Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-10

upon prominent and influential persons. So
Burr informs us that when he came upon the
stage, the State was divided into two great fac
tions, headed by the Clintons and the Liyings-
tons.
Then came the iron rule Of Ambrose spen-
Ger, the great chief justice, and his adherents
in the council Of appointments.
To this succeeded the celebrated Albany Re-
gency, which governed the State with consum-
mate sagacity for a quarter Of a century, and
which was finally broken down by the disas-
trous result of the national administration Of
Van Buren,, who was for many years the chief
director of this remarkable "privy council"
The Albany Regency was followed by the
low and insolent domination Of Seward and
his clique, which is still in the ascendant,
though evidently on the brink of a speedy dis
solution.
As natural consequence Of the state Of
things above described, the people Of New
York have reversed the old motto" principles
not mel" and, for the most part have devoted
themselves to men, not principles. Hence,
when all the rest of the Union was arrayed I'M
der the banners Of Federalism and Democracy,
New York was distracted with the contending
factions Of Burritcs, Lewisites, Clintonians,
Bucktails, and many minor subdivisions. In
1924, the Peoples party" swept the State.
A few years thereafter, the anti Masons of the
western district welded powerful influence,
and seduccd from their allegiance many Of the
strongest Democratic counties. More recently
anti -Rentism completely subjugated seven Of
the eastern counties, and held for several years,
the balance Of power in the State elections.
The large number Of lucrative national, State
and county offices to be filled in New York, in
comparison with those in other States, forms an
important element in perpetuating there thu
system of political dictation which we hav'
been considering. Under the Regency, all the
Federal appointments for New York wer,
made at Albany, not at Washington During
the administration of General Taylor, Gov.
Seward controlled the Federal appointments
for that State Under the present administers
ton, they were regulated by Gov. Marcy Mr..
Bronson, faithful officer, was removed from
the dictatorship Of New York, because h
would not fill the custom-house with the satel-
lites of that distinguished /" Soft" The patron
age of the canals is always used for politica
purposes--engineers superintendent, coec-
tors, and ock-tenders, being all compelled t.
make way for others Of different complexion,
whenever change occurs in the State admin
istration The canals alone, IL 'judiciously
managed, confer numerical strength upon
the dominant party, of 10000 votes.
A volume would berequired to discuss "New
York Politics" in all its various shades ano
ramihcations. We have only attempted brief
and necessarily imperfect sketch Of this greai
subject But enough, we trust, has been said,
to show the citizens Of other States the reason
why New York politics are such mystery tc
all but the initiated From present indications
it may be confidently predicted that the AMERI-
CAN PARTY will, in November next acquire tn,
ascendency in the Empire State, and that there.
after the knotty question of "Ncw York Poll
tics" will be solved in manner Ineligible te
the plainest understanding.