USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. II > Part 26
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In referring to this loan to pay the New Jersey militia Mr. Van Buren said :
"At a moment when the city of New York was menaced with destruction, when the alarm for its safety was at its height, the attention of our breth- ren of New Jersey was directed to our protection, and notwithstanding the danger to which their own coast was exposed, she sent a gallant and patriotic band of her citizen soldiers for the defence of New York. In common with the militia of our State, they were kept out of their pay, and sub- jected to the greatest embarrassments in obtaining supplies, through the inability of the general Gov- ernment to furnish the means. To afford relief in the pressing emergency and guard against the dis- astrous consequences which might have resulted from it to the service, Governor Tompkins on his own responsibility raised these moneys and expended them as I have stated."
The money obtained by Governor Tompkins giv- ing his own notes and depositing United States Treasury notes for a much larger sum as collatera
419
THE CITY REPAID.
security amounted in the aggregate to more than one million dollars ($1,150,000). Imprisonment for debt was then in force, so that, in fact, Governor Tompkins pledged his liberty, his fortune and his sacred honor for the payment of that amount by the nation.
The Government account to reimburse the city of New York for the million loan was settled on 15th June, 1815. The account to the credit of the city was $1,028, 183.75, for which it received :
United States six per cent stock. $1,100,009 87
Interest. 10,816 25
Treasury notes
53,000 00
9,173 85
Cash expended
Total. $1,172,999 97 Balance gained by city, $162,000.
In the early part of the year 1820 General Mor- ton went to Washington and succeeded in procur- ing the balance of $37,000 due the city on account of lands occupied for fortifications, damages, etc., during the war.
Governor Tompkins was very watchful of the payment of the militia. He issued the following order :
" STATE OF NEW YORK. "General Orders.
"HEADQUARTERS, ALBANY, January 14, 1815.
"The paymasters of the militia and volunteers of the State of New York are strictly charged and re- quired to pay to every non-commissioned officer, musician and private, in person where it be practi.
420
GOV. TOMPKINS' TRIAL
cable, the full amount of pay due him either from the United States or State of New York, and to use every precaution in their power to defeat specula- tion or imposition upon the volunteers or militia by purchases of their pay.
"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, " ANTHONY LAMB, " Aid-de-Camp."
Besides borrowing money for the Government, a large amount was entrusted to Governor Tompkins for disbursement in connection with the war. He disbursed $1,982,000 for the general Government. He also disbursed a large amount for the State in connection with the militia.
In distributing this vast amount of money or trust- ing others to do so was the cause of the financial ruin of Governor Tompkins. The lack of vouchers for disbursements made it appear that he was a large defaulter to the Government, of which his political opponents took every advantage.
The last advances made by the Government to Gov. Tompkins was by warrant for $400,000, dated February 3, 1816.
The State made a claim against him which was subsequently abandoned. He was elected Vice- President of the United States in 1817 and again in 1821. An action was commenced in behalf of the Government against hin in the United States Circuit Court in New York city to recover several hundred thousand dollars. Thomas Addis Emmet and Josiah Ogden Hoffman were counsel for the defendant, and Robert Tillotson was counsel for the Government.
421
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
The case was tried in June, 1822, before Judge William P. Van Ness and a jury. The trial occupied four days. Governor Tompkins personally ad- dressed the jury. The verdict was for the defend- ant. The jury gave the following certificate :
"We, the jurors in this cause, having found a verdict for the defendant, do also find and certify that there is, moreover, now due from the United States of America to the defendant, Daniel D. Tompkins, the sum of $136, 799.97.
" Dated June 6, 1822."*
This statement on the part of the jury was of no avail to Governor Tompkins, only as a vindication of his action. There was no United States Court of Claims at that time before which he could appear and urge an adjustment of his accounts. He claimed among other things that he should be al- lowed five per cent on the receiving, advancing and disbursing of money for the Government. The amount of money he received on Government stock was $287,500 less than the stock.
His several demands against the Government, a part of which were opposed not because they were unjust, but because they were not considered as coming within the rules of office, and could only be allowed under a law of Congress authorizing the departments to audit and settle them.
* See : " Report of Proceedings in the District Court of the United States for the District of New York, in a suit brought by the United States against Daniel D. Tompkins, June 3, 1822, containing the testimony at large, the speeches of the defendant and of the counsel on both sides, together with the judge's charge. By One of the Jury. Pp. 54, New York, Printed by C. S Van Winkle, 1822.
