Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-11

DE WITT CLINTON

Cnhtoii, was poih Ill the year 10y, m
Orange county, in the State Of N. York
After attending to the first rudiments o.
education, he entered a grammar school
taught by the Rev. John Moffat, from
which he was transferred in 1882. to a
distinguished Academy at Kingston, con-
Quoted by Mr.. John Addison. He COM
menced the study of law in 1876, with
Samuel Jones, Esq. celebrated counsel
lor. In the spring of 1897, Mr.. C. was
elected a member of Assembly for the
city of NJ York, without opposition. Dur
ing this session, Robert r. Livingston
was proposed as Governor, in opposition
to John Jay, and Mr.. Clintc4 wrote the
address to the electors in favor Of the for
mer gentleman. Mr.. Jay, however, sue
ceeded in his election. Mr.. Clinton was
at this period chosen member of the Sem
ate for four years; and in that body had
the pleasure to meet as members his old
preceptors, Addison and Jones. In the
spring of 1900, the current of public
opinion was turned in favor of the politi-
cal party to which Mr.. Clinton was at
tached, and they succeeded at the cleo
ton of that year by a large majority.
The opposition party had, at this time, a
majority in the Senate, and, in Mr.. Jay as
Governor, they possessed most respecta-
BILE and decided executive officer. Mr..
Clinton was chosen member OF the coun-
Gil Of appointment, between whom and the
Governor, violent dispute arose respect
ing the exclusive right of nomination,
which, while it lasted, suspended all ap-
pointments. On the Goth of February,
the Governor represented the conduct of
the council to the Assembly, and OH the
18th of March, this representation was
followed by long argumentative answer,
written by Mr.. Clinton. The subject be-
ing left to the State convention which re-
gulated the number of legislators, that
body pronounced, on this much contro-
verted point, in favor of the council. On
the 9th of February, 1902, Mr.. Clinton
was appointed Senator Of the U. States,
in place of Gen. Armstrong, who had re-
signed, and on the 23d of the same
month, he took his seat in the Senate, of
which he continued an active member
until October, 1903, when he retired, hav-
ing been chosen Mayor Of the city of New
York. The journals of the Senate bear
evidence Of his attention to his official du-
ties. The purt he took in the tc.sate on
the proposition of Mr.. Ross to seize New
Orleans, served greatly to distinguish him.
In April 1902, being sent again to the
New York Assembly. he brought forward
in that body plan for the defence of that
city, which was adopted, and appropria-
tons voted to carry it into execution. He
continued to preside over the police of
New York, until the 9Th of March 1907,
when he was succeeded as mayor by Col
Willet. In 1868 Mr.. Clinton was again
appointed mayor of New York. On the
18th of March, 1910, he was appointed,
together with Governor Morris, Stephen
Van Rensselaer,, w. North, Thomas Ed
dy, Simeon De Witt, and Peter l. Porter,
commissioner to report on the improve
ment of the internal navigation of the
State. In 1911, Mr.. Clinton was chosen
mayor of New York, having been super
coded the preceding year, in consequence
ola change of party in the city. This Of
fee he continued to hold, by annual APP
pointment, until 1915. In 1916, he was
chosen Lieut.. Governor of the State of
New York: and, in the following year,
was recommended as candidate for the
office of President of the United States,
by the unanimous voice of the Republic
can members of the State of New York.
On the 25th of March 1917, he was NOM
mated for the Office of Governor of the
State of New York, by vast majority of
the convention of the State and that
State, which had never been before with
out its divisions and party feuds, now ex-
hibited the strange and gratifying specta-
Gle of the election of chief magistrate,
without tumuIt and irritation, and it might
be added, almost without opposition. To
mir. Clinton, more than to any other indi-
vidual. does New York owe her long line
of canals, and the vast improvement of
population and wealth which they have
introduced. When he proposed the mea-
sure. thousands started from it with fear
and distrust, as the rash proposition of
one who had not weighed the consequent
ces and the cost of his schemes. know
the vast expense of the undertaking." said
Mr.. Clinton to the Legislature, g. but |
know also the practicability of the mea-
sure. and the benefit which it is certain to
confer on the State and | pledge my po-
litical hopes on the success of the mea-
sure. / am content to rise or fall with
| its progress" Notwithstanding the sue
cess of the canal scheme, and the floods
of wealth and population which it poured
along its whole chain, Mr.. Clinton expe-
rienced the usual effects of party proscrip-
ton and after leaving the gubernatorial
chair. he was even removed from the Of