Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 82

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 82

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MOSES I. CANTINE was born at Catskill, New York, December 14, 1774. He received a prepar- atory classical education and entered the office of Chancellor John Lansing, at Albany, under whose instruction he qualified himself for admis- sion to the Bar. He was made an attorney-at- law at Albany, in October, 1798. Opening an office at Catskill, he was not long in attaining a highly respectable position in his profession. March 5, 1801, he was appointed by Gov. George Clin- ton, Assistant Attorney-General for the Third Dis- trict of the State, and was reappointed February 8, 1808, and February 15, 1811. On June 19, 1818, he was appointed first Judge of the Greene County Court of Common Pleas.

Judge Cantine, at an early period of his life exhibited the qualities of an easy, ready and at- tractive writer. His contributions to the Catskill Recorder and Albany Argus attracted much admi- ration.

In December, 1820, he retired from the Bench, and, with I. Q. Leake, purchased the Albany Argus and became editor-in-chief. The next year the Argus was made the State paper, and rapidly increased in influence. Judge Cantine and Mr. Leake continued to conduct the paper until Jan- uary, 1823, when a change took place in its man- agement by the sudden and greatly lamented death of Mr. Cantine. Thus the editorial duties of the Argus were committed to Mr. Leake, a man of learning and talents, distinguished for his literary and scientific attainments and abilities as a journalist; but, feeble in health, he was soon compelled to relinquish the trust.

WILLIAM CASSIDY .- The history of journalism is best found in the lives of those who have been journalists,

358

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Prominent among those who aided in making the journalistic history of Albany, is William Cas- sidy. With Webster, Barber, Southwick, Croswell, Weed, Dawson, Manning, and others, he aided in making that history foremost in the annals of the nation. He was born in Albany, August 12, 1815.

The grandfather of William emigrated from Ireland and settled in Albany in 1790. His father was John Cassidy, who with his uncle, Patrick Cas- sidy, were esteemed citizens.

At an early age, Cassidy began his classical edu- cation at the Albany Academy, and at the age of sixteen was admitted to Union College in the Senior class, graduating in 1833, after remaining in the college one year, He studied law in the offices of Judge Mckown and John Van Buren. His articles on political subjects, written at his leis- ure and published in Democratic journals, found favor with the public. The taste thus cultivated and encouraged, induced him to leave his legal studies and adopt the profession of journalism. At a time of life when other young men are scarcely through with their collegiate education, Mr. Cassidy's brilliant gifts as a writer were win- ning wide recognition, and he was acknowledged by the Icaders of the Democratic party as one of their ablest and most effective political writers. At the age of twenty-five he first entered the field of journalism as a regular, writing for the Plaindealer and Rough Hewer, then published in Albany.

From 1841 to 1843 he was State Librarian. In the spring of 1843 he became connected with the Albany Atlas, a daily paper started in 1841 by Vance & Wendell, and, with Henry H. Van Dyke, edited that journal. The Atlas was founded as the organ of the "Barn-burner" section of the Democratic party, and recognized as such during its existence.

The contest between the "Barn-burner" and "Hunker" factions of the Democratic party will long be remembered as more bitter than that which the former party waged against the Whigs. The Atlas entered the political arena as the opponent of a majority of the Democratic party led by the Argus, a veteran in the politics of the State. At this time Edwin Croswell, wielding a bold, gigantic pen, was the editor of the Albany Argus. The sharp and bitter antagonism between that journal and the Atlas was what might have been expected.

Cassidy, as the friend of Silas Wright and the "Free-soilers" and "Barn-burners," vigorously maintained his position against his formidable opponent. The contest continued with unabated ardor until 1856, when the advent of the Repub- lican party, and the great power it developed, with other causes, led the factions in the Demo- cratic party to unite and the Atlas and Argus became consolidated. This event was a triumph for Mr. Cassidy. He had exhibited such brilliant talents and such lofty character, such admirable manage- ment in editing the Atlas, that he was selected, with Mr. Croswell's approval, as the editor of the new paper, which received the new name of the Atlas and Argus. Under his editorship the Atlas and Argus, rapidly attained a high and commanding

position in the State. " In a short time Cassidy be- came its principal proprietor.

