The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-12-23
NO. 20

crossed with Jonathan Edwards. Jabez ID.
Hammond, who wrute the political history
OF New York, says that from 1919 on ward
he never made a speech which could be
called an argument, and finally dropped TO
medlocrlty with u good deal of the shyster
in his way of practice.
New York. being a great commercial
State, was divided on Jefferson's embarpo.
system of conquenng Europe by dammiuS
ourselves up. De Witt Clinton and the Fed
eraiists denounced the embargo. Governor
Tompkins, Ciinton'S creation, approved of it.
Tompkins restored Clinton To the mayoralty
and put out more of the Livlngstons. In
this year. 1908, MaItin Van Buren was sur
rogate of Columbia county, where Governor
Tilden's father was his neighbor and yCuny
rilden six years short of being baby.
Clinton revoked his disapprobauon of the
embargo, aud his uncle, George Clinton,
failed to get the Presidency in Jefferson's
place. Mr.. Madison's friends attacked the
Clntons as cormorants of power IN New
Y ork, and the Clinton dynasty was ready
Tor war with the Virginian dynasty. Che
Livlngstnns aud Burrites now united to de-
nounce De Witt Clinton and his uncle. The
electoral vote of the State was divided be-
tween George Clinton anu Madison. for the
Presidency In the meantime Governor
Fompkns's father in,law, q rich citizen of
New York, led the opposition TO De Witt
ChntOn. De Witt executed a flank move
ment and supported the administration in
the State Senate. Tompkins was reelected
the year following by 10000 majority.
Fompkins published protectionist message
and Clinton again became mayor of New
York. Ia. the meantime George Clinton. as
PIesldsut OF the Senate, vetoed the recharter
of the United States Bank, saving. ,Ia the
course Of u long life ! have found that
government is not to be strengthened by
an assumption of doubtful power, but by a
wise and enegetic execution of those powers
which are incontesi able,". .~ff .o.s.gra y.
TAMMANY HALL. ,,. .-.. %,
DE Witt Clinton now received $14, 900 in
the lmayoralty QS1D. Clinton, however,
desired the vacant ntfice of Lieutenant-Goy-
ernor, and the Governors party made war on
him in the Tammany Hall, which was the
first notable appearance of this concern in
general politics" IL occupied the site of
the Sun office. Clinton was beaten In the
city, but obtained his objectss uae e
Clinton now had two great enterprises on
his mind-the Presidency and the Erie
canal. Congress refused him a grant of
land for the canal, and fight occurred over
great bank in New York (American),
where bribery was proven, and the Governor
prorogued the legislature for two months
The bank men would not support Clinton for
the Presidency until they had obtained their
charter. In the midst OF this contest George
Clinton died at the age of seventy-three, and
his statue stands in the ca pitOl with that Of
Chancellor Livingston as the two. contribu-
tiOns from the State of New York Governor
| Tilden, from whose county Livingston was,
and whose father was probably friend. of
Livingston, had hand in this selection.
! The Bank of America was Incorporated
and De Witt Clinton was nominated by the
| Legislative caucus for President Congress
declared war against Great Britain, the Clin-
tonians opposing the war. The war more
than the bank beat Clinton. and Mr.. Madi.
son was reelected. Martin Van Buren, came
to the Legislature this year and led Clinton's
caucus; DE Witt Clinton got so votes from
New England, New York, New Jersey, Del
aware and Maryland but Madison received
1913. The Tammany Society, which was, now
nearly thirty years old, and was formed in
opposition to the society of Cincinnati,
took ground against De Witt Clinton, led by
the Federal officeholders of Madison. The
Tamlnany party founded a paper in New
York and imported Henry Wheaton from
Rhode Island to edit it against Clinton
Wheaton was afterwards great authority
on international law. Clinton supported
Rufus King, the i-Repubhcan candidate
for United States Senator, and Clinton be-
came mayor of New York again. Robert
r. Livingston died about this time, and
bis family disappeared from the politics of
the State. TOnpkins was reelected Cover
Pnor, and the Albany Argus was established
in his support, and war was declared against
Clinton. 4, = z.4. a- 9'-i T5.lt q
WHEN VAN .BUREN WAS Boss,,roo y s,
Van Buren was now the managing man
of the legislature and the chief debater of
the State Senate. John Armstrong, who
had become Secretary of War, killed
off by the burning of Washington, and
Tompkins assisted to make him unpopular
and received the Vice Presidency with
Monroe, while Clinton was removed from
the mayoralty of New York by the Cover
nor. He had the support of the Irish, be-
ing of their blood, but hadithe decided opa
position of Tammany. Instead OF Initiating
Burr with something Quixotic, although be
was insolent, Clinton took to literature,
science, and the Erie canal, and made fine
lyceunl reputation. New York supported
Crawford, OF Georgia, for the Presidency.
De Witt Clinton was now again raised TO
new political consideration by his brother
in-aw, Judge Ambrose Spencer, to neutral
ize Tompklns. and Martin Van Biren OPP
posed him. Clinton WAS elected Governor
without other opposition than Tammany
Hall. In two years be had come from the
depth of political misfortune to the summit
of power, but his own party was at heart
opposed to him. De Witt Clinton issued
the first proclamation which resulted, in Q
day OF Thanksgiving in New York, Thurs
day, November 13, 1917. Clinton began
vindictively against Van Buren. and the
rammany Hall men denounced the Erie
canal in the legislature as q Clinton folly.
by whose failure he would disappear FROM
Consideration. HOratio Seymour's father,
Ogden Edward and Martin Van Buren, led
the Tammany crowd. Clinton had now
gone halfway over to his old enemies, the
Federalists.
Seymouf's father was country merchant
from near Syracuse, described as very
smooth, shrewd, cautious, wary and jesuiti-
cal. His son will perhaps be recognized
from this description. During all these
years the Constitution had saddled on the
Governor a Council of Appointment. and
Van Buren manipulated into these places a
council nominally Clintonian but really bis
enemies. Henry Seymour was one OF the
council, and William L.. Marcy, OF, Troy,
joined the Van Buren, aud Tammany com
Dination, and Clinton removed Marcy there
for from a local Office. De Witt Clinton op-
posed the caucus headed by Van Barren.
and steadily pursuing bis canal scheme, put
TanImany TO shame. The Republican party
was split, and Henry Seymour made canal
commissioner To wield the patronage OF the
canal which Clinton had created in the in
ferest Of Tammany against its author.
H-nceforth the canal ring annoyed De Wit
Clinton TO the day Of his death.
Van Buren now set 10 work 20 put up old
Vice-President Tompkins fos Governor
against Clinton, bat Tompkins was q, de-
faulter on the Comptroller's books, and q
plausible, flexible, cheap style of man. The
sons of Alexander Hamilton and OF Rufus
King, Federalists, went into the opposition
20 Clinton on the ground that he was get
ting up personal party. The legislative
eiecficgna went aOainsf Clinton bit he had