The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-03

gency, in 1878. Martin Van Buren,, =
resident in his native county OF Coluv .''I e
been elected member of the Stat a'ou' nag
1872, FOR four years, and re ele oenA1' ~
term, in 1916. He had been ir >c'eo iof announcer
Of De Witt Clinton to the favor OF the eiecuou
with majority Of the :. Presidency in 1872, and
voted for the Cir. New York Legislature, had
aort;al e,ecto sonian electoral ticket (the PresI-
,br, ~ then being chosen by the Legisla-
tio~ ~ he was decidedly opposed to the nomins.
Il Of Mr.. Clinton by the Legislative caucus, IN
1917, to succeed Daniel D. ToWpkins "a Governor,
Mr. Van Buren,, however, ac4uiesced In the decision
of the caucus in favor of Mr. Clinton who was elect.
ed Governor by the people without any organized
opposition. The Legislature which met In January.
1878, contained large majority of the friends Of
Governor Clinton, and in the Assembly the Clius
tonian candidate for Speaker received ninetyseveu
votes having no opposition. In the Senate Of 1878.
however, there were number of dubious Chsracters
forming suitable materials for the operations Of an
intriguer. and these doubtful men, with Mr.. Var
Buren, and his friends, who were opposed ia
Governor Clinton, formed o decided majority Of
the Senate. Mr.. Hammond, who was then mem.
Der of the Senate, thus Classics that body -
Anti ClntOnians (caed Bucktsils), Is; Cntoniansl
z; doubtful, 4; federalsts g. total, 50. OF the
q Republican members Of the Senate, the balance,
not only Of numbers, but Of talent WAS decidedly in
favour Of the bucktafs.
Under the first constitution Of this State the
Council of Appointment consisted of the Governor
and four Senators, who were chosen annually by the
members Of Assembly, and in this Council were
vested all the powers of appointing to Office State
county and city officers throughout the State. Mr.
Van Buren,, Of course, (says H4mmond,) felt deep
interest in the choice of the Council Of Appoints
ment. His object would not be accomplished ifmer
were placed in the Council a majority Of whom
were decidedly hostile to the Governor. In that CASE
the public would mpute all the which might bs
committed to the Council, and judge Of the Execu-
| i've by his speeches. Nor was be willing that Mr..
| Clinton should have Council which would accord
with him in all his views and be subservient
to his wishes. 1t would, he thought, be more desi-
BILE to form Council which the Governor could not
control but for whose acts the public wonld hold
him. Clinton responsible. In other words, Mr.. Van
| Buren, wished to create Council which should be
nominally Clintonan, but which. at the same times
should be really hostile to the Governor Partly BY
management, and partly by accident. Council Of
the character last described was actually chosen 81
The members ofEthe Council at that time dese
mated by caucusof the repshilcan members OF Assem-
divided into four great Senate Srcts In the southeri
district which Represented almost wholly by buck.
tails, Peter X. Livingston WAS noninatea anu III tna
eastern Henry Yates who the only proessed repubi
can Clntonan Senator from that district was selected
| Mr. Hammond who was himself ClntoniarI
Senator, was selected nom the middle district
against the wishes Of Mr. Van Buren,, and, owing To
| quarrel among the Clntonians, who had q large
majority of the republican members Of Assembly
from the western district, Henry Seymour, buck
tail, Gather Of the present Gcvernor) was nominated
| :" Messrs Livingston, Yates, Seymour, and myself
(aays Hammond,) were the Iext day chosen, in pur1
suauce of the DEGREES of these sub Subj
sequent events proved that Mr.. Yates became Cpl
| posed to Mr.. Clinton. Here, then, WAS Council,
! organized, consisting of Mr.. Livingston, who wa3
open and vrulent in his opposition; OF Mr. Seymour
who was aqually resolved in his hostility, but wary
smooth, and apparently moderate in his action; and
Mr. Yates, professed Clintonian, but undoubtedly
influenced by his brother, the judge, now openly ID
the opposition"
These three men, forming majority in the C0un
| Gil OF Appointment, could of course override, Al
they did when they pleased, Governor Clinton
( and his friend Hammond; and thus were Mr.
Van Bmens views carried out, by thwaYtinS
| Governor Clinton, and neutrslizing Lis powe
and influence with his friends, while Mr.. Var
Buren, and his party avoided all share in tn !
esponsbility attached to the acts Of the council
This operation showed the consumGate political tao
and skill Of Mr. Van BuIen, who went On further Il
organise his grand secret association, called the Al
bany Regency. This regency consisted Of suc
State officers judges Of the courts, and other lead
ers OF the buckta party, who were located 1t Alba
ny, and possessed Of the confidence Of Mr.. Van Blu
| rem. The organ OF the regency Was the Alban
| argus, in which tor time Mr.. Cantine, bro.hcr-n
| law OF Mr. Ven Buren, and d State Senator from
| Greene county, was partner, After the death o.
| Mr.. Canine Mr. Edwin Croswell became the edito
! Of the argus.
4 The Albany regency had it, confederates and col
operators IN the levera countes OF the State, ant
these were picked men from the democratic ranks
like King pavid's mighty men OF valo .
| among the lsraelites. In the city Of Nes
| York the leaders OF the Tanmany Society who
hated sr. Clinton most cordially gladly coopcratet
| with Mr. Van Buren, in his plans to pa. him down
and from the insignia OF the society the anti-Ciint,
| mary gradually acquired the name Of "bnektails.'
They finally comprised q vast majority Of the demo
cratic party in the city anl etate, the CntOaiaus
being made ~ o. fe1sralists sud portion OF the
| democracy.
The su5-,e2eDcy men Of the different countie-
| had arduous duties to perform. They were TO re
commend suitable Candidates for appointment to Of
lice and - see that true and reliable bucktaiIs wort
sent to the Legislature TO cooperate with the grand
central regency at Albany. They were to have
Their rewards ~ Offices, 10 participa,ions ia The
char;cIs, grants and privileges made by the Led.
iatUro.
The Legislative lobby, composed Of men nh, n,
quented albany to obtain bank AMI othee cLarser,
ano oaler local privileges. from the Log;slstare
were often powerful asrSiiiariss 10 the Albany "a
gency. hr. Van Buren had Observed, that auriua
tue administration Of Governor Tompkins Tue lobSs
agents employed by the applicants for the Bank d
America proved too powerful Cor that popuIar Coz
ernor, notwithstanding lie pcnogued the ,,eri,Is