In 1865, the Argus Company, a joint stock association, was formed, and Cassidy became its president. He continued to edit the paper for the remainder of his life. In 1866 he made the tour of Europe, enriching the literature of his native county by many charming and elegantly written letters, which first appeared in the Argus, and were copied into various journals. Mr. Cassidy always persistently refused official position, though in 1867 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and in 1872 was appointed by Gov- ernor Hoffman on the State Commission to Revise the Constitution. He accepted both these posi- tions with reluctance, and they were the only ones he ever held.

As Governor Robinson said, in addressing the Commission after Mr. Cassidy's death : "No temptation would lead him from those funda- mental principles which he had imbibed from con- scientious conviction, deep thought and study. The welfare of the State was his sole concern, and his advice to his associates was summed up in his remark: 'See that your constitution enunciates principles, and those, principles of elevated states- manship.'

As has been said, his career was that of the political editor. He helped to make and un- make men. His own life was that of the sanctum, the library and the social circle. His influence was such as is wielded by a matchless pen ; his achievements those of a master of thought, the exponent of party, and the leader of political councils. He combined in a superlative degree the qualities which distinguish the wit, the scholar and the politician. These, with his fine taste and culture, made him one of the most brilliant and accomplished men of his time. He had an emi- nently social nature and loved the social circle. John G. Saxe, the poet, paid a pleasing and deli- cate compliment to Mr. Cassidy, when he dedi- cated a volume of his poems to him, as a tribute to his scholarship.

Mr. Cassidy's personal appearance and bearing were striking and noble. His manner was uni- formly courtly and dignified in its courtliness ; un- studied, yet perfect. His love for his native city was not the least of his characteristics. He be- lieved in Albany, and never failed to enlarge upon its advantages of position and the manifest evi- dences of its marked progress. He lent every energy towards its improvement, and as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Washington Park, he entered into every project looking to the expansion of that beautiful spot, and urged every wise scheme for kindred purposes.

But his active and useful life terminated sud- denly, with brief warning to his friends that he was soon to leave them for ever. He died at his home in Albany, January 23, 1873, after a very short illness.

On the formal announcement of his death, both branches of the Legislature adjourned, after appropriate eulogistic remarks in both bodies by

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distinguished Legislators. The Delta Phi Frater- nity, the Park Commissioners of Albany, the Board of Trade, the Young Men's Catholic Lyceum, the Trustees of S. Agnes' Cemetery, the Typographical Union, the Employees of the Argus Company, and the Directors of the National Commercial Bank, all passed resolutions of condolence and apprecia- tion. Letters of regard were received by the family from prominent men of the country.

Mr. Cassidy was a life-long member of the Catholic Church, and died in that faith. In 1856 he was married to Miss Lucie Rochefort, who sur- vives him. He left three sons.

EDWIN CROSWELL, whose name ranks high among the illustrious journalists of the past, was born at Catskill in 1797. At the age of four- teen he entered the office of the Calskill Recorder as an apprentice. At this time Moses I. Cantine was a distinguished lawyer and writer, with an interest in the Recorder. Young Croswell was favorably brought to his notice. Time passed, and Judge Cantine became a resident of Albany, and one of the editors and proprietors of the Argus. Young Croswell, in the meantime, had worked his way to assistant editor of the Recorder. When, in 1823, Judge Cantine died, Croswell attended his funeral at Albany. The death of Judge Cantine and the poor health of Mr. Leake, left the Argus comparatively without an editor. Mr. Croswell, as one of the editors of the Catskill Recorder, had exhibited marked abilities as a political writer, and rendered that paper a power in the State. As he was about returning to Catskill, after the funeral, Martin Van Buren, Benjamin F. Butler, and Judge Duer, then leaders of the Democratic party in the State, and deeply interested in the Albany Argus, strongly urged him to become assistant editor with Mr. Leake, and soon the name of Edwin Croswell became identified with that paper.

In 1831, Sherman Croswell became associated with Edwin in the editorial management. July 26, 1834, Sherman Croswell became a proprietor and editor, and so continued till January, 1855. Edwin Croswell, having withdrawn from the Argus August 18, 1854, was succeeded by Gideon J. Tucker, who was made Secretary of State in 1857. In 1855, Sherman Croswell and Mr. Tucker trans- ferred their interest to James I. Johnson, who asso- ciated with him Calvert Comstock as editor.

