The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-07
his EXCELLENCY."
A Dlverting Exposition Of the Titles
Improper Use.


the Regents to a reception in this city.
in which you declare most positively
that such usage s wrong and that the
proper title ls THE Governor OF the
State of New York." and then add that
somebody has been guilty OF a stupid
and somewhat vulgar enterprise OF os-
tentatlon." You further add that I'VE
are surprised that the Regents knew no
better"
On the other hand. I am surprised
that THE SrN knew no better. II 1t
had consulted the history of New York
for "A moment 1T would have discovered
that "Excellency" s the traditional title
for the Governor from the very time
New York first became a State and has
been urDnterruptedly followed ever since
You say that the proper title is Cover
nor OF the State OF New Yoft." There
IL no constitutional or statutory au-
thorlty for that title either. The Con-
stltutlon and the statutes use merely
the term Governor" and according to
your narrow Interpretation your bwn
statement is faulty
There are certain traditional things
in the history and procedure of a State
which are 30 well grounded and so used
from time immerhorial that no one has
ever thought of providing statutory au-
thority for them. one might as well
provide statutory authority for the SPELL
ing Of the English language. The term
"EXcellency" has been used In this State
as a tile for Ali Governors OF States,
not merely OF Massachusetts, ever since
the State began. IL Is too long and
tedious TO name the innumerable occa-
sions. but will add n few to show how
continuous and consistent the usage has
been.
The title Is first used in a veto dated
February Z. l1Is, some two years be-
fore the Massachusetts Constitution OF
1850. which says: present, his Ex-
ccllency. Governor Clinton"
Mr.. Shipman here inserts "A conpila-
ton of presidents for the use of the
title His Excellency" In addressing
officially the Governor OF this State and
the Governors Of other States. the first
Of which shows the employment Of the
term on February II. 1854, by Cover
nor George Clinton IN a letter to the
Legislature transmitting "a letter from
his ENcellency the Governor of the State
of Connecticut" and the latest its adop-
ton by the Commission on New Prisons
in report dated July Q, 1913. signed
by mo less a person than Marcus T.
Hun. she chairman. ddressed to His
Excellency Governor William SulZer.'"
1.-THE Instances cited by Mr.. Shipman
may be classified in this manner:
APPLIED by the President Of the United
States to the Governor OF New York tby
John Adamsl once
tAppiicd by Governors OF other states TO
the Governor OF New York I'VE times
tAppliod by Governors OF New York to
Governors OF other States, ten times
tApplleI by the Legislature OF New YYk.
or a chamber OF the Legislature, to the
Governor OF New York. hf:ecn times.
Implied In an onioiai report under con-
current resolution OF the Legislature to
the Governor OF New York, once.
tAppiled nv judicial officers Of the state
70 The Governor OF New York. four times
Applied by New York state officers.
boards. &c. to the Governor OF New York,
nine times.
tAppied by the Advancement OF New
York to IT, Governor o, New York, once.
tAppl!ed b, the Judge Advocate General
Of New York to the Governor OF New
York, once.
tAppIled BY New York city officials to the
Governor o. New York once.
tAppiei by civil officers OF the United
states o,hcr than the President to the
Governor OF New York. nine times
tApp!ied by military and naval ofic.r.
.
New York, nfteoa Zines.
tApplled by a jury In petition for
conimutation OF sentences. once.
tApptei by Asraham Lincoln, President
elect. 10 the Governor - New York once
thppled by Bishop hughes TO the Gov
| ernor ~ New York once
lApplied by Thur.ow Weed TO the Gov
ernor OF New York once.
tMr. Shipman refers to a number of
other instances II the use OF the title
In addressing the Governor In addition
20 those We have tabulated from his
letter lie cites also one case in which
the title is assumed By the writer of an
official report TO the Secretary of War
on January -. 1864 for a Governor.
a. follows:
t"His Excellency Governor Seymour
directs me to say that the depot for
volunteers" sc
Iif We have overlooked none OF the
specific instances, counting only one OF
the cases mentioned in that portion OF
his letter printed below. brought to-
gether by Nj. Shipmln. he has found
scveuty-scNcn Official documents applying
the phrase His Exccllency" to Cover
uors. in one OF which the Governor
seems to confer It ON himself. or a.
l"nst to acqu'"scc in its Application to
him Mr., Shipman continues l
Indeed, addresses, resolutions. letters,
illusions and the like among the stat.
{ papers IF the State of New York 90 on
from that date TO the present using the
/ term Ills ENcc.leuCy" as applied "a
the Governor ot the State of New York
[ 1t Is the prevailing term or title In
speaking Of the Governor, but has been
used OF late ,n;erchangeably with the
prclIN Honorable III addressing him
formally.
Taking Late examples, | may cite the
of'icia. communication Of Josephus Dan,
iclS. Secretary OF the Navy, Of July II
1913, addressed TO HIS Exceilcncy tn,
Governor OF New York. Executive Cham.
Der, Albany" and "A letter OF Fredcrl,
X coudert. dated April %. 1919. upor
measures to be presented 10 the Legs,
lnturc, addressed to His Excellency
William Sulzcr. Governor. &c." a simila,
letter from the Prison Association on MAY
81, 1913, addressed to Ills FNccllencN
, Governor of the state of New York"
There Is the report Of the Attorney,
General OF the state, dated April ., 1918
/ on the diversion of the waters of Mag,
ara River. addressed TO HIS ExcellencN
Governor Sulzer' There In also the of.
fetal report OF the Commission on New
Prisons dated July Q. 1918. and signed
10y no less a person that Marcus 7. Hun
tho chairman, addressed to HIS Excel
loncv Governor William Sulaer"
There is no record OF any d!susc al
the tito His ENcclleucv" as applied
| the Governor of this state, nor any stat,
ute forhdd.ng It's use. II has been uset
by the highest officials and departments