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

not become o recognized member OF the
Albany res eDcy until his removal TO Albany
about 1922 when he was appointed Adjatant Gene
ral. In 1928 he was ek cted Com ptroller by the
Legislature, having been nominated in caucus by 9
large majority over Gen. James Tallmadge. Nj.
Van Buren, who was then at Washington, wss de-
sirous that Mr. Marcy should be appointed An pre-
ference TO Gen. TaImadge. Mr.. Marcy ron tnas
time became full member of the Albany regency
and promoter of the Van Buren, dynasty. He mad,
however, as early as December, 1879, soooerated
With Mr. Van Buren, in writing pamphlet IN favor
Al the election of Rufus King to the Senate Of Abe
United States.
TIE early members Of the Albany regency, az
~ov reesllected, are Martin Van Buren,; Roger
simmer, State Senator and u s. District Judge;
Charles E. Dudley, man of wealth aud amis0e
character, afterwards State Senator, U. 8 SENATOR
and Mayor Of Albany; Judge Canine, State Sena-
Tor, and one of the editors Of the Albany Ay.
Sws; Benjamin KnOwer, halter, aod Presi
dent of the Mechanics and Farmers Bank
of Albany, and the most important man Of the
group in d. vsiDg and carrying on. plans. To these
names were afterwards added to the regency,
William l.. Marcy, Benjamin F. Butler, Slas Wright,
CERT Lansing, Edward Livingston, the younger,
Eraetus Corning, Edwin Croswell Azariah G. Flagg,
and others, as they respectively came to Albany as
Bsate officers or citizens showing peculiar sagactty
and faculty for keeping secrets.
Benjamin Knower we have mentioned above as an
important man in the group controlling the demo-
Cracy of the State Mr.. KnOwer was selfmade
man, remarkable for his good sense and sterling in
tegrity He amassed handsome fortune IS hat
Ter and dealer in wool, aud was long President Of
the bank of which Mr.. T. W. Olcott, the accom-
plsbed Hnancier, was the cashier The only Office
Mr.. Knower would accept was that Of Treasurer of
tbe State and in that Office he had the con-
hdence Of men Of all parties. As member
Of the Albany regency, which generally
met in a private room at his residence, Mr..
Know ers counsel particularly in important and diff
cult questions was much sought after aud esteemed
Mr.. Van Buren, and Judge Skinner were daily seen
in their daily walks going to and coming from his
hsnse, rarely attempting to carry out plans for the
promotion Of democracy and the success of the re-
gepcy which were not c0ncocted or approved by
Mr., Kn0wer.
The first efforts Of Mr.. Van Bnren on the organ
xation Of the regency were directed to prevent the
reelection of Governor Clinton in 1920. In this he
was not successful, although the Vice President Of
the United States, Daniel D. Tompkins, was brought
forward as the bucktail candidate. The majority Of
Governor Clinton was small, (only about ,4O0) and
The appointing power fell into the hands of the
friends Of Mr.. Van Buren, by the election Of ma
jory Of bucktails to the Legislature Thus Governor
Clinton vas powerless-indeed, majority of the
Senate was opposed to him throughout his different
terms as Governor.
The adoption OF a new constitution, in 1922 threw
Clinton into private life but in consequence of the
fhryr %oIH Fowl
honorary Office Of Car al Commissioner, he was elect
ed governor in 1924, and again in 1926, finally DYING
h 1928. All this time the Van Buren, dynasty re-
tanned their hold up IN the Senate where they had
majority until the year 1889, when they we're COM
PEELED to surrender the appointing and legislative
power to the wings, under Governor Seward. They
recovered their power in 1912 by the election of
Governor Bouck and democratic Legislature, but
were defeated by the divisions in the party in 1916,
and finally restored again to power by the election
Of Governor Seymour and democratic Legislature
hast year.
Mr.. Van Buren, became known as q national poll
tCian in 1921, when he was elected to the United
States Senate, and took bis seat in Congress- in De-
cember Of that year. His subsequent career as Sen
stcr, Governor SECRETARY Of State Minister to Eng
LAND, Vice President, and President Of the United
States, are too well known to require recapitulaton
here Our object has not been to sketch his politica
he in all its phases, but TO show that for the last
thirty-fve years the democracy Of this State have
been called upon and compelled to f ght the battles
Of the Van Buren, dynasty and to avengc the griev-
ances of this ambitious leader and his family. TIE
coming election, it appears to us, is to decide
whether, by the triumph Of the soft shells or by that
faction being able to show plurality over the hard
shells the democracy Of the State are still deter
mined to sustain the Van Buren, dynasty.