Life and Times of Silas Wright, Late Governor of the State of New York - Jabez Delano Hammond - Google Books

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CONTENTS.

Introduction-Birth and Childhood of Silas Wright-Academical and

Collegiate Education-Remarks on School-keeping by Students of the

New England Colleges-He studies Law at Sandy Hill-Is admitted

an Attorney of the Supreme Court-His Journey through Western

New York-Locates himself in Canton, St. Lawrence County-The

first Public Offices which he held-His services in the Militia of St.

Lawrence County........
Page 13

Silas Wright at Home,........

Commencement of Mr. Wright's Political Life-His Nomination and

Election to the Senate of New York from the Fourth Senatorial Dis-

trict-His action on the Bill providing for the Election of Presidential

Electors by the People-His attachment to the Democratic Party-

H. Seymour's Opinion of Mr. Wright-Governor Yates and Colonel

Young-Mr. Wright supports the renomination of Mr. Yates for Gov-

ernor-De Witt Clinton's Removal from the Office of Canal Commis-

sioner-Attempt to elect a Senator of the United States-Electoral

Law of 1825-Its Repeal in 1828-Reflections thereon-Numerous

Applications for Bank Charters in the year 1826-Mr. Wright's Action

upon those Applications.......

Result of the Election in November, 1825-Mr. Wright's Influence in the

Senate His Manner of discussing Questions-Case of Jasper Ward-

Mr. Wright's Report thereon-He is elected a member of Congress in

November, 1826....
66

Mr. Clinton re-elected Governor and Gen. Pitcher Lieutenant-governor-

Causes of this Result-Mr. Wright's Confidential Letter to Mr. Van

Buren in 1826-Mr. Wright's Report on the Petition of David E. Evans

-Mr. Flagg's Report on the Enlargement of the Erie Canal-Mr. Rug-

gles' Report on the State Finances, from the Committee of Ways and

Means-Mr. Van Buren re-elected to the Senate of the United States

-Mr. Wright resigns his seat in the Senate of New York ..........

Mr. Wright takes his seat as a Member of the Twentieth Congress-

Presidential Election and the Tariff Question-Tariff of 1816--Tariff

Convention at Harrisburg-The Southern Scheme of conducting the

Election-Committee on Manufactures-Mr. Wright a Member of it-

His Report-Debate thereon in the House of Representatives-Mr.

Wright attends the State Convention at Herkimer as a Delegate-

He is nominated, and again elected to Congress........

Mr. Wright is appointed Comptroller of the State-The Importance of

that Office and its high Responsibilities-The Chenango and other pro-

jected Canals-Mr. Wright's Report in 1830-General Fund-Mr.

Wright attends the State Convention and successfully advocates the

Nomination of Mr. Throop for Governor, who is elected-Mr. Wright

elected Senator of the United States in the winter of 1833..........

Senate of the United States-Mr. Gillet's contemplated Work—Mr.

Wright's vote on the Force Bill and the Compromise Bill-He opposes

Mr. Clay's