It was not long after Edwin Croswell had entered on the editorial duties of the Argus, before he be- came a power in the politics of the State and nation. His vigorous mind and ready and powerful pen were devoted to the interests of the Democratic party and the discussions of the great questions which then divided the public mind. As a political writer it is not too much to say that, during the period of his active life, he liad no rival as a polit- ical journalist, except Thurlow Weed. In the course of the long political warfare conducted by these eminent editors, he never allowed himself to be thrown off his guard by friend or foe. Few Amer- ican journalists ever exhibited more ability in con- ducting controversy, or in quieting animosities

among his own friends, than Edwin Croswell. His advantages for obtaining an education. were limited; but he understood and practiced. the art of self-cul- ture with success. He became familiar with the English classics. The sententious purity of Swift was to him a delight and a model. From Swift he learned how to express his ideas with vividness and force. From the pages of Junius he learned the art of binding ideas together "in close compacted masses." But it was in the printing-office, that practical school of knowledge, that he made his way to the highest rank of a political journalist.

A distinguished contemporary writer of Mr. Cros- well's, speaks of him as follows : "As a party political editor he has few, if any, superiors in the United States. Always cool, collected, sagacious and cautious, he seldom, if ever, allowed himself to be guilty of any indiscretions. His style of writing is more highly polished than that of most American journalists; indeed, it is somewhat re- markable that a man educated to practical business pursuits should acquire so nice and cultivated lit- erary taste, and a style of writing so pleasing and perspicuous."

SHERMAN CROSWELL, another eminent journalist of Albany, was born in New Haven, Conn., May 4, 1803. His father, Rev. Harry Croswell, D. D., was rector of Trinity Church in New Haven. Young Croswell was graduated at Yale College in 1822. He studied law and was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1826. In 1831, he came to Albany, where he was associated with his cousin, Edwin Croswell, in the editorial management of the Albany Argus, from which he finally retired in 1885.

Mr. Croswell became reporter for the Argus in the Assembly in 1833, and for twenty-five succes- sive years, with the exception of the session of 1854, he regularly reported the proceedings for the Argus, closing with the session of 1857, two years after its consolidation with the Atlas. At the time of his retirement, probably, he had no superior as a reportorial writer in this country.

Mr. Croswell became one of the proprietors and editors of the Argus, July 26, 1834, and so remained until January 1, 1855.

A distinguished citizen of Albany who knew him very intimately, paid the following tribute to his memory at the time of his death: " For a man so widely known, he was, indeed, known to few. He did not make many friends, but the few he made were life-long and true. Eminently courteous in his manners to all, he was a man of reserve. His confidence was given slowly, and even reluctantly, but when given was never withdrawn without the strongest cause for withdrawal."

His poetic, imaginative mind rendered the duties of a political editor, at first, uncongenial to him. But by determination he warped his mind to the calling he selected until he loved it.

A service of nearly a quarter of a century, first as an assistant, and subsequently as chief editor of one of the most influential political papers in this coun- try, had not been without its influence upon Mr. Croswell's character.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No one familiar only with the always vigorous and sometimes trenchant style of the Argus of that day, would have suspected that many of its most characteristic articles came from the pen of a writer whose temperament was essentially a poetic one, and whose feelings were much more in harmony with whatever is beautiful in nature or art than in the details of politics. He died March 16, 1859.

GEORGE DAWSON.

The name of George Dawson ranks high among American journalists. The influence which the daily press has attained is largely due to his pen and his vigorous mind. As has well been said: "He was a journalist of the old school, wedded to the tradition of days when party organs were the lead- ing newspapers of the country." And yet such was the versatility of his talents, that he was at home in any field where the newspaper existed. He pos- sessed the sound judgment, the large circumspec- tion, which enables men to weigh the relative value of either reason or facts; he was cautious enough, and drew sufficiently from his imagination in form- ing his hypotheses to render his writings attractive; and he was not deficient in the happy sagacity which pierces through apparent dissimilarity and ranges things seemingly unlike under the same class. In a word, he was an excellent collector of facts and a successful, active and bold reasoner upon them. These qualities rendered him powerful in the po- litical arena and made him among the first poli- ticians of his times.

