New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
Netc CapitoL
Parrl cost SIS, 214.566 50


These contrasted columns demonstrate that those
early. New Yorkers were certainly frugai-minded'
even il they did not cherish advanced ethical no.
tions in regard to lotteries. The vanished build
ing in virtue of an act Of the Legislature. began to
| be known as the "Capitol" in 1909. Alhanys
right ana interest," in it lasted until 1920 ana then
I was sold to the State for 800. The bill of
| 1904 provided that the building should con-
tain sufficient and commodious apartments Tor The
legislature the Council of Revision the Courts of
Justice and for the Common Council Of tho City OF
Albany" Soon after Albany disposed of her
interest to the State, her Common Council ceased
70 meet in the building. The Council OF Revision
left few years earlier itself having been left
by the Constitution of 1921. In the course OF
time eli the conrts sought accommodations else
where. except the court of last resort. The doom
of the old Capitol was sounded in 1868 when the
following resolution offered by James A. Bell. of
Dexter, Jefferson County. was adopted:
Resolved That 1t be referred the Trustees of the
Capitol and the chairman of the Committee on
committee Of the Assembly if appoutsd to procure
suitable plans for new Capitol with adequate &C
commodations for the several purposes Tor when
the same is needed, and to report 10 the next Leg
laature.
Il will be that just sixty years after the pc
ttion that led to the building Of the old Capitol
was presented came the resolution that paved the
way for the new Capitol Query VIII the new
Capitol have become 80 old and mad equate sixty
years from 1863 that is. in A. d. 1923-that some
legislator of the later year will feel called upon to
offor q resolution to build yet newer new Capitol
The old Capitol was abandoned by tho Legislature
In 1879, and the removal was taken formal notice
of by that body. There was joint session OF SEN
ate and Assembly attended also by ths State
officers and the Judges of the Court of Appeals, at
which appropriate addresses were delivered by
Lieute ant Governor William Durshemer. Presi-
dent of the Senate and by Messr. Thomas q.
Alvord and Erastus Brooks. Of the Assembly.
From the evening that these abandonment exer-
cses took place the old Capitol may lie said TO have
been wreck. 1t did. indeed, serve number OF
useful tentative purposes afterward but no sooner
had the Legislature gone out OF it than a general
mild flavor of decay set in telling that its de-
struction was only question Of time
Mr.. Dorsieimer In the address to which We have
referred aptly remarked 1t is great misfortune
that the building which for seventy years has been
the Capitol must be taken away. Ii Is the chief In
felicity connected with tie enterprise of building
now Capitol Sir Richard Steele said OF Lady Hast
ings that to love her "a liberal education IL
was liberal education In the political history of
New-York to know the old Capitol. To illustrate
Beginning with Daniel ID. Tompkns, it has been |
on intimate terms with all the Governors save |
u
only man in the Gubernatorial limo that ever ven
tured to prorogue tho Legislature. 1t remembered
his great successor, Governor De Witt Clinton,
chief promoter of the Erie Canal project 1t remem
bered Governor Joseph c. Yates. Schenectadys
favorite son, who Ut may be recalled for tine con-
ISOLATION of Governor Cleveland) once sent NOM |
inaton of notary public to the Senate only to have
it rejected. 1t remembered Governor Martin Van
Buren, shrewdest of politicians. who wore a green
coat buff breeches and white topped boots" when |
he first came to Albany. 1t remembered Governor
Enos T. Throop, . staunch friend of lateral canals
who was moved to speak of Masonry as "a useless
initiation 1t remembered Governor William L. |
Marcy beloved OF the Albany Regency, who bad |
his own ideas about the proper disposition OF
suoilsD 1t remembered Governor William ii. |
Seward whose Administration was kept from being |
monotonous by those three antis anti-slavery, |
anti-rnasonry and anti-rent 1t remembered Gov !
ernor William C. Bouck, Schoharies farmer-boy. |
whose official life would have been pleasanter If |
he had not been forced to spend 1t between the |
millstonos of Hunkerism and Barnburnerism. IL
remembered Governor Silas Wright, and what lie
thought of anti-renters the Of the factions in
his own party and tho great Constitutional Con-
yentiop of 49, 1t remembered Governor john |
Young, the first Of the Executives under the new
Constitution, who, when he heard that the United
States and Mexico had cone to blows on the Rio
Grande uttered the quoted and much-criticsed |
exclamation: l will sustain the country right or |
wrongn 1t remembered Governor Hamilton Fish,
solid and safe. whose Administration was rendered |
memorable by the anti-slayery agitation, and
whose annual messages took such strong ground |
against the introduction of the peculiar institution
into the Territories. 1t remembered Governor \
Washing ton Hunt. who responded for The State at
the banquet given in October, 1851, the opening
of the Hudson River Railroad. and welcomed Kos
vuth to Albany. 1t remembered Governor Horato
Seymour, especially during his second term, when
the Southern rebellion was i'll progress II remem-
bered Governor Myron Ii. Clark, who came in on q
cold-water wave and who would seem 10 have over
worked his pardoning prerogatlye. 1t remembered
Cover nor John A. King, elected by the men who |
believed that slavery should not be allowed to
poIluts the soil of Kansas, and whose Admnistra-
ton was as elevated his Congressional career had
boon. 1t remembered Governor Edwin ID. Morgan.
the great War Governor" on whose staff President
Arthur served as Quartermaster-9 General IL re-
membered Governor Reubon Il. Fenton, who came
into Office while the Rebellion dying out and
whose many kindly Offices In their behalf gai2ed
him the regard OF tho returning soldiers. IL re-
membersd Governor John I. Hoffman, the hand
soonest man of them all. who was called to rule
wbile the Tweed Ring was fourishing. 1t remem-
bsred Governor John A. Dix, as faithful as no was
capable and versatile, whose state papers
models. 1t remembered Governor Samuel j. TIlden
and the sensation made by his special message in
regard to canal frauds. 1t remembered Governor
Lucius Robinson. industrious and efficient. but.
like Governor Bouck, victim to factionallsm In
his own party. II remembered Governor Alonzo
n. Cornell, with his strong common sense and un-
swervlng devotion to the interests of the taxpayers
1t remembored-it il not certain that 1t remem-
bervd-Governor Grover Cleveland. II may have
a 49, .l,x IL to |
his way to the new Capitol. OF course these are
but the names Of the public men that figured on the