The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-27

eei. ne came 10 'hs city from Hariofd' Oou-
!uarermafter to re continental army, In John
adams time he was contractor 10 supply the army
raised In ITO, on account OF the diih cuiles WIN
France, With arms For many years ne resided a.
No State street, opposite the Battery, and was
an sssociate ef the merchant princes OF his time,
81 ah as lie Roy, Bayard, Oracle, Murray, Coster,
EDGAR, and others, some OF whose style OF living
would have done credit to the Medci in their
salmiest days. The wine cellar Of Mr.. Watson
may not have equalled that of Pope Gregory
WI, of whom the Italians have joke that he
took the key Of his wine cellar with him on his
and presented the same to Saint Peter, through
mistake, instead of the key to the gates; but many
old citizens still have fond recollection OF the
excellence of the wine drank at the funeral of Mr..
Watson, which took place in 1905.
The custom of giving refreshments at funerals Of
the rich, derived doubtless from Teutonic or Celtic
ancestors, now happily discontinued, was quite
common in this city and State up to the early part
of the present century.
Mr. Watson took his seat in the Senate on the
llth December, 1893: but from some cause I'M
known to US, resigned the place nearly three years
before his term expired, namely, on the 18Th
March, 1900. Tn the Sd April, 1880, Gouverneur
Morris, of Westchester county, was elected by the
Legislature TO supply the vacancy. In the Senate,
forty members present, Mr.. Morris was nominated,
and no division appears on the journals OF that
Morris received % votes, and Peter Gansevsort
(dem) III, in the Senate. In the Assembly, accord
ing TO the journals. the vote was, for Go1yerneur
Morris, 81; for Peter Gansevoort, As; Thomas
Morris, l. Gouverneur Morris WAS therefore
elected, and took his seat in the Senate May 3,
$500 Thomas Morris, here voted for, was a son
of Robert Morris. of Philadelphia, the financier OF
the revolution. Mr. Thomas Morris resided for
some years in the western part of the State, and
was sent from thence TO the Senate and Asse m
bly,, at different times. He was afterwards u. s.
Marshal for this district and died quite Gently.
Gouverneur Morris was one of the most distin-
bad CJavu nff ta fs1g al a,A rod
in high degree the confidence of Gen. Washing
ton. He was, however, much dsliked by the
democrats, by whom he was considered monarch
isJ and aristocrat His public life is well knswn TO
most readers of history and we shall not attempt
to sketch II in his article. We cannot, however,
forbear 10 mention tina. the Constitution Of the
nited States Is from the pen of Mr.. Morris. In a
letter 10 Col Pickering, in December, 1914, Mr.
Morris SAVE, that instrument was written by the
hI gers which write this letter. Having re jected
redundant and equivocal terms, believedit 10 be
as clear as our language would permit; except
ing, nevertheless, Fart OF what relates 10 the ju
dietary. On that subject il became necessary TO
select phrases which, EXPIRE ssing my own opinions,
would not alarm others, and, 10 the best of my
COLLECTION, this was the only part which passed
without cavil" MIR. Sparks, in his life of Norris,
says, she Constitution was from the pen Of Mr..
Morris After all its parts had been debated, and
in substance approved, that task was assigned 10
him by committee OF the convention" Mr..
Morris was q delegate 10 the coaven ton of l7S7,
from Pennsylvania.
On the 9Th of November, 1890. John Lawrance,
having signed as Senator, the Legislature elected
General John Armstrong to supply his place. Ia
the Senate, ~ Senators present, Armstrong re-
ceiyt a unanimous vote. In the Assembly, Arm
strong had ninety nine votes, and two votes were
for Peter Gansevocrt. There were twenty four
federalsts In the Senate, and thirty. Zine ia the
Rouse--the democrats having eighty-two me m
bers, or nineteen majority in both houses, this
berg the Legislature which gave the vote of the
State TO Jefferson and Burr. On the 9th January,
ls0l, the same Legislature elected Gen. Arm.
srong, also, Senator for SIX years from Sd March,
ls0l, by an unanimous vote, thirty present in the
Senate, and seyen'y-fsur in the Assembly.