As a politician he was eminently distinguished for the two great virtues of inflexible steadiness to his principles, and invariable gentleness and ur- banity in his manner of asserting them. Yet, if occasion required, he could be rancorous, could dip his pen in gall, or move it responsive to the keenest satire, the liveliest wit, the most polished humor. With his wit he could make any subject repulsive, or render a repulsive subject agreeable.

In his writings, whether literary or political, all his wit was argument, and each of his delightful illustrations a material step in his reasonings.

Elegant and graceful as was his style of writing, it was distinguished more for its practicability and its strong sense than its beauty and elegance. But the former often enabled him to state a strong ar- gument or a nice distinction in a more striking and pleasing way, and actually with greater precision, than could have been attained by the severer forms of reasoning.

Mr. Dawson's pen was not confined to politics alone; he relieved the tedium, the responsibility and the aggressiveness of partisan journalism by the cultivation of a beautiful and enlivening litera- ture.

A lover of rural life, the forests, the stream and the lake, his pen often painted scenes from these in life-like beauty; indeed, we have sometimes thought that there is nothing, even in the Bucolics or the Georgics of Virgil, or the enlivening pages of Thompson, more redolent with fragrance of the forest and the field; or which brings home more

forcibly the attractions of the stream, touches more exquisitely on pastoral life, and gives the viscissi- tudes of the changing year, more truthfully and graphically than the pen of Dawson.

He was born in Falkirk, Scotland, March 14, 1813. His father, after whom he was named-a book-binder by trade, and the son of a gardener, residing near Edinburgh-was for many years in the employ of the famous publishing house of the Con- stables, at Edinburgh. In 1810, he married Mary Chapman, and soon after removed to Falkirk, the birthplace of George.

From his parents George derived no patent of peerage, but he inherited from them those sterling qualities of Scottish character: industry, integrity and reverence for God. He was a child of the Covenanters. In 1816, the father, for the purpose of bettering his fortunes, crossed the Atlantic and found employment in the City of New York. Thither, in 1818, he brought his wife, with young George and an elder brother, James, born in 1811, and a younger sister, Ellen, born in 1815. The father remained in New York till 1818, when he removed to Toronto, then Little York, Canada, where he followed his occupation six years, after which he lived in Niagara County, and afterwards in Rochester, in both places continuing his occu- pation. In 1836, he removed to Royal Oak, Mich- igan.

The advantages of young George for an educa- tion were meager; but his intellect was active, and he sought and attained knowledge almost intuitively. He was one of those who obtain an education with- out teachers-always in school and always learn- ing.

When he was eleven years old, he was entered as an apprentice to the printing business in the office of the Niagara Gleaner, where he remained till 1826, when his parents removed to Rochester. At this time Thurlow Weed was the editor of the Anti- Masonic Inquirer. In the office of that journal young Dawson found employment, and in this way he was brought in contact with the powerful intel- lect and rare journalistic qualities of its distin- guished editor. The relations thus begun were fortunate for both parties, and continued through life; each evolved and radiated the talent of the other.

During his apprenticeship, young Dawson's leis- ure hours were devoted to his books; they were his companions, the fountain of his pleasure. He might almost have adopted the language of Horne Tooke, when he said to Erskine: "If you had obtained ten years of life for me in a dungeon, with my books, pen and ink, I should have thanked you." He eagerly read the translations of Greek and Roman history and literature.

He once said to a gentleman in Rochester, now living: "You would, perhaps, be astonished at the progress one can make by devoting to study but one hour of each day. I used to average more than that each day, taking time which was employed by others in amusement. In this way I made my- self a proficient in several branches, particularly in belles-lettres, history and political economy."

Sao. Dawson

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It is impossible to read either his political or lit- erary productions without being convinced that they are the offspring of a cultivated and polished mind. There is a classic excellence about them, showing that, in some way, he certainly attained scholarly profundity and finely balanced powers.

Early in 1830, political anti-masonry attained a strength which enabled it to contend, apparently with success, for the supremacy of the political power of the State, and the project of starting a journal at Albany devoted to political anti-masonry was broached. It was advocated by such men as Francis Granger, Abner Hazleton, Millard Fill- more, William H. Maynard, Albert H. Tracy and others, and with their influence the proposed meas- ure took definite form. The new paper was called the Albany Evening Journal, with Thurlow Weed as its editor. Accordingly he removed from Roches- ter to Albany, and assumed editorial duties which have given his name to history.

