USA > New York > Westchester County > Westchester county in history; manual and civil list, past and present. County history: towns, hamlets, villages and cities, Volume II > Part 23
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It was in this fight against the President that Senator Platt gained the sobriquet of " Me Too," his opponents asserting that he merely followed Senator Conkling's lead in resenting the alleged affront offered them by the President. This was unjust Senator Platt asserted, and these are the facts as vouched for by him. Instead of being a parrot-like follower, Platt led. He said :
" I went to the Senate desk and got the document nominat- ing Robertson. I considered it a gratuitous insult to the New York State organization. I walked over to Conkling and said, ' I shall send my resignation to Governor Cornell to-night.' Conkling turned to me and replied: 'Don't be too hasty about this matter, young man.' We then went to the rear of the Senate chamber and talked it over. Conkling insisted that we should wait, and fight it out in the committee, to which the
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nomination of Robertson had been referred. I replied, ' We have been so humiliated as United States Senators from the great State of New York that there is but one thing for us to do-rebuke the President by immediately turning in our resig- nations, and then appeal to the Legislature to sustain us.' I induced Conkling to join me in offering our joint resignations, and that night the papers were forwarded to Governor Cornell, by special messenger."
Senators Conkling and Platt returned to New York to con- sult friends and devise the next step to be taken. After con- siderable consideration in conference with friends, there being some hesitancy on account of prevailing public sentiment, it was agreed that both Senators jointly request a re-election at the hands of the Legislature then in session. On this purpose being made known excitement ran high, and the prediction that the bitterest kind of a contest would ensue came true.
Judge Robertson, who was a member of the State Senate, led the fight to prevent the re-election and return of Conkling and Platt; and back of him were all friends of the new President. Before the end of the battle, much to the disgust of both Conk- ling and Platt, a few organization leaders, who were most urgent and persistent to have them seek re-election, deserted to the opposing side.
· When the defeat of Conkling and Platt was certain, Judge Robertson found it difficult, as well as necessary, to convince his enthusiastic friends that he did not wish to be elected a United States Senator. He had served one term as Congress- man and did not fancy life in Washington. He and his friends had the privilege of naming as Messrs. Conkling and Platt's suc- cessors, Warner Miller (well known in this County, and relative of the late Sheriff Samuel C. Miller) and Elbridge G. Lapham. These gentlemen entered upon their duties as United States Senators immediately.
Within a few weeks later, William H. Robertson was unani- mously confirmed by the United States Senate as Customs Col- lector at Port of New York. In 1887, after his retirement from the office of Collector, Mr. Robertson was again elected a State Senator and re-elected, serving until 1892; for a considerable period acting by election as President pro tem of the Senate.
He continued his law practice during all the years of his political activity and up to the time of his death.
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Senator Conkling, recognized as one of the ablest and most brilliant of men, as lawyer and statesman, was also one of the most proud and sensitive. He never fully recovered from the unexpected defeat administered by legislators of his own State whom he believed to be his loyal supporters under any and all circumstances, as they were when he yielded power given by the disposal of patronage. He found, as have others, that some alleged friends are influenced not by affection for a particular man, but instead by hope of getting patronage and easy gain for themselves; they turn readily and travel in either direction their personal interests lead. Why a man would do things guided solely by principle, is beyond the comprehension of some.
Mr. Conkling gradually relinquished his interest in politics and returned to the practice of law; to a profession at the head of which he soon regained his place, and before his untimely death he had amassed a comfortable fortune. He was the prin- cipal attorney for the wealthy A. T. Stewart estate and for the estate of Mr. Stewart's wife, who died after her husband. The case in which a niece was contesting the will of Mrs. Stewart, involving valuable property in this County, was on the Court calendar on the day of the great blizzard, March 12, 1888; Mr. Conkling was to conduct the defense; on his way to Court he caught so severe a cold that he died from its effects.