Gen. Armstrong was the author of the celebrat.
ed Newburg letters, which were an appeal 10 the
army al the close Of the Revolutionary war against
the injustice of Congress, in neglecsng 10 compen-
safe them for their services. He removed from
Pennsy lvana TO New York some time after the
peace, end was considered a federalist until about
1897. He does not appear to have distinguished
himself a legislator, nor TO have set very high
value on seat in the United States Senate, TO
which he was three times elected by the L. gisla-
tGre, and once appointed by the Governor, for he
resigned the place once, and finally went TO France
amba: sador, without deigning TO send in his re-
signanon Judge Ambrose Spencer was his psrti-
cular friend, and wished TO see him elected Pre-
sident OF the United States; but, as Secretary OF
War, in 1874 he lost his popularity and afterwards
lived in retirement. He died IN Duchess county,
April /, 1888, sged 81 William Il. Astor, Esq
married a daughter OF Cen Armstrong,
elected Senator in place of Gen. Armstrong, re-
signed, viz
ID. Clinton. M. Garrison.
Dem. Fed
Vote Of the Senate .........l6 10
Assembly .................ts 3
lotel..... IA
Mr. GARRISON, Of this city, was nominated BY the
Senate and MIR. Clinton by the Assembly. A
joint ballot therefore took place, when Mr. Clinton
received y votes, and Mr.. Clarkson Is.
Mr. Clinton took his seat on the 23i Feb. 1902,
and was distinguished debater in the Senate
Is03, being appointed Mayor OF New York, he re-
signed his seat, and Gov. George Clinton appoint
ed John Armstrong temporarily in his place
On the lst Feb, lS03, the Legislature elected
Thcodorus Bailey, Ia place Of Gouverneur Morris,
whose term expired the Sd March following In
the democratic caucus, John Woodwerth received
the nomination, but he was defeated bya bargain
between some Of the democrats and federais,s,
(dem.) received Q votes; Theodorus Bailey (dem
7; and Gouvereur Mors, lied Us. In the As.
serbly Woodwork SO, Bailey 10, end Morris 10.
Bailey was dec Jared nominated ny the Senate, Is
10 2, and Woodwork, being nominated by the vote
Ct the Assembly, ballet took place, when the
resgl; was. fcf Bailey CIV oodworth 81
General Bailey TOOK his seat on the 18th Dc;
lsO3, but soon resigned, Jan. III, ls03,) in
eeenieGlnee q being appointed Postmaster Of
New York lie was one Of the members Of
Corgrtss in l>OI, whom Col Burr had indicat-
ed as q person who would eventually vote
for him for Pfesident and Il was alleged by
The friends OF Burr ihst he had promise OF Office
from Mr. Jefferson, and that the New York Poet
Once was hnally given him in fulflnent OF that
premise or bsrgsin. Gen. Bailey was, not~ith.
stancing this story circulated 10 HE d.advantage
q highly respectable man. and an amiable member
Of society. He obtained valuable office, which
be held Tor many years, 10 the satisfaction, gene
-elly, OF the oIizens Of New York We should
nave mentioned that in the democratic caucus re-
"a red to, Mr.. Woodwork, afterwards Judged
eneiyed - votes, and Mr. Bailey 20 OF course,
he former was declared nomseted, out was de.
cate ty The in,rguee Of Matthias h, Tallmadge, a
:. nat ", and brother-in-law Of Cen Bailey.
On the 4th February, l-0i, General John Smith,
4 Suaa u county, vas elected Senator in place OF
Dewitt Clinton, resigned, receiving twenty-nine
otes in he Senate, and nineGy-,wo Ia the Assen-
oly--s un anlmous vote in both houses. This
CEREAL 10 IN Smith was native Of Brookhaveu,
Suffolk con- ~, l.. and was Of the celebrated
amlly Of Ia neier Smiths: 20 called from being
he dsscendal 4 Of Col. William smith, Governor
4 TeDgiefs IN Africa, N the reign Of Charles he