Daily Republican., 1881-06-02
LESSON FKVM THE PAST.
Letter From ThurlOw Weed--His.
tory Repeating Itself fn New
York legislature.

|
From the New York Tribune.
| SIR The seat of the Hon. Nathan
| Sanford in the United States Senate be-
came vacant in March, 1925. His
successor was to have been chosen by
the Legislature of that year in Feb
ruary. As constituted there was an
overwhelming majority on joint ballot
| against the Democratic party. That
majority consisted of friends of the
National and State Administrations
John Quincy Adams was President and
De Witt Clinton Governor. Up to the
time the Legislature met the utmost
harmony existed between the friends of
the National and State Administrations
One Of Mr. Adams first appointments
was that of Governor Clinton as Minis
ter to England. The appointment was
promptly declined, and Governor Clin-
ton as promptly avowed himself an ad-
herent of General jackson as candidate
for President against Mr.. Adams. This
occasioned split in what was known
as the Peoples Party" Senators
Gardner, of Suffolk, Nelson, of West
chester, Burt, of Orange, Ogden, of
Delaware, Mallory, of Rensselaer,, Lynde,
OfChenango, and Burroughs, of BroOme,
were supporters Of Mr.. Adams, but OD-
ponents of Governor Clinton. John
Cramer of Saratoga, and Jesse Clark,
of Seneca, supporters of Clay, were also
opponents of Governor Clinton.
Early in the canvass the onl y candi-
date for Senator spoken of was Chief
Justice Spencer But when Governor
Clinton came out for Jackson apprehen.
sions existed that, being the brother-in.
law and political friend of Governor
Clinton, Judge Spencer might also be
opposed to Mr.. Adams administration.
This fear became so prevalent that a
few days before the election for Senator
q committee of three members of the
Assembly were appointed to wait upon
Judde Spencer and ascertain whether,if
elected, he would sustain the Adams
Administration. That committee fail
ed to obtain the desired information,
Judge Spencer, with considerable asper-
ity, declined to be interrogated. Two
other friends subsequently called, with
the same object in view, but were also
repulsed. Under these circumstances
the friends of the Administrator de-
clined to 90 into caucus with the friends
of Governor Clinton and Judge Spen-
Ger.
The first days ballotting closed, leav-
ing the Legislature of 1925 pretty much
in the same condition that the Legisla-
ture of 1881 finds itself to-day.
In the Assembly there was large
majority for Judge Spencer. A majori-
ty of Senators scattered their votes
among q dozen or more candidates, thus
avoiding a joint ballot of the two houses
and preventing an election of Senator.
This deadlock continued throughout the
session. The Adams men subsequent
ly attempted an election by resolution.
The name of Hon. Albert III. Tracy,
then member of Congress and warm
supporter of Mr.. Adams, was sent in a
resolution by the Senate to the Assem-
bly,, in which, however, that House did
not concur.
After several unvailing efforts the
Legislature adjourned without electing |
q United States Senator.
The question, therefore, was remitted
to the people, by whom an overwhelm-
ing verdict of disapproval was rendered.
There was a large Democrat majority
in the Legislature of 1926, when Nathan
Sanford was reelected to the Senate.
The fact that it required twelve years
of hard, earnest, political work to re-
cover the ground thus lost is lesson
which should be read protitably by the
members of the present
The question now occurs, shall CHS
jory repeat ITSELF so disastrously
against the Republican party? Will
members OF the present
Legislature deliberately persist in
,ourse which will inevitably deprive
he Administration of its majority in
he United States Senate, or will they
Use above personal influences and elect
Republican Senators in
,lace of those who without justification
,r excuse abandoned their seats?
New York, May 81, 1881. T. W.