, 1852 345
Mrs. Smith's too fine clothes 345
Miss Anthony's great campaign of 1854-55 346
Rights for negroes-why not for women? 347 Bitter disappointment 348
Miss Anthony votes.
349
Justice Hunt's fine
349
CHAPTER XXII, 1847-1848 THE FREE SOIL REVOLT
The Seventieth Legislature. ..... 351
Governor Young on the new Constitution.
352
Reconstruction of the judiciary. 353
Canal work. 354
New York and the Wilmot Proviso. 355
Hunkers and Barnburners 356
James S. Wadsworth leads a Democratic bolt. 357
John Van Buren. 358
Whig success in 1847 359
The Seventy-first Legislature 360
The Baltimore Democratic convention of 1848
362
Barnburners at Utica and Buffalo.
362-363
For Free Soil and-Martin Van Buren.
363
Taylor and Fillmore.
364
Governor Young turned down by his party.
364
State nominations of 1848
365
Whigs elect.the President and sweep the State.
365
CHAPTER XXIII, 1849-1850 THE DECLINE OF THE WHIGS
Hamilton Fish, Governor. 367
His high principles and spirit
368
The Seventy-second Legislature 371
Seward elected Senator. 372-373
Patronage squabbles 373-374
The Democrats reunite. 374
The great Compromise fight of 1850. 375
Seward's reminder of a "higher law" 376
Fillmore becomes President 376
The bolt of the Silver Grays 378
Seymour leads the Democrats. 378
Whigs win; Washington Hunt elected Governor. 379
Acquisition of Washington's headquarters at Newburgh. 380
CHAPTER XXIV, 1851-1852
THE FALL OF THE WHIGS
Governor Hunt's temperate mind.
381
The Seventy-fourth Legislature.
382
The ambition of James Watson Webb 383 A sartorial subject. 384
Henry J. Raymond : the New York Times 384 Fish chosen Senator. 385
Factions now rend the Whigs 386
Senator Fish denounces Fillmore. 387
The Seventy-fifth Legislature. 387
President Fillmore defeated for renomination. 389
Marcy distanced by a dark horse ..... 390
Pierce elected President, Seymour, Governor. 392
CHAPTER XXV, 1853-1854
THE WAR OF HARDS AND SOFTS
The Seventy-sixth Legislature. 394
Canal affairs.
395
Marcy heads Pierce's cabinet.
396
More trouble in the Democratic party
397
The division into Hards and Softs.
398
Charles O'Conor. 399
Election of 1853; Whigs win because of Democratic split. 399-400
The Seventy-seventh Legislature. 400
An aggressive temperance move; Seymour calls a halt. 401
Kansas-Nebraska 402
State conventions of 1854 403-406
Myron H. Clark, Whig, elected Governor 406
The coming of a new era .. 407
CHAPTER XXVI, 1855-1856
THE REPUBLICAN ADVENT
Seward's Presidential expectations 408
The Seventy-eighth Legislature 409
Know-Nothings against Seward. 410
He is reëlected Senator. 411
State conventions of 1855. 411-413
The Know-Nothings elect their ticket 413
The Seventy-ninth Legislature. 414
National and State conventions of 1856 415-418
The Republican party carries the State 419
CHAPTER XXVII, 1857-1858 THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
The Eightieth Legislature. 420
Governor John A. King's vigorous message. 421
Preston King goes to the Senate. 423
Election of 1857; the Eighty-first Legislature.
424
State conventions and nominations of 1858
426-428
Seward's Irrepressible Conflict speech. 429
Republicans elect Edwin D. Morgan Governor 431
1
CHAPTER XXVIII, 1859-1860 THE EVE OF WAR
The Eighty-second Legislature. 432
Republican State convention of 1859 433
Democratic conventions ; Fernando Wood. 434
Mixed result at the polls 435
The Eighty-third Legislature. 436
Abraham Lincoln at Cooper Union. 437
Seward speaks in the Senate 438
Dean Richmond controls for New York at Charleston 439
The Baltimore convention of the Democrats.
440
The Republicans at Chicago.