George Dawson accompanied him and became foreman in the office of the Journal, the first num- ber of which appeared in March, 1830. It is said by those who knew him in the printing-office, that he was an accomplished, practical printer-at the case, a rapid and correct compositor; as a fore- man, perfect in order and discipline; courteous and amiable in his intercourse with the employees of the office. It was not long before he began con- tributing to the columns of the Journal, and his contributions bore the impress of a master hand, adding largely to the ability and influence of the paper.

Fifty years after the first edition of the Journal appeared, it was said in an anniversary editorial, that the first edition of the paper "did not vary materially in appearance from the present one. The main head-line was in plain, clean-cut capitals bespeaking the well-defined and upright purpose of the projectors."

In the Legislative session of 1831, George Dawson was the reporter for the Evening Journal. His re- ports were hardly equaled for their freshness, vigor and ingenuity, and they brought him favorably be- fore the public. He continued as reporter for the Journal until the spring of 1836, when he was called to the editorship of the Rochester Daily Democrat, and thus he entered upon his long, successful and brilliant editorial career. In looking over some of his editorials in the Democrat, one is struck with their incisive strength, their keen and subtle point.

As the editor of the Democrat, he made himself a reputation so extended, that in August, 1839, he was called to take editorial charge of the Detroit Advertiser. Before leaving the Evening Journal the Anti-Masonic party had passed away-absorbed, as some have said, in the Whig party-and George Dawson was one of the founders of the Whig party, advocating its interests with his pen and occasion- ally in the rostrum. It was as a Whig that he as- sumed the editorship of the Detroit Advertiser, and it was largely through his instrumentality that the State of Michigan was secured to the Whig party.

Very soon after Mr. Dawson became editor of the Advertiser, he was appointed State Printer, which position he held until 1842, when the office of the Daily Advertiser was destroyed by fire. About that time he received a flattering invitation to resume the editorial chair of the Rochester Daily Democrat, which he accepted. His return to Rochester was attended with many pleasing circum- stances. Complimentary notices of his return appeared in all the Rochester papers, and also in very many of the leading journals in and out of the State; while the journals of Detroit and in other parts of Michigan contained sincere and pleasingly- worded regrets at the loss of "a journalist so dis- tinguished; one whose abilities and rare social qualities had made him hosts of friends in the State of Michigan."

Early in the summer of 1846, Mr. Dawson was urgently solicited by Mr. Weed to accept the posi- tion of associate editor of the Albany Evening Jour- nal. But Mr. Dawson had become attached to Rochester and Western New York by many strong affinities, many pleasing associations. In the soci- ety of Rochester he was a favorite. Besides, the beautiful lakes and bright streams of Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania afforded him fa- cilities for enjoying the favorite pastime of an angler. He would often leave the sanctum and seek the waters of lake or stream, and,

"Under an oak, whose antique roots peeped out Upon the brook that brawls along the wood,"

spend many hours in quiet happiness. He, there- fore, reflected long and seriously before sundering these pleasant associations. But at length, in August, 1846, yielding to repeated solicitations, he returned to Albany, and entered upon his duties as associate editor of the Evening Journal.

During the whole of Mr. Weed's administration, the Journal was omnipotent with its party. It gave the word of command and the lesser organs made haste to regard its behest. The orders which all obeyed, came from the capital. The Journal spoke with authority. It dictated party policies, controlled appointments, and marshaled all the forces of political campaigns. In the management of the Evening Journal, Mr. Dawson shared with his senior the enjoyment of the "power behind the throne;" was thoroughly acquainted with his plans, proved an able lieutenant in his political encoun- ters, and fully indorsed his political and journalistic views. In 1862, Mr. Weed retired from the editor- ship of the Journal, and Mr. Dawson became the senior editor and proprietor. He continued to fill this position till 1877, with the exception of a short time in 1871, when the late George W. Demers oc- cupied the editorial chair. In 1877 he sold his interest in the Journal to Mr. Charles E. Smith, now editor of the Philadelphia Press. After that time Mr. Dawson did only occasional work on the paper until February, 1880, when Mr. Smith re- tired from the editorship on account of his course in indorsing Governor Cornell's nomination of John F. Smyth as Superintendent of the Insurance Department, which was disapproved by the con- trolling partners. At the request of the proprie-

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 82

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452