A Political History of the State of New York, Volumes 1-3 — Story, Setting & Ideas

igs were known as Conscience and Cotton, and Woollies and Silver Grays. More recently James Parton, in his _Life of Andrew Jackson_, speaks of "that most unfathomable of subjects, the politics of the State of New York."

There is no attempt in this history to catalogue the prominent public men of New York State. Such a list would itself fill a volume. It has only been possible, in the limited space given to over a century, to linger here and there in the company of the famous figures who rose conspicuously above their fellow men and asserted themselves masterfully in influencing public thought and action. Indeed, the history of a State or nation is largely the history of a few leading men, and it is of such men only, with some of their more prominent contemporaries, that the author has attempted to write.

It would be hard to find in any Commonwealth of the Union a more interesting or picturesque leadership than is presented in the political history of the Empire State. Rarely more than two controlling spirits appear at a time, and as these pass into apogee younger men of approved capacity are ready to take their places. None had a meteoric rise, but in his day each became an absolute party boss; for the Constitution of 1777, by creating the Council of Appointment, opened wide the door to bossism. The abolition of the Council in 1821 doubtless made individual control more difficult, but the system left its methods so deeply impressed upon party management that what before was done under the sanction of law, ever after continued under the cover of custom.

After the Revolution, George Clinton and Alexander Hamilton led the opposing political forces, and while Aaron Burr was forging to the front, the great genius of DeWitt Clinton, the nephew of George Clinton, began asserting itself. The defeat of Burr for governor, and the death of Hamilton would have left DeWitt Clinton in complete control, had he found a strong man for governor whom he could use. In 1812 Martin Van Buren discovered superiority as a manager, and for nearly two decades, until the death of the distinguished canal builder, his great ability was taxed to its uttermost in the memorable contests between Bucktails and Clintonians. Thurlow Weed succeeded DeWitt Clinton in marshalling the forces opposed to Van Buren, whose mantle gradually fell upon Horatio Seymour. Clustered about each of these leaders, save DeWitt Clinton, was a coterie of distinguished men whose power of intellect has made their names familiar in American history. If DeWitt Clinton was without their aid, it was because strong men in high position rebelled against becoming errand boys to do his bidding. But the builder of the Erie canal needed no lieutenants, since his great achievement, aiding the farmer and enriching the merchant, overcame the power of Van Buren, the popularity of Tompkins, and the phenomenal ability of the Albany Regency.

In treating the period from 1800 to 1830, the term "Democrat" is purposely avoided, since all anti-federalist factions in New York claimed to be "Republican." The Clay electors, in the campaign of 1824, adopted the title "Democrat Ticket," but in 1828, and for several years after the formation of the Whig party in 1834, the followers of Jackson, repudiating the title of Democrats, called themselves Republicans.

For aid in supplying material for character and personal sketches, the author is indebted to many "old citizens" whom he met during the years he held the office of United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, when that district included the entire State north and west of Albany. He takes this occasion, also, to express his deep obligation to the faithful and courteous officials of the Library of Congress, who, during the years he has been a member of Congress, assisted him in searching for letters and other unindexed bits of New York history which might throw some light upon subjects under investigation.

The author hopes to complete the work in an additional volume, bringing it down to the year 1896.

BUFFALO, N.Y., March, 1906.

I. A COLONY BECOMES A STATE. 1774-1776 1

II. MAKING A STATE CONSTITUTION. 1777 8

III. GEORGE CLINTON ELECTED GOVERNOR. 1777 17

IV. CLINTON AND HAMILTON. 1783-1789 23

V. GEORGE CLINTON'S FOURTH TERM. 1789-1792 37

VI. GEORGE CLINTON DEFEATS JOHN JAY. 1792-1795 50

VII. RECOGNITION OF EARNEST MEN. 1795-1800 64

VIII. OVERTHROW OF THE FEDERALISTS. 1798-1800 78

IX. MISTAKES OF HAMILTON AND BURR. 1800 94

X. JOHN JAY AND DeWITT CLINTON. 1800 107

XI. SPOILS AND BROILS OF VICTORY. 1801-1803 115

XII. DEFEAT OF BURR AND DEATH OF HAMILTON. 1804 129

XIII. THE CLINTONS AGAINST THE LIVINGSTONS. 1804-1807 147

XIV. DANIEL D. TOMPKINS AND DeWITT CLINTON. 1807-1810 158

XV. TOMPKINS DEFEATS JONAS PLATT. 1810 173

XVI. DeWITT CLINTON AND TAMMANY. 1789-1811 180

XVII. BANKS AND BRIBERY. 1791-1812 186

XVIII. CLINTON AND THE PRESIDENCY. 1812 199

XIX. QUARRELS AND RIVALRIES. 1813 211

XX. A GREAT WAR GOVERNOR. 1812-1815 219

XXI. CLINTON OVERTHROWN. 1815 231