New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-07
NEW YORK AND SECESSION
Threats at Different Times from
Different Sections.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In our newspapers and on the floor Of
the Constitutional Convention itself the threat
mas recently been made that if the conyen-
ton does not grant to New York City some
satisfactory measure Of home rule and relic.
from excessive taxation the city will secete
from the state. This agitation recalls efforts
in the past to disintegrate the state when
one section or another had not been fairly
'roated by the whole
The present state government was formed
in III. After the Revolution, in 1857. con-
sttutional convention was held a. Pough-
keepsie for the purpose OF discussing ire
adoption Of the Federal Constitution. A po-
!itical battle royal had taken place between
the adherents of Governor George Clinton on
the one side, and of John Jay. Alexander
Hamilton and Philip Schuyler on the other
Clinton had been victorious, and when the
convention met II Poughkeepsie his friends
outnumbered his foes about forty-three %
twenty-five. Clinton was opposed TO the adop
zion of the Federal Constitution without an
agreement to amend it. At that time the mer-
charts and residents OF New York City were
strongly in favor Of the adoption Of the Con-
stitution Immediately without amendment, and
they threatened vigorously to secede unless
their desire was granted. 1t was pointed out
that the eastern part Of New Jersey and the
southern part Of New York would make an
admirable state, and that il the upstate resi-
dents did not accede 10 their desires they
must take the consequences. The convention
itself arrived az satisfactory compromise
by which the Constitution was approved upon
the agreement Of Jay and Hamilton to urge
the amendments desired by the upstaters.
TIE next serious attempt 10 secede was
made by business faction in that part Of the
State OF New York lying west Of what u
known as the Prescription Line, which runs
north and south through Seneca Lake John
Livingston and some business friends Of his
from Hudson and surrounding country had
oblained from the Iroquois long lease OF
the land in Western New York, and when
these leases were abrogated by the State OF
New York conferences were called in WHIST
was then known as the far-of Genesee coun-
try, and efforts were made 20 have the in
habitants secede and set up a new state
convention of the cOnspirators was held al
Geneva in 1889 and vigorous threats were
made to repudiate the authority Of the state.
compromise was finally arrived at by which
Livingston and his friends received the title
to one hundred square miles Of land In the
Old Military Tract, and the desire for seces'
sion died out.
Perhaps the most discussed suggestion Of
secession was made by Fernando Wood, the
well-known Mayor of New York, in 1861. Wood
was a politician of great ability. He held
his power against the opposition Of both
Tammany Hall and the highbrows On Jan
uary he stated the advantages of the seees'
sion of New York City, not only from the
State of New York but from the Federal Tn.
ion itself. In his message to the Board OF
Aldermen he said in part:
"Why should not New York City instead
Of supporting by her contributions in revenue
two-thirds Of the United States become, Also
equally independent? As a free city, with
nominal duty on imports, her local govern
ment could be supported without taxation
upon her people. Thus we could i've
free from taxes and have cheap goods nearly
duty free. Why may not New fork
disrupt the bonds which bind her to a venal
and corrupt master-to a people and party
that have plundered her revenues, attempted
to ruin her commerce, taken away the power
of selfgovernment? ."
This proposition was looked upon by many
as a cynical attempt 20 grid at those states'
men in the Southern states who were then
proposing secession. But in any event n'
statement stirred up very vigorous discus
sion. 1t gave Horace Greeley, in The IND
une, an opportunity to write one Of his eA
coriating editorials, in which he declares
that the Mayor had every desire to BE-
traitor, but had not the proper amount OF IN
tellgenee. But Fernando Wood seemed !"
thrive on this sort of attack.
STEVEN B. AYRES.
The Bronx. July 3. lalA 1919