·
422
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
On February 8, 1823, the House committee ap- pointed to inquire whether any legislative provision is necessary for the settlement of the accounts of Governor Tompkins, reported, and among other things the report stated :
"The committee find from the exhibits, as ad- mitted on each side, that the Governor did disburse $1,982,000 for the Government in the course of the late war, for which he was held responsible and required to account at various bureaus of the Treasury and War departments.
"The committee is satisfied; that he made ad- vances to the Government ; that he borrowed about $1,382,827 from various corporations to aid the national treasury and promote the public service. That those loans were procured by him at the earn- est entreaties of the President and the Acting Secre- tary of War. That, to aid him in procuring loans immediately, the Government proposed to send him Treasury notes in thirty or forty days, which he was directed to pledge at $110,000 for $100,000. That between December 1, 1814, and January 17, 1815, he found means to borrow $1,098,500 (part of the foregoing sum) from several corporations, including a loan of $400,000 from the corporation of the city of New York : for all which appears that he had to make himself personally responsible by. contracts, relying, on his part, upon the promise of the Gov- ernment to advance the Treasury notes and take up his obligations. That part only of the notes (say $850,000) were sent in proper time to relieve him. That the city corporation pressed him for the prom-
·
423
REPORT ON GOV. TOMPKINS.
ised deposits and for repayment, and that he was held up as a defaulter. That the failure of the Government put it out of his power to sustain his credit in the banks for such large sums; that his previous attention to public affairs had compelled him to neglect his own, and that the heavy pressure of these loans produced a derangement in his pri- vate concerns, which brought upon him, as he con- tends, an actual and specific loss of sixty thousand dollars.
"The peculiar and complicated duties which were devolved upon the Governor as civil and military chief of the State and district referred to, and the special circumstances under which he was called upon to raise and disburse funds for the Federal Government, entitle him to expect an exact and prompt performance of its promises and a speedy reimbursement to relieve him from his embarrass- ment.
"It is admitted that public moneys sent to him or raised by him have been faithfully applied to the public service or kept in deposits in banks, or with public agents, ready to be used at any moment. That he served his country faithfully and effectually is known to all. That he ran imminent risks to serve it is beyond a doubt. That the Treasury failed to fulfill its engagements with him is no less certain, and it is manifest that no citizen could sustain him- self without loss against the heavy pressure of such large sums. That he foresaw the perils which afterwards assailed him is proven by the Honorable Rufus King, who conversed with him in the Autumn
424
REPORT ON GOV. TOMPKINS.
of 1814, about 'the condition of the public treasury, the unprotected state of the city of New York, and the inability of the general Government to protect it, and urged, from the peculiar situation in which Providence had placed him, that it was his solemn duty to make great exertions and to assume great responsibilities. That the State, in a great measure, looked to him for its protection, and that he must call out the militia and find resources to pay them. That the Governor had stated in reply, that he was already committed very deeply, and that if he should go further in pecuniary responsibilities he must do it at the risk of ruin, in which Mr. King solemnly urged him to go on and do his duty, and if ruin was the consequence, to consent to endure it and look to the honor and gratitude of his country.'
"He did so ; he performed all that was required and more than was promised or expected from him. This is known alike to the committee and the coun- try and is recorded in the annals of the day.
" Your committee must repeat that the Governor foresaw the hazard he was running, that he took the hazard, fearlessly and generously as became a patriot, trusting to the honor and justice of his country.
"On an examination and consideration of the accounts and claims, with all the attending circum- stances, it appears to your committee :
" First-That it is no more than an act of justice to allow interest on all moneys advanced by Mr. Tompkins on account of the public, from the time
425
GOV. TOMPKINS VINDICATED.
of his making such advances to the time of his being reimbursed.
" Second-That it would be just and equitable to allow a reasonable commission on all moneys dis- bursed by him during the late war.
"Third-That he should be indemnified for losses sustained by him in consequence of any failure on the part of Government to fulfill its engagements to send him money and Treasury notes within the time specified, to be deposited in certain banks as collateral security for loans procured by him, at the request of and on the account of Government.
" Fourth-That he ought not to be held responsible for losses incurred by any frauds or failures of sub- agents, to whom moneys were advanced through his hands.