Senator Platt continued taking an interest in politics, regained his prestige, entrenched himself as the head of the State Repub- lican organization and was returned from this State to the United States Senate. He retained the party leadership until quite recently, when, owing to physical disability, he was com- pelled to retire from active lead in the management.
After his defeat for " vote of approval " and return to the . Senate, Mr. Platt, with the stolidity of a philosopher, immedi- ately turned his attention to business. He accumulated a rea- sonable fortune and appeared to forget politics, but, as after evidence proved, he was playing a " quiet game," and as the politicians say, " laying low in the high grass," waiting for opportunity.
" The opportune time came," said Mr. Platt, " when I saw a chance to return good for evil and get even with my dear friend Warner Miller, who, with Judge Latham, was more than willing to aid our enemies and be elected to the United States Senate, in place of Mr. Conkling and myself, in 1881. Well, I was the cause of having ex-Senator Warner Miller nominated
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for Governor by the Republican party, to run against David B. Hill, the Democratic nominee. To be sure Miller was badly defeated; that was too bad, I know, but how could I help it; I gave him the nomination, a fitting recognition for valuable services rendered his country in the United States Senate. His great popularity should have elected him. His defeat was really too bad; I assure you I felt his defeat keenly, and have never fully gotten over the disappointment."
That Mr. Platt forced the nomination of Mr. Miller was gen- erally known, as well as was the fact that he made no conceal- ment of his activity, as the recognized leader of the party in the State, in accomplishing the defeat of his party's candidate, as a rebuke, it was said, to the pretension of Miller.
Platt's treatment of candidate Miller was said to be respon- sible for President Harrison's refusal to appoint Mr. Platt as Secretary of the Treasury in Harrison's Cabinet.
In 1898, Mr. Platt was well established as the head of the Republican organization in this State, but he could not prevent the nomination that year of Col. Theodore Roosevelt for Gov- ernor. Platt did not disguise the fact that he did not like Roosevelt, but he found the party must take Roosevelt, or defeat. Col. Roosevelt was just home from the Spanish-American War and as strenuous as usual; his warlike valor had been widely advertised and the sentiment in his favor was strong within the Republican party, in fact so strong that Platt dared not ignore it, therefore Platt acquiesced, and Roosevelt was named for Governor by the Republicans. The fate that befell Warner Miller was narrowly escaped by Theodore Roosevelt, who was elected by a smaller majority than his friends expected. Su- preme Court Justice Augustus A. Van Wyck, of this Judicial District, was the Democratic nominee for Governor and was " picked " for the winner, not only by Democrats, but also by certain Republicans. The refusal of Richard Croker, head of the Tammany organization in New York city, to favor the nomination and re-election of Judge Daly* for Supreme Court Justice, for personal reasons, was always regarded as having disgusted many Democrats and influenced them to vote against their party Gubernatorial candidate and in favor of Mr. Roose- velt. After serving one term as Governor, Mr. Roosevelt wanted to be renominated, but Mr. Platt, to get rid of him, forced his
* Judge Daly was then a resident of New York city, now is a resident of Yonkers, in this County.
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nomination as a candidate for Vice-President of the United States, and, unintentionally, assisted him to become President.
Of late years Mr. Platt has not been very active in politics, ill-health had a great deal to do in preventing his usual interest. His retirement from the United States Senate in 1909 virtually ended his political career.
Now all these men, once most active in political life, are dead, gone to that bourne from which no traveler returns.
Mr. Robertson died December 6, 1898, at his home in the town of Bedford.
The last to die being Thomas Collier Platt. He lived, within six days, twenty-two years after his friend and colleague Roscoe Conkling; Conkling died March 12; Platt died March 6.
Though in feeble health several years and needing the care of an attendant, at home and abroad, he went almost daily to his place of business down town in the city of New York from his up-town residence. This he did up to March 3, on which day, while sitting at the breakfast table, he fell over in a faint and was carried to his bed, which he never again left alive. He died at 3.45 P. M., Sunday, March 6, 1910; death was caused by chronic and acute Bright's disease. At the time of death he was in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Funeral services were held at his early home in Owego, N. Y., on Wednesday, March 9, 1910.