442
Seward's defeat. 443
State conventions of 1860 444-445
Lincoln elected President; Morgan reelected Governor 446
CHAPTER XXIX, 1861 THE WAR GOVERNOR
The Eighty-fourth Legislature. 447
Fernando Wood's traitorous scheme. 448
Efforts for peace 449
"Shoot him on the spot"-Secretary Dix. 450
The Tweedle Hall Convention 451
Weed wreaks revenge on Greeley. 453
The Barney appointment. 454
Governor Morgan's energy. 455
The Tribune's excess of zeal. 456
State conventions of 1861 457-458
Democrats again beaten at the polls. 458
CHAPTER XXX, 1862-1864.
REACTION AND REVERSAL
The Eighty-fifth Legislature. 460
Democrats nominate Seymour for Governor, 1862 462
Republicans nominate James S. Wadsworth 463
Seymour the winner ... 464
The Eighty-sixth Legislature 465
Chauncey M. Depew foregoes the Speakership
465-466
Morgan chosen Senator.
467
Thurlow Weed retires. 467
The draft riots. 469
State conventions of 1863; Republican victory. 469-470
The Eighty-seventh Legislature. 471
National and State conventions of 1864. 472-474
Lincoln reelected President; Fenton becomes Governor. 475
INDEX to Volumes I and II. 477
(See end of Table of Contents, Vol. I)
ILLUSTRATIONS
with BIOGRAPHIES
Susan B. Anthony
352
Samuel Beardsley
192
William C. Bouck
272
John Brown 288
Greene C. Bronson
128
William Cullen Bryant
144
Benjamin F. Butler
160
Carrie Chapman Catt.
352
Myron Holly Clark
416
George Franklin Comstock.
416
Hiram Denio
400
Hamilton Fish
368
Addison Gardiner
320
Ira Harris
464
Philip Hone
80
Washington Hunt
384
Freeborn G. Jewett.
336
John Alsop King
432
Preston King
304
William L. Marcy
208
Harriet May Mills
352
Edwin D. Morgan
448
Henry Cruse Murphy.
272
Thomas J. Oakley
48
Nathaniel Pitcher (biography, no portrait).
96
Henry J. Raymond.
464
Dean Richmond
256
John Savage
64
William Henry Seward
Frontispiece
Anna Howard Shaw
352
Gerrit Smith
288
John Canfield Spencer
240
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
352
Enos Thompson Throop
112
John Van Buren.
304
James S. Wadsworth
176
Thurlow Weed
224
Fernando Wood.
448
Silas Wright
320
Joseph C. Yates
32
John Young
336
Samuel Lee Selden.
432
FOREWORD
The history of New York is peculiarly interwoven with the careers of our national parties and their many extraordinary leaders. It is not merely from the records of personal and party rivalries, however, that it derives its singular importance and interest. The Empire State has maintained an almost continuous leadership among the states and at all times has been a most powerful, when not an actually controlling, factor in shaping the policies of the Nation. With rare exceptions the general political sentiment of the country has been identical with the prevailing senti- ment of New York. From the time of Hamilton and the Clintons to the present the balance between the great parties has been remarkably even and the party in power has been forced, if it would succeed, to so act as to acquit itself well with the people. This even balance and the inexorable necessities of party com- petition has been of inestimable benefit to New York and through her a commanding influence for good government in the entire Nation.
The close of the Civil War marks the dividing line between two distinct and well defined epochs in national history. The issue of slavery and its elim- ination resulted necessarily in a complete social, political and economic readjustment. Old party ties were swept away, new affiliations and alliances were formed, all working, however, for the reconstruction on a safe and sound basis of the Union, saved at the
priceless cost of the lives and suffering of the bravest and best men and women the world had ever known.
Due to the momentous issues and consequent bitter controversies involved, the history of the first epoch has been covered from many angles, by many writers, actuated by varying motives-patriotism, self interest, passion, prejudice-all influenced by environment. To select from this mass of material what should stand as unbiased, authentic history is no light task. This is what we have endeavored to do and I believe it has been done.