"With this view of the subject a bill accompany- ing this report is respectfully submitted."
The bill provided that the proper accounting offi- cers of the United States Treasury be and are hereby authorized to adjust and settle the accounts and claims of Daniel D. Tompkins, late Governor of the State of New York, on principles of equity and jus- tice, subject to the revision and final decision of the President of the United States, and that the second section of the act of April 20, 1822, shall not be con- strued to extend to or apply to the said Daniel D. Tompkins. The bill was passed on 20th February, 1823, with only two or three dissenting votes in the Senate.
The matters were finally settled some months
426
STATUE OF GOV. TOMPKINS.
afterwards by the Government paying Governor Tompkins fifty thousand dollars in full .*
What further has been done by the Government and by the State, and by the City of New York, to commemorate the great services of Governor Tomp- kins in the war of 1812 ? Nothing! We know what the City of New York should do-erect an appropriate statue of him in Central Park.
* Some newspapers stated that thirty or forty thousand dollars only was paid. The writer was told by a man who saw the warrant or order that it was for fifty thousand dollars.
CHAPTER XLIX.
Financial Standing of New York City-Annual Expenditures-City Debt-Revenue and Taxation-Valuation of Real and Personal Property-State Taxes-City Fractional Currency-Charitable Aid to Soldiers and to Sufferers on Niagara Frontier-Charter Election.
HEN doubt and mistrust were over all in 1814, the financial standing of the city was of the highest order. The city debt, represented by six per cent stock, was only $700,000.
In June, 1812, by permission of the Legislature, $700,000 city stock was issued, although $900,000 was authorized, at six per cent, payable in 1826. This was the first permanent debt of New York city.
In April, 1813, this was three per cent above par. It was then that the measure to establish a sinking fund for the redemption of the stock when it became due in 1826 was adopted. The ordinance of August 9, 1813, set apart certain sources of the city revenue for that purpose ; it then amounted to about thirty thousand dollars a year.
The ordinary expenditures for carrying on the city government were about $230,000 a year. In
428
CITY TAXES.
course of the year 1814 over $200,000 were expended for improvements of a permanent nature. The ordinary receipts from revenue were about $125,000 for that year. The sale of corporate property and other sources of revenue greatly reduced the amount raised by taxation that year.
The amount borrowed by the city for defence loan in 1814 does not enter into this account of city finances, as the matter was principally arranged by the State and the general Government.
The expenditures for the city and county govern- ment, for ordinary purposes, were : In 1814, $224,- 371.89 ; 1815, $209,479.08 ; 1816, $199,884.28.
This was mainly upon the following interests : Almshouse and Bridewell, city watch, county con- tingencies, fire department, lamps.
The amount raised by taxation for city and county · purposes was as follows : 1814, $214,225.09; 1815, $197,613.38 ; 1816, $180,653.94.
There was no State tax in the city prior to 1815. The amount of State tax in the city was : In 1815, $163,372.08 ; 1816, $164,148.50.
The valuation of real and personal property in the city and county of New York for city and State taxes, according to City Comptrollers' reports, was as follows : 1813, $27,650,230 ; 1814, $28,091,- 487; 1815, $31,636,042 ; 1816, $82,074,200 .*
The state board of United States assessors for the apportionment of the United States direct tax val-
* The names of each person in New York city assessed on per- sonal property to the value of five thousand dollars and over in 1815 can be found in the appendix to this volume.
429
CITY TAXES.
ued the lands and lots with their improvements, dwelling houses and slaves in New York city and vicinity at $56,320,852. The city quota of this direct tax was $177,410.68, being at the rate of $3.15 in each thousand of valuation.
The total amount of city and State tax in each year was as follows :
RATE.
1815.
$361,285 45 $4 15
1816
344, 802 54 4 20
The rate given is dollars and cents per thousand of valuation.
It will be observed that the valuation of real and personal property, including United States Govern- ment stock, in January, 1815, was about three times what it was in the years 1813 and 1814 previous. The valuation in 1815 was at the rate of $833 per capita of population estimated at 98,000 .*
On December 26, 1814, the City Comptroller, Thomas R. Mercein, Esq., reported on the city
* In 1894 the valuation of real and personal property for taxa- tion in New York city was $2,023,332.000. This did not include United States Government bonds or the stocks of corporations (excepting bank stocks) held by residents, but it claimed to include the value of the capital of private corporations located in the city. The valuation per capita in 1894, based on an estimated popula- tion of 1,800,000, is about $1,100.
