Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-04

| A Lesson From the Past.
LETTER FROM THURLOw wEED-HIsTORY
REPEATING ITSELF IN A NEW YORK
LEGISLATURE.
To tile Editor Of tile Tribune:
SIR: The seat of the Hon. Nathan
Sanford in the United States Senate
became vacant in March, 1926. His
successor was to have been chosen
by the legislature of that year in
February. AS constituted there was
an overwhelming majority in joint
ballot against the Democratic party
That ma ority consisted of friends
of the national and State adminis-
trations. John Quincy Adams was
President and De Witt Clinton gov
ernor. Up to the time the legisla-
ture met the utmost harmony
existed between the friends of
the national and State admins
trations. One of Mr.. Adams first
appointments was that of Governor
Clinton as Minister to England. The
appointment was promptly declined,
and Governor Clinton as promptly
avowed himself an adherent of Gems
eral jackson as candidate for Presi-
dent against Mr.. Adams This occa-
stoned split in what was known as
the peoples Party" Senators
Gardner, of Suffolk; Nelson, of
Westchester; Burt, of Orange; Og-
den, of Delaware; Mallory, of Rens~
salaer; Lynde, of Chenango, and
Burroughs, of Broome, were sup
porters of Mr. Adams, but opponents
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 only
candidate for Senator spoken of was
Chief Justice Spencer. But when
Governor Clinton came out for Jack
son apprehensions existed that, being
the brother n-law and political
friend of Governor Clinton, Judge
Spencer might also be opposed to
MIR. Adams administration. This
fear become SO prevalent that few
days before the election for Senator
committee of three members of
the assembly were appointed to wait
upon Judge Spencer and ascertain
whether, if elected, he would sustain
the Adams administration. That
committee failed to obtain the de.
sired information. Judge Spencer,
with considerable asperity, declined
to be Intercepted. Two other
friends subsequently called, with the
same object in view, but were also
repulsed Under these circumstances
the friends of the administration de-
clined to go into caucus with the
friends of Governor Clinton and
Judge Spencer,
The first days ballotting closed,
leaving the Legislature of 1925 pretty
much in the same condition that the
legislature of 1881 finds itself to-day.
In the assembly there was large
majority for Judge Spencer. A ma
lority of senators scattered their
votes among dozen or more candi-
dates, thus avoiding a joint ballot OF
the two houses, and preventing an
election of Senator. This deadlock
continued throughout the session
The Adams men subsequently at,
tempted an election by resolution
The name of the Hon. Albert H
Tracy, then a member of Congress
and warm supporter of Mr.. Adams
was sent in resolution by the sen
ate to the assembly, in which, how
ever, that house did not concur.
After several unavailing efforts tn,
Legislature adjourned without elect
ing a United States Senator. The
question, therefore, was RENTED tt
the people, by whom an overwhelm'
ing verdict of disapproval was ren'
dered. There was large Democratic
majority in the legislature of 1926
when Nathan Sanford was re-ele cteC
to the Senate. The fact that it re
CURED twelve years of hard, earnes
political work to recover the groun
thus lost is lesson which should be
read proftably by the Republican
members of the present Legislature
The question now occurs, shall
"history repeat itself SO disastrousl.
against the Republican party? Viii
Republican members of the presen
legislature deliberately persist in {
course which will inevitably deprlv'
the Administra' ion of it's majority In
the United States Senate, or viii
they rise above personal influences
and elect trustworthy Republican
Senators in place of those who with
out Justification or excuse abandoned
their seats
NEW YORK, May 81, 1881. T. W.