The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-12-23
Bur-. Clinton, Hamilton, CompkIns, Van
Buren, Marcy, Seymour, and U.herS.

The great State OF New, York has been
eqused in the genius aud energy of its po-
hIIcal leaders only by Virginia. In the lat
ter State these leaders, were generally in ac-
cord. John Marshall was shelved upon the
bench by the school of Jefferson; John Ran
dolph was defeated by them. But in New
York a warfare of families and coalitions has
been wAged from the time of the Clintons
and Burr down to the era of .Tilden and
Church. M other State has had Tam.
many Hall for nearly three-quarters of a
century. The first politics in New York be-
gan over the propriety Of new constitution
Tor the Union- The Federalist side was led
by Hamilton and his wife's father, Philip
Schuyler, by John Jay, the Liviug>tons and
Van Rensselaers. George Clinton led the Re
pubhcans with Robert Yates an ! Meianc-
thon Smith. The. population of the State
was 100000; Clinton was Governor; New
York City and the three ad jacent counties
were Federalist, and the up-riyer counties
were Clintonian. There was a Legislative
majority of three out of the tifty-seven votes
for the Constitution. The Federal paIrnn-
age WAY immediately cast against Clinton !;
Hamilton became Secretary of the Treasury,
and John Jay, Chief Justice. Clinton held
the legislature and the sympathy of the peo-
pie. The form of government was more
aristocratic than in any State of the Union
John Jay had written the aristocratic Con
stitution. Aaron Burr was an anti 7Clintn
nian Republican, aud Robert Yates was
supported for Governor against George Gin
ton, who was reelected 10y 429 votes MAJOR
ity out of. Il, 353.su Both branches of the
legislature were in opposition to the Cover
nor. Aaron Burr was appointed Attorney
General, and Philip Schuyler and Rufus
king were sent to the United States Senate.
The beaten Yates WAS made Chief Justice.
Aaron Burr succeeded Gen. Schuyler in the
United States Senate. Chancellor Kent
was member Of the Assembly. The Leg
islatune met in New Yerk City. .A."i
At the next eleetiOn,b in April 1792,
George Clinton, who had been accused of
corruption in selling millions of acres of
land IN the State for eight pence an acre,
beat John Jay by only 10S' votes. There
was contest, and the next year the Stare
went Federal. The legislature of 1795 met
az Poughkeepsie and reelected Rufus king
Senator. 81 Clinton declined to run again,
and John Jay bent Chief Justice Yates for
Governor by large majority. He declined
to recommend the abolition of slavery In
the State. gf"'N .'t' ''''A'' '''-
JOHN ADAMS, BURR AND CLINTON.
/ I. Inc ltglSlatur6 CHOSE Fcu6Tdl
favor of John Adams in91 1861 Philip Schuy-
Ter, succeeded Aaron Burr in the Senate.
| The Livingston family went over to the Re
Livingston was not appointed Chief Justice
of the United lStares.g New York City went
ti-Republoapr in 1897, and sent Aaron
Burr and De Witt Clinton to the legislature.
| The legislature met at Albany in 1897.
John Jay beat Livingston for Governor in
| l179S by 1880 majority Governor Jay now
removed the sheriff of New York City with,
out known cause. Aaron Burr rpn tue Man
haitian Bank charter through the legisla.
ture, and he and his friends got control of
thei stock The 7peuple of tile State were
weary of .Hamilt0n AMI j Jay7 welding all the
| patronage Of the Federal government, but
Burr's bank dodge operated in their favor.
The seditionllaw eombleted the defeat of
the iH,tmibtonixps, and B urfs combined the
opposition, .. yery handsomely putting Jold
| Gen.. Horatio Gates,0n the ticket, and this
] decided the loss of power at Washington
City to the Federal party! For Burr's ad-
dress in this cahllIaigip lie1 was elected Vice
President y in 19O0;b gBarr,o was ofaithless
enough to his party To, endeayor to beat
Jefferson" by the aid of the Federalists.
Hamilton had completed the ruin of the
|
pamphlet against- john Adams, which Burr
got possession of and made public. Gen.
| John Armstr NJ, author of the Newburg
| letters and a reck less character, was sent to
| the United States Senate as connection of
the Livingston George Clinton was again
made Governor im1602y beating Stephen
Van Rensselaer,, The copYention to amend
| the Constitution met ut Albany Just follow
| ing the election, and Aaron Burr presided
over 1t. The Republican party now had
three, ,leaders+eClintn, The Livingstuns and
Burr a CfEtons was strong with rvirtuous
Ispeople. The Liyingstpns WERE rich and M,
merous Burr was without money, connec-
itiois or stability. Clinton and the Living
stons gave BurTis friends none of the pat
ronage, a Edward Liyinasttn- was made
mayor of New York, AZ $40, 900 salary. and
De Witt Clinton succeeded Armstrong in
the Senate in 1902. Burr charged that
young Clinton bought the office by swap
ping.iaito eli ss9rqIs sw -.ti ll Y
BIRTH OF POLITICAL JoLRNALIsMc b
Now commenced political journalism.
| De Witt Clinton established paper with
tCheatham, an Englishman, as editor, which
broke grouhd against Burr Ms a traitor and
"a rogue. % Burr established rival paper and
attacked the-Giintous us-and- EIvingstons
| Burrs friends we're turned out of the bank
ne had worked through the Legislature, ana
duel followed between De Witt ClinOon
and john Swartwout, Burr's chum, where
| five shots were exchanged, and Swartwout
twice wounded 1t has been charged that
the Burr faction had resolved to challenge
| and kill by successive duels De Witt Gin
ton and all his Immediate supporters. The
Junius of the Burr squad was William p.
Van Ness. Alter waiting some time with
dignity the A lbany Register came out against
Burr, and the Democratic. press at, large
followed. The State Treasurer defaulted
in 1903 for $33, 900. Jeffersoh's reelection
was almost Simultaneous With the Republi.
can party in New York turning its back on
Burr. De Witt Clinton resigned from the
1 Senate to take the office of mayor of New
York, and plunged himself in debt by in
dorsing for his young supporters in the Man
haitian Bank. 1t is notable that almost all
the early Senators resigned their seats to
take inferior stations at home.
Aaron Burr now cast the last die by com
ing out independently for Governor, as
George Clinton had been elected Vice-Pres-
ident in his place, as rebuke to Burr direct
from Mr.. Jefferson. st5.
The Federalists met in caucus at Albany
to decide whether they would support him,
1 ADD HamliLon, VINO nad Deen tnere ueIenu-
ing libel against Jefferson, addressed the
caucus, saying that there was no reliance to
be placed on Burr. Two Burrites were
eaves-dropping in bedroom next to the
caucus, and heard Hamilton's remarks. The
Chief Justice, Morgan Lewis, regular Jtffer-
soDisu candidate, beat Burr by 5000 votes,
and Burr, who owed to Hamilton the less Of
the Presidency as well as the Governorship.
sent him a challenge. Hamilton fell at Wee
hawken, but not as deep as Burr. Kent now
became Chief Justice, and Daniel Tomkins
was put on the supreme Court bench at the
age of thirty. Hamilton left behind him the
| plan Of bank, which was Iobbied through
the legislature by bribery, and Judge PuT-
dy had to resign from the State Legislature
therefor TO avoid expulsion. De Witt Gin,
ton now assailed Governor Lewis in the
newspapers, and the followers ef Burr at
tar, ned ts entrar Clinton into a coalition