Three sons, grown to manhood, survive him. His wife died several years ago.
In 1911 occurred the forty-sixth anniversary of the Civil- War. Thousands of soldiers survive, and are likely to survive for years. This war, like many wars, was fought chiefly by boys. The records of the Northern Army show that more soldiers enlisted at the age of nineteen than at any other age, and that those who were twenty come next. But to be an officer usually implied a certain seniority of years, and now those who were of rank are going fast; the year 1911 witnessed the passing of many Generals of the Civil War. The early sixties surely produced a great generation. It had its faults, but weakness was not among them.
CUSTOMS COLLECTOR AT THE PORT OF NEW YORK.
The most coveted office of Customs Collector at the Port of New York, considered one of the most lucrative Federal positions within the gift of the President of the United States, has been held by many men who later became numbered among the most distinguished of the nation. One, Daniel S. Dickin- son, became a United States Senator and one became President of the United States. The first Republican appointed as Col- lector at the Port of New York was Hiram Barney, a resident of Yonkers, in this County, and he was appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln, the appointment dating March 23, 1861. As Collector, Mr. Barney succeeded Augustus Schell, at times a resident of this County, and the last in a long line of Demo- cratic Collectors. Mr. Barney was a lawyer practicing in New York city; he resided at Kingsbridge, in the southern sec- tion of the town of Yonkers; he continued in this office until September 7, 1864.
Thomas Smith, of Yonkers, held the position of Deputy Col- lector from 1857 to 1861.
The next resident of this County to hold this responsible position was William H. Robertson, of Katonah, who was appointed by President Garfield, under circumstances that are now historic. Mr. Robertson's appointment was dated May 18, 1881; he held the office until July 1, 1885, when he was suc- ceeded by Edward L. Hedden, a Democrat, appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland. A Democrat continued in this office until May 4, 1889.
How near another of Westchester County's illustrious sons came to being made Customs Collector at the Port of New York, is best told by the gentleman himself; United States Senator Chauncey M. Depew, in delivering one of his inimitable addresses recently, relating political experiences, said :
" It used to be that the big New York appointments were strictly National. President Johnson selected me to be Col- lector of the Port of New York. I looked into it and found
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that the fees-it was on a fee basis then-made it worth $120,000 a year. I was then a country lawyer at Peekskill, in Westchester County, and it looked good to me. Well, the notification of my selection was conveyed to me by United States Senator Morgan, with his congratulations. The two United States Senators from this State were for me, and it looked settled.
" But there came a hitch. I learned of it next day. John- son had decided to veto the Civil Rights bill and had been advised by some of his Cabinet not to give out that nomination till after he should learn how the New York Senators would vote, if an effort were made to pass it over the veto. The nomi- nation was not sent in, both New York Senators voted against the President, the nomination was never made, and that's how Peekskill lost more money than it ever saw. Why, that money was more than all Peekskill was worth then-houses, lands, everything."
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The first post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organ- ized in Decatur, Illinois, on April 6, 1866.
The widows of Presidents Polk, Tyler, Lincoln, Garfield, Mckinley and Cleveland were granted pensions by act of Con- gress. Mrs. Cleveland's being granted recently, at $5,000 per year.
Mrs. Elise Sigel, widow of General Franz Sigel, died at the home of her daughter, in the Bronx, in 1910, aged 75 years. When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Sigel and his wife were teaching school in St. Louis. He raised a regiment and battery of Germans and offered them to President Lincoln. General Sigel died in 1902.
From the report of the Commissioner of Education we learn that New York State has an army of 1,840,909 pupils in school, equaling the whole population of Minnesota or Virginia. Upon these schools the people of the State are spending $76,696,217, equal to the entire national revenue of Canada or Holland. In some respects this is decidedly an Empire State.
THE STATE'S BIRTHPLACE.
New York State recently acquired, by purchase, the site whereon stood the Westchester County Court House, in which the Provincial Congress (or Convention) met, in 1776, and adopted resolutions necessary to the creation of the State of New York. This property is situated on Broadway, in the village of White Plains.