Included in this volume, out of their chronological order, are three chapters covering specific subjects, viz: Chapter XI on State care for agriculture; Chapter XVII on the system of secret service for fugi- tive slaves popularly known as "the underground railroad"; and Chapter XXI on the woman's rights movement. The second subject mentioned belonged in its entirety to this period. The other two had their inception within it, the first in later years developing into the State Fair, the third into the nineteenth amend- ment to the Federal constitution. All three deserve a permanent place in the history of our State.
The principles and policies established as funda- mental to our national growth and progress during the pre-war period can be readily traced into the changed political setting following the war. They stand im- mutably as the impregnable bulwark of our national rights and liberties to be forever cherished and defended. R. B. S.
CHAPTER I
THE ALBANY REGENCY
T HE new Constitution of 1821-22 ushered in a new era in the technical government of the State of New York. Simultaneously with its going into force there occurred a still more radical and momentous change in the unofficial political complexion and con- trol of the State. The rule of the great families was ended, and that of practical politicians was established. This change had indeed been coming upon the State for some time. The power of the Schuylers had never been reestablished after the death of Hamilton, and it was now only a memory. The power of the Living- stons had waned almost to nothingness, save as landed proprietors. The rule of the house of Clinton lasted longest, but it also was now ended; for while DeWitt Clinton was still a major factor in State affairs he was so by virtue of his own genius, and the issues and works for which he stood, rather than because of his family connections. A few great landowners still maintained almost baronial sway, notably Stephen Van Rensselaer, the "great patroon," and the lords of Livingston manor. But their power was economic and social rather than political, and already even at Rensselaerswyck the spirit of revolt had been kindled, which was to flame up in the Anti-Rent party and the Helderberg war.
15
16
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
The State was growing enormously in population, having much more than doubled in numbers in twenty years. In 1800 the census showed 589,051 souls; in 1810, 959,049; and in 1820, 1,372,812. In this last enu- meration it surpassed Virginia and for the first time at- tained the rank which it has ever since easily held of the most populous State in the Union. In 1800 it had been third, Virginia and Pennsylvania being respectively first and second ; and in 1810 it had stood second to Vir- ginia. This growth of population, apart from the birth rate, was due to immigration from New England, to which we have referred in the preceding volume, and also to immigration from Europe, for which New York City was the nation's chief port of entry. Now the New Englanders were imbued with a more democratic spirit than the old aristocracy of New York, and of course the peasantry from Europe had no regard for great families in the new world. There was thus a pro- gressive transformation of the character and disposition of the citizenry, and the democratic provisions of the new Constitution invested the people with a power which they never before had known.
There then arose, to take the place of the great fam- ilies in political leadership and dominance, the most noteworthy of all the "rings" in the history of the State, in which such organizations have been more numerous and more potent than in any other. This was the "Albany Regency," at first a triumvirate but later a more numerous body, which for a third of a century dominated the political life of New York and not in- frequently exerted a controlling influence upon the
17
THE ALBANY REGENCY
politics of the nation. We have called it a "ring." But it had little or nothing in common with the offensive "rings" of later days that have been composed of politi- cians of low ideals, dubious integrity, and more cunning than statesmanship, and have been formed and con- ducted for sordid purposes of patronage and "graft." Not such was the Albany Regency. Its members were the foremost statesmen and jurists of the State, men of genius, of lofty ideals, of unblemished honor, whose aim was the development of civic institutions and the maintenance of political principles. Perhaps no higher tribute can be paid them than that voluntarily offered by the man who gave them the name of "Albany Regency" and who for many years was their most im- placable and formidable political antagonist. This was Thurlow Weed, who testified that the members of the Regency were characterized by "great ability, great industry, indomitable courage, and strict personal in- tegrity," and who added that in his long life of political activity and observation he had "never known a body of men who possessed so much power and used it so well."
The original triumvirate was composed of Samuel A. Talcott, William L. Marcy, and Benjamin F. Butler -clara et venerabilia nomina. They were three of the finest examples of young American manhood and citi- zenship of their time. All were young, all lawyers, all members of the Bucktail faction of the Democratic party under the lead of Martin Van Buren and opposed to DeWitt Clinton, and all office-holders, put into their places by the notorious penultimate Council of Ap- pointment in 1821 which by its arbitrary conduct sealed
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