Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-28
OLD.TIME POLITICAL FEUDS.

by John w. fOrney In FnllaQepM trogrcssJ
The disputes of party leaders for the last
threequarters of century in the old States
would make wonderful volume, but those of
New York would surpass all others. As !
recur to the bitter contest between Burr and
Hamilton, I find how many others have flowed
from that early example, and how strangely
history repeats itself. There was period, in
the history of New York, filled with duels
produced by these conflicts. From 1897 to
1901, and from 1901 to 1904, the utmost vic.
lence marked the politics of New York. Not
only ink, but blood was freely shed by both
parties. | count dozen serious duels in that
interval of eight years. The rivals were AL
exander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, but long
before the first was killed by the bullet of the
latter, there were other fatal affairs. In 1898
Mr.. Henderson killed Mr.. Jones in New York
city for writing a political squib. Jefferson
and Burr were both Democrats, and in 1900
both received the same number of votes for
President, and some of the Federalists, eager
to defeat their ablest foe, Jefferson, were dis
posed to throw their electoral votes for Burr,
but Alexander Hamilton, the Federal leader,
bitterly opposed that alternative, and no doubt
his opposition to that scheme led to his death
at the hands of Burr, less than four years
after. 81 trust" wrote Hamilton, "New Eng
land will not so far lose its head as to fall into
this snare. There is no doubt that upon eve
ry permanent and virtuous calculation Jeffer
SON is to be preferred. He is by far not so
dangerous man, and he has pretensions to
character. AS to Burr, there is nothing in
how ota -, do
Tended by bis most partial friends. He is
bankrupt beyond redemption, except by the
plunder of his country" And Jefferson was
elected over Burr. Then began the reign Of
the Democrats in New York, and other duels
First, the death Of Philip Hamilton, the eld-
est son of the great 6nancier, Alexander
Hamilton, in 1902, in political duel with
Democrat named Eacker; then the quarrel
between Cheetham, the Jefferson editor, and
Coleman, the Hamilton editor, which resulted
in the duel that ended in Coleman's death.
This was followed by the fierce conflict be-
tween De Witt Clinton, afterwards Governor
of New York, Federalist, and John Swart-
wout, Democrat, and a friend of Burr.
They fred FIVE shots and Swartwout was terri
bly, wounded. This was followed by chal-
lenge from De Witt Clinton to Senator Dayton
of New Jersey, afterwards arranged, and this
by another duel between Robert Swartwout, in
which Richard Riker was severely wounded.
Matters were shaping for the mortal combat
between Burr and Hamilton. Jefferson was
nominated for reelection as President in 1904,
but Burr was defeated for Vice.President,
and Gov. Clinton selected as the Democratic
candidate in his place. Indignant at this new
outrage on his pride, and failing to get the
regular Democratic nomination for Governor
of New York, Burr ran as stump candidate
for that office against Morgan Lewis, regular
Democratic candidate. Hamilton was fierce
in his hostility to Burr, and Burr was badly
defeated in the same year that saw Jefferson
chosen President second time. There is no
doubt that from this moment Burr resolved to
fight Hamilton. The latter had been un-
sparing in his assaults upon his rival, and
Burr, hearing of these comments, sent him
challenge, and refused all compromise but
an abiect apology. This was refused by Ham
ilton, and on the 18th of July, 1904, they
fought at Weehawken, near New York, and
Hamilton was killed, leaving a widow and
seven children, his beautiful daughter, An
gelica, made maniac by the fearful tragedy.
Such is the skeleton of New York politics
over three.quarters of century ago. The
future, if less tragical, has not been less quar-
relsome. Both parties have been almost
equally afflicted by able and ambitious rivals
George Clinton, De Witt Clinton, Governeur
Morris, the Livingstons, the Van Rensselaers,
the Hoffmans, the Wrights, the Van Burens,
the Dckiusons, the Stewards, Weeds, Tai
madges, the Jays, and the Marcys have been
on both sides of various factions in the Dem.
ocratic, Federal, Wing, Antimasonic and Re:
publican parties. In later years we have had
the "Hunkers," and "Barnburners," "Hards,"
and "Softs" in the Democratic, and the Grad.
icals" and "Half Breeds" in the Federal and
Republican parties. But in all this lapse Of
time there has been but one Roscoe Conkling.
He is the cap sheaf of the pyramid Of self.
admirers; the emperor of empires; the car
of coxcombs the high priest Ct the Hidalgos.