In 1894 the tax in the city for State purposes was $4,112,266. The amount raised for city purposes was $34,551,991. The revenue from general fund was $3,600,000. The interest on the city debt and sinking fund for redemption of city debt, exclusive of the amount by law chargeable to the sinking fund and exclusive of amount provided for the sinking fund, was $7,000,200, included in above.
430
CITY PAPER MONEY.
fractional currency already issued, and proposed that a fund be created to redeem them, and that when said bills were issued, the amount thereof should be paid for some kind of stock which might thereafter be disposed of to redeem the bills when called in. The plan was adopted.
In May, 1815, $20,000 more of this fractional currency was authorized, and on July 3, 1815, $30,000 more.
The various denominations were in cents, as fol- lows : One, four, six, nine, twelve and one-half, twenty-five, fifty.
The total amount issued was $245, 356.
This currency continued in general circulation until specie payment was resumed by the banks on July 1, 1817, on the establishment of the National Bank with a capital of $35,000,000, and then it was gradually withdrawn.
The citizens of New York, in all their anxiety and danger, did not forget the sufferings and needs of their neighbors. Danger seemed to make them more sympathetic. The incursions of the enemy on the Niagara frontier had caused much suffering in families for the necessaries of life in the Autumn. In October, 1814, the Common Council of the city voted an appropriation of $3,000 for the Niagara sufferers, and the private subscriptions in the city were $3,023 more, and the donations from collec- tions in churches in the city were $1,286 more for the same purpose.
A ladies' association, composed of many of the most prominent in social position in the city, was
431
CHIARITABLE DONATIONS.
formed in October, 1814. Their object was to assist the soldiers of the United States and those on military duty (particularly those on the lakes) with cloth hoods, moccasins, socks and mittens. The man- agers solicited contributions for that purpose. They were: Mrs. General Lewis, Headquarters ; Mrs. Wm. Few, Greenwich ; Mrs. David Gelston, Green- wich ; Mrs. Philip Livingston, Park place ; Mrs. Col. E. W. Laight, 340 Broadway ; Mrs. Thomas Morris, 84 Chamber st .; Mrs. Marinus Willett, Corlear's Hook ; Mrs. Wmn. Ross, 208 Broadway ; Mrs. Nathan Sanford, 25 Pine st .; Mrs. Daniel Smith, 62 Broad st .; Mrs. L. Bradish, 9 Pearl st .; Miss M. Bleecker, Broadway ; Miss H. Lewis, Whitehall st .; Mrs. H. E. C. Bradish, secretary.
Many donations were made for this benevolent object, and substantial benefits were derived from it by the distributions made by the officers of the army and navy on the Northern and Western bor- ders of the United States.
The charter election commenced on third Tuesday of November and continued for three days. The result of the election was, however, less favorable to the Democrats than in the year previous, as the Federalists regained the Sixth Ward, which they lost in the previous election ; thus the Federalists had six wards to the Democrats' four.
The aldermen in each ward were re-elected except- ing in Third Ward, A. H. Lawrence, Federalist, in place of Charles Dickenson, Federalist, and in Eighth Ward William Few in place of Peter H. Wendover, both Democrats. More personal changes
432
CHARTER ELECTION.
were made in the assistant aldermen. See names in Vol. I., p. 425, appendix. The Committee of Defence, from December 13, 1814, until December, 1815, were the same aldermen as the previous year, but among the assistant aldermen General Mapes took the place of John Nitchie, and Tucker of Brackett, all Federalists .*
This Committee of Defence did not make the final report to the Common Council until November 6th, 1815. See appendix to this volume.
* A law was passed on April 11, 1815, requiring that the time of charter election should be on last Tuesday in April of each year, but that those already elected should remain in office during the period for which they were elected, to wit, until January, 1816.
CHAPTER L.
Holiday Season of 1814-15-Numerous Dinners to Prominent Men- Arrival of Cartel Ship Jenny-Rigorous Blockade of the Atlantic Coast-Vigilance of Military Authorities-General Boyd Placed in Command at New York by Governor Tompkins-Commodore Decatur Runs the Blockade-Skirmish With the Enemy and is Captured-Other War Vessels Run the Blockade.
