The Jersey City news., 1904-03-19
LEGISLATIVE
HISTORY
Stories of the Storming Ses-
sions Of the General
Assembly in the
Winter ofl865.
WHEN LEON ALBEIT LED
Distinguished Governor Then
Became the Head OF His
Party Which He Ruled
Vigorously.
WHEN LEON ALBEIT LED

Inc Heccnts 4uiSt anu ofucriy coHf Vb7
ing and organization of the House of
Assembly at Trenton, is in sharp con-
trast with the long, protracted struggle
over the early days of this branch Of the
State Legislature in the winter of 1865.
That session of the General Assembly
was, in many respects, remarkable one,
says James d. Cleaver in the Newark
Sunday News
In the first place, the composition of
the body was strange, and probably with
out parallel in this State. The sixty
members of which it consisted were so
divided in politics that on all questions
involving allegiance to one or the other
of the two great parties there was a tie
vote. There were thirty regular Demo
Gratis and the other thirty members in
cluded three or four men who had been
lifelong Democrats, but would not accept
the party views as to secession, slavery
and the war of the Rebellion. The re-
mainder were Republicans and they, with
the war Democrats, as they called them
selves, worked together. The war DEM
ocrats,' refused, absolutely, to affiliate
with the regulars, and went into eau
Gus with the Republicans, and acted and
voted with them during the entire ses-
sion.
4he conte began at the opening
session with the choice of speaker. And
| thus started struggle, which was, un-
doubtedly, the most protracted ever
known in this State. The Republicans
an dthe war Democrats met in caucus
and selected as their candidate, Joseph
I. urowell, of Union County. Mr..
| CrowelI was a man of marked ability
and large experience. He had been all
his life Democrat but refused to fol-
low the party in its attitude towards the
War Of the Rebellion, its sympathy for
the South an dts opposition to the fight
for the Union, the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws
mo sooner was it announced that he
had been selected as a candidate than it
was proclaimed by the Democrats that
Joe Crowell should never be speaker of
that House They would never permit
him, they said, renegade to his party,
to preside over that body, if they had to
stay there all winter. These and other
similar threats were loud and emphatic.
In the end however, the opposition failed,
and Mr.. CrowelI was elected by unani-
nous vote.
ssThere was sad incident, due to the
equal division Of the parties. Colonel
Samuel Fowler. Democratic member
elect, was taken out of sick bed and
brought through the inclement weather
to Trenton. He was carried into the
House on the first day of the session, an
swered roll call. and then he was taken
back to his hotel at the adjournment.
His body was taken to his home few
days afterward
After the members had been sworn
in, the Assembly was taken in hand by
the clerk Of the former House. This was
an assumption Of authority on his part
for which there was no justification in
law, but the act was in pursuance of a
practice which had obtained for years
and no objection was urged, for no one
suspected what the outcome would be.
This man, who had no legal power what
ever, took the business of the House en-
tirely into his own hands, and it was re-
markable how his action, decisions and
judgment conceded with the views and
wishes af one Of the parties.
One of the most remarkable men who
has appeared in the history Of the state
came to light as the boss in the party,
at that time, when Leon ALBEIT, mem
Der Of the House from Hudson County.
took command Of his fellow Democrats
in the Assembly and ruled with d rod Of
iron.
As soon as the members were sworn
in, motion was made that the body pro-
coed to the election of a speaker. Mr..
Albeit took the floor and for an hour or
more haransued the Heuse. What he
said and said over many times, had about
as much to do with the question before
| the body as with the Revolution Of '9S.'
but that made no difference to the young
orator, who was determined 70 show his
powers. He went on talking. When he
was called to order for not speaking to
! the question the great man who was act.
ing as presiding officer blandly declared
the point Of order not wen taken. The
House had adopted nc rules Of order and
there vas 20 regulation requiring man