Evening star., 1946-02-10
Capital Sidelights
Bu Will P. Kennedu

Senator Leverett Saltonstau is the
only man in office today who led his
State in ratifying the famous Bill of
Rights, comprising the first 10 amend
ments to the Constitution of the United
States. Although Massachusetts, was
one of the first States to propose amend
ments to the Federal Constitution as a
condition of its ratification, that Com
monwealth never ratified those amend
ments. collectively known as the Bill of
Rights, until March 2, 1899, while Mr..
Saltonstall was Governor. The only
other States that had not adopted the
amendments were Connecticut and
Georgia. but, following Massachusetts,
example, Connecticut ratified them on
April II. 1899, and Georgia on March l8,
the same year.
The late James M. Beck, Solicitor
General of the United States and mem
Der of Congress from Pennsylvania, in
his book, '"Our Wonderland of Ru-
reaucracy.", points out that it was the
attempts Of the Commissioners of Mary
land and Virginia to abolish trade regu-
lations. on the Potomac River that led
to our present form of Government.
He explains that the immediate purpose
Of the trainers of the Constitution was
to relieve the infant Nation of the
burden Of restrictive regulations of
commerce, which each State selfshly
was imposing upon its neighbors. The
Potomac question led to the conference
at Alexandria, which in turn led to a
larger conference at Annapolis, and this
in turn resulted in the summons to all
the Colonies to send representatives to
conference to be held in Philadelphia
in May, 1787, to formulate not merely
a common policy of commerce, but also
a new form of national government.
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Various political factions have at one
time or another fared up under odd
names.
The Goodies were a faction of the
New York Federalists who favored the
War Of 1912. They took their name
from the assumed name, Abimalech
Coody. adopted by their leader. Gulian
C. Verplanck, In his communications to
the newspapers.
Pewter Muggers was q name given to
a faction Of the Democratic party In
New York City, about 1928. when
coalition defeated Tammany candidates.
The name originated from the resort
in Frankfort street which the leaders
of the faction patronized extensively.
The Bucktails, Albany Regency, Mart
ling Men and Clintonians have related
story. In New York State the Clinton
family Democrat original
ly opposed adoption of the Constitution
The Livingstons and Schuylers favored
it. Alexander Hamilton was connec-
tion of the Schuylers and Morgan Lewis
of the Livingstons, Aaron Burr had
been lukewarm Federalist. About 1900
the Livingstons. or Lewisites and the
Burrites swung in with the Clintonians.
The Burrites were politically tickle. and
about 1907 a split in the Republican
party gave the Clintonians the ascend
ancy over the Lewisites, aided by pa
Burrites supported Madison for the
presidency against George Clinton-and
became known as the Martling Men
because of their meeting place in
Martling's Long Room. The Clintonians
and Federalists supported De Witt Clin-
ton for the presidency in 1912, attacking
the congressional caucus system OF
influence. Madison had the support OF
jefferson and the Jefferson Democrats.
The Martling Men revivified the Tam
many organization and were known as
Bucktails from the bucks tails worn in
their hats instead of feathers. In 1917,
when Clinton inaugurated the campaign
that gave the State the Erie Canal, the
Bucktails were opposed, and as result
all opponents Of the project were called
"BucktailS." Martin Van Buren was
Bucktail. About 1922, they were recog-
nized as the regular Democrat-Repub-
lican party. After varying fortunes, the
leadership of the Bucktails passed to
the Albany Regency, which from 1920
to 1855 managed the Democratic party
in the State. successful mainly because
OF thorough organization. Prominent in
the Albany Regency were Martin Van
Buren,, William L. Marcy, John A. Dix
and Silas Wright.
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