WE have before seen that there were numerous private dinners that were largely made up of notable men.
The large number of prominent military and naval officers present in the city, together with the Gov- ernor and his staff and some Fed- eral and State judges and other high officials, made the Winter season in the city more attractive for them than ever before. The invitations to the public men to attend private dinners so crowded them that they were compelled to decline many and choose from other more prominent and select gatherings. Probably not an afternoon passed from December 1st until the fore part of March without several prominent dinner parties being given, or a theatre party in the evening. The Lenten season was not regarded by society generally at that time so as to have any marked effect upon the
434
HARBOR BLOCKADED.
social pursuits of the populace. New York city was then the social as well as the commercial metropolis of the United States.
The notable dinners given during the entire season were marked by the prevalence of political feeling shown by those whe led on the occasion as well as the place of the entertainment. Those at Tammany Hall were Democrats and in favor of the war. Those at Washington Hall were Federalists and opposed to the war and the policy of the national administration.
The port of New York and many others on the Atlantic Coast were now vigorously blockaded by a powerful and vigilant squadron of war vessels.
Cartel ships were arriving from time to time in the harbor. The most notable one about this time was on 3d December, when the Jenny arrived in thirty-two days from Dartmouth, England, with twenty-six passengers on board, eight of whom were New Yorkers and the remainder belonged to Boston and Philadelphia.
The Narrows was the course taken by all outgoing and incoming vessels of any size. This was care- fully guarded by the vigilance of the military authorities 'of both nations.
Privateers were running the blockade to get into port and again running it to get to sea.
The United States military authorities issued the following order :
"NEW YORK, December 21st, 1814.
"Privateers or armed vessels proceeding to sea will be permitted to pass Fort Gates without being
435
GENERAL BOYD IN COMMAND.
brought to, but all vessels coming in and all un- armed private vessels going out will be brought to as usual. The commanding officer of the forts on Staten Island will bring to and examine all out- ward-bound privateers and armed vessels.
"By order " THOMAS CHRISTIE, "Ast. Adj .- Gen."
When Governor Tompkins left New York city to attend to his duties at Albany as Governor of the State he placed Gen. J. P. Boyd as chief in command of the Third Military District of the United States.
A letter of Governor Tompkins to the Mayor and read in Common Council December 26, 1814, is as follows :
"NEW YORK, December 25, 1814.
"SIR -- On Monday next the command of this dis- trict will devolve on Brig. - Gen. J. P. Boyd in conse- quence of my temporary absence.
"I cannot, sir, leave the city without expressing my acknowledgment of the liberality and patriotism of the corporation, of the Committee of Defence, and of the citizens of New York, as regards the defence of this important position, and of the attention, con- fidence and support with which I have been hon- ored during my command.
"I pray you, sir, to convey this acknowledgment to the respectable body over which you preside, and to accept for yourself the assurance of my consid- eration.
DANIEL D. TOMPKINS.
" The HON. DE WITT CLINTON,
"Mayor, etc."
436
COMMODORE DECATUR SAILS.
On the 27th December, 1814, the following order was issued :
"Brigadier-General Boyd has the honor of assum- ing by order of yesterday the command of Third Military District."
Commodore Decatur was placed in command of a squadron consisting of the President, the Peacock and the Hornet, and the store ship Tom Bowline, of twelve guns and ninety men. The three latter had, run the blockade a few weeks before and were in New York harbor (ante, pp. 378, 379). This squadron was intended to cruise in the East Indies.
The blockading squadron off New York in Janu- ary then consisted of the fifty-six-gun razee Majes- tic, Captain Hayes ; twenty-four-pounder frigate Pomona, 38 Captain Lumly, and eighteen-pounder frigate 38 Tenedos, Captain Parker. On 14th a severe snow storm came on and blew the blockading squadron off the coast. This was considered a favorable opportunity to pass the blockade.
Commodore Decatur had been very anxious to get to sea with his vessel, the President, of forty-four guns. Many of the officers and men on board were from New York city. Many of them shipped mostly for the novelty and excitement of the naval warfare in prospect and for a share in the glory that had been won by the American vessels. If the blockade could be safely passed all after that seemed smooth and tranquil, and the sails of many British merchantmen that would appear in the hori- zon would soon be furled on demand with only the firing of a single gun, and the valuable prizes on board
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