The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-27
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES AND RECORDS.

INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES AND RECORDS.
The United States Senators from Now York,
from IL So to 1851, with sketches OF Poiiu-
cal and Personal History.
On looking over the official records of elections
of United Senators by the Legislature of this State
we find but three instances of elections, by joint
ballot, in consequence of disagree ment between
The Senate and Assembly. Those instances are
first, the election of Dewitt Clinton, in February
1902; second, that of Theodorus Bailey, Fe.ruary,
1903; and third, that of Rufus King, February,
1918. All other Senators appointed by the Legis
lature have been chosen by concurrent vote, or
agreement of nominations, by the Senate and As.
sembly. There have been, snce 1883, three in.
stances of failures to elect Senator in consequence
of the refusal of enc or both houses to make
nomir aton-namey, in 1872 by reason of the
Legislature being divided into three parties; in
1925, in the attempt to elect Ambrose Spsncer in
1880, in like attempt to elect N. p. Talmadge;
and the present session of 1851, in the attempt to
elect Hamilton Fish.
The first three Senators appointed by the Legis-
ature were chosen by concurrent resolution of the
senate and Assembly-the Legislatures of 1888
and l7s9 having been unable to agree on bill
which would receive the SANCTION of the Council
OF Revision that body, composed Of the Governor
Chancellor, ard Judges Of the Supreme Court,
having the same veto power, by the constitution
of l777, as is now vested in the Governor alone.
A bill providing for the appointment Of Senator'S
in Congress was passed by the Senate aud A.
s,mhly in l7s9; but being rejected by the Coun-
Gil Of Revision, the Legislature proceeded to
choose the Senators, as before remarked, by con-
current resolution, and the same action was re-
peaied in the choice of Senator in I79l.
On The l4th Of January, l79S an act was passed
providing that Senators 20 represent the State 10
Congress, should be chosen in the same manner as
| delegates TO the Continental Congress were pro-
| yided for by the State constuton-the elections
| 10 take place On the fourth Tuesday in January
previous the expiration OF the term OF Senator's
and this act to remain in force until Januay, 1900
The clause of the State Constitution of l777, re-
| erred TO, is in the following words, viz. -
$50 That delegates to repre.ent this state In the
general Congress OF the United States OF Amsriss
BE- annually appointed a. follows TO Wit The 5snats
sEd Asspeiy shsil openly nominate rs many persons
a. .ha be equal 10 the whole number Of desxate to
be appointed; sitter which nomination they shall meet
together and those persops named IN both lists shall
be delegates; and out f these persons whose nam
In both lista hall fbsl he chosen BY tn.
joint belot G. the Senators and Members Of assembly
| 20 met together a. Aforesaid.
On the 20.h of M arch, lool, the law Of 1928 wac,
| in substance. re enacted and the time Of election
Of Senators changed to the fret Tuesday IN Febru-
1 aU, BY the revised statutes, now in force, and
enacted in ISIS, the law respecting the appoiut.
meat Of United States Senators was simpliiied
aud changed TO it's present form, which continues
the former system Of open nomination Of candidates
by each member Of the Senate and Assembly; but
| in the event Of a disagreement between the two
houses, nstsa d Of confnng the choice, as the old
1 law did, on joint ballot, TO the two candidates
nominated, IL leaves the choice open TO any names
the members Of the Legislature may place upon
their ballots.
The first Congress under the Constitution me
in the city Of New York, and formed a quorum IN
April, l7so; the first session occupied period ol
nearly SIX msnths, the adjournment taking place
on tae 18th of September, 1859. New York,
North Carolina, and Rhode leland, were not at first
represented in that Congress. nor did they vote for
Presidential Electors at the frat election--thc
Legislature Of New York not having passed the
requisite laws, and the other two States not hav.
ing adopted the Constitution North Caroln,
finally came into the Union. November ~, I7so
and Rhode Island, May % 1880. The Legisls'
iure of New York, of HISS, although failing &c
L
tal electors passed an act dividing the State into
six districts, for the election by the people OF the
six members Of the House Of Representatives, e
which the State WIS then entitled. Under thin
law, in March, 1850, John Lawrance, Of New
York city; Egber Benson, of Dutchess; William
Floyd, of Long Island John Hathorn, Of Ulster
Peter Sylvester, Of Columbia, and Jeremiah Var
Rensselaer,, Of Albany, were elected the FIRE
members OF Congress from this State under tn,
presen, Constitution, and took their seats In tn.
House in April and May, ITsa They were in tim,
to vote on the most important measures adopted
by the first Congress among others, the removal o
the seat " government, and the assumption o
State debts the latter strongly urged by Genera
Washington, Hamilton, and other federsl,ss
Three Ct the above members voted for assn m ptior
Of State debts, which was carried a, the sesston
Of $780, and three against itso that the vo;e Of h,
State in the House ives neu,ralized In the Sc
nate. where the State was also represented in time
TO vote on the most important me asures, Messrs
Schuyler and King voted for assumption Of Stat,
debs, as they did also for the first Il nk OF tn
United States, in January 1871 All of the al,
New York members of the House also voted 70
the bank, although three Of them wtre considered
anti-federalsts and the bank was TO be located n
Philadelphia.
| The annual election in the State Of New York, ID
April, l7s9, was contested with much interest by tn
derasts and anti deralists, the former fnendIy
and The latter hostile 10 the Upited States consti
tuiiou, which had ths n just been adopted and qon,
into operation. II had received the sanction OF the
State Convention which met at P,uabkeepsie II
June, after a long and protracted discussion, OF
the 26th Of JuIy Iy4a nv n vo,e of m IN N Thcv.
was smajoriy Of anti federAlists in the convention