Negotiations for this purchase were completed in January, 1909.
A monument was previously erected to designate the spot on which the State was given birth; this monument was built of stones taken from the old Court House destroyed by fire four months after the holding of this memorable session, which resulted in the adoption of a State Constitution; another and adjoining section of this property is to be used by the State for purposes of its militia; a site on which an armory has just been built, to be occupied by a local company of the National Guards.
A second Court House was erected on the site of the one burned in 1776; the second being built in 1786 and was in con- stant use until the needs of the County required a Court House more spacious. The second Court House was sold and carried away, and the property fell into the hands of private parties.
That the site of the State's birthplace should belong to the State and be preserved as a worthy relict of times when patri- otism required sacrifices, was generally conceded, but concerted action to further the State's possession was not taken until years after.
On the occasion of the celebration of the 116th anniversary of the State's birth, in July, 1892, members of the Sons of the American Revolution met in White Plains, on the site of the birthplace, and by resolutions decided to launch a move- ment having for its object the preservance of the landmark by State purchase.
Early in the next year the Sons of the American Revolu- tion caused to be introduced in the Legislature of the State a
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bill providing for a necessary appropriation of money to pur- chase the property in question and for the erection of an appropriate monument to mark the spot. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature and went to the Governor; Governor Flower decided to withhold his signature, explaining that he believed the object could be better attained through means of private subscriptions; that the contemplated expense was not properly a State charge. Those who were convinced that the site was of enough historic importance to interest all sections of the State, differed with the Governor.
Though disappointed in not securing the co-operation of State officials, friends of the project did not despair of final success. Quiet agitation progressed through years, until the Daughters of the American Revolution, weary of waiting action of their male fellow-patriots, determined to take hold and find out what could be done by persistent, energetic work in the right direction. They were aroused not only by desire for heroic deeds, but, also, by rumors that the desired property was about to be sold to serve private ends, and therefore would be placed beyond purchase for patriotic purposes. In 1905 the White Plains Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution took the initiatory, assisted by fellow-members, in an endeavor to raise funds for the erection of a suitable monu- ment to mark the site. An inscription stone, intended to be but temporary, was unveiled in October, 1905, with appropriate ceremonies, in which Daughters and Sons of the American Revo- lution, members of the Westchester County Historical Society, parading school children and numerous citizens of the County, took part.
An organization to be known as the "Society to Acquire and Preserve the Birthplace of New York State," with promi- nent citizens residents of different sections of the State as members, was formed to act in conjunction with the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Board of Supervisors of Westchester County, in 1908, voted to appropriate an amount of money sufficient to purchase · the property formerly belonging to the County, the site of the building in which the State was given birth; the understand- ing being that the portion of the property on which stood the Court House be placed under the jurisdiction of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution and the adjoining property
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be used as a site on which the State could erect an armory for State Militia.
On July 14 (Flag Day), 1910, the monument commemorat- ing the birth of the State of New York was dedicated, under the direction of members of the White Plains Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The inscription on the monument reads: "Site of the County Court House where, on July 10, 1776, the Provincial Congress proclaimed the pass- ing of the dependent colony and the birth of the independent State of New York."
Mrs. Freeman H. Merritt, regent of the White Plains Chap- ter, delivered the address of welcome and formally presented the monument to the State.
Hon. Edward R. O'Malley, Attorney-General of the State, at the request of Governor Charles E. Hughes, accepted the monument on behalf of the State, and spoke in part as follows :
" The gift to the State of this monument is a fitting way to commemorate the birth of this Commonwealth. The White Plains Court House site is to New York what Independence Hall is to the Nation. Here on July 10, 1776, the Fourth Pro- vincial Congress proclaimed the independence of New York from any allegiance to Great Britain. It changed its name from ' Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York ' to the ' Con- vention of the Representatives of the State of New York.' This act gave a powerful impetus to the cause of freedom. By it New York took a final stand in favor of independence. The consequences of the act were duly considered. Failure meant a greater loss to New York than to any other Colony. Defeat would mean the destruction of her vast revenues and heavy loss. The Revolution owed its success in a great degree to this Com- monwealth. To form the Union, New York surrendered its extensive revenues and a large domain. It has ever made great contributions towards the upbuilding of this Republic. New York's capital and ingenuity constructed the Erie canal. This enterprise not only proved beneficial to the State but also the great central West. Cities bordering on the Great Lakes owe much to the Erie Canal. New York is now expending $101,- 000,000, the benefits of which will not be confined alone to New York. The whole country will be benefited.
" This is an appropriate day for this celebration. One hun- dred and thirty-three years ago our flag was made the national
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emblem by Congress. No flag signifies so much for humanity. It tells us of the political independence of a great people; of the onward march of a powerful nation; of unrestricted indi- vidual effort. It means toleration, good will, industry and education; it means equal opportunity. Under no other flag has so many charters of human liberty been enacted. Some laws have been crude, some unwise, but in the aggregate salu- tary. History furnishes no such effort in the interests of the many.
" The issues of to-day are not greater than those of the past. It is indeed an epoch-making time. Governmental functions have broadened. Concentration and organization have brought both advantages and abuses. The curbing of those abuses is one of the issues of our time. Our duty is to solve the issues sanely. The success of the past ought to encourage this and future generations. Our history is replete with acts of devo- tion to high ideals.
" No organization has any worthier objects than the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution. The Nation and State are indebted. to you for the noble work being done. This com- munity is indebted to the local chapter. On behalf of the State, and at the request of Governor Hughes, I accept this beautiful monument presented to the State. I thank you on behalf of the people of this Commonwealth."
At the close of the formal exercises, the ladies of the White Plains Chapter presented to the local militia company, the 49th Separate Company, N. G. N. Y., a large silk American flag. To conclude the day's program, a reception was held in the armory just completed.
FORMATION OF STATE.
The Colony Provincial Congress was organized, to succeed the Colonial Assembly, in 1775. The first session of this Con- gress was held in New York city, commencing May 22, 1775; the second and third sessions were also held in that city up to and including June 29, 1776 (see page 15, vol 1).
As it was deemed advisable for safety of members of the Congress (or Convention) to hold future sessions elsewhere than in New York city, White Plains, the scene of many patri- otic gatherings during the years of the Revolution, was decided upon as the place of meeting, and here the Fourth Provincial
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Congress (termed Convention) assembled on July 9, 1776, and continued in session to and including July 27, same year. It was at this memorable session that the question was submitted as to whether New York, as a State, should indorse the Declara- tion of Independence, just signed and promulgated in Phila- delphia. After due consideration, New York's approval and manifestation of hearty accord of such declaration was given with a unanimous vote. The Congress further directed that the Declaration of Independence be publicly read that the people of the State may hear and learn, that it be published broadcast, " with beat of drum " at White Plains that those assembled as representatives of the free and independent State of New York approve of the action of Congress in session in Philadel- phia, and especially commend the services rendered by repre- sentatives in that Congress from New York.
This Provincial Congress, in session in White Plains, was presided over by General Nathaniel Woodhull, its president, who a few weeks later was killed while leading his troops in a battle with the British on Long Island.
At the opening session of the Congress the following letter from the Continental Congress, in session in Philadelphia, was read :
" Gentlemen :
" Although it is not possible to forsee the consequences of human actions, yet it is nevertheless a duty we owe ourselves and posterity in all our public councils to decide in the best manner we are able, and to trust the event to that Being who controls both causes and events, so as to bring about His own determination.
" Impressed with this sentiment, and at the same time fully convinced that our affairs may take a more favorable turn, the Congress have judged it necessary to dissolve all connection between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and to declare the free and independent States, as you will perceive by the enclosed Declaration, which I am directed to transmit to you; and to request you will have it proclaimed in your Colony, in the way you shall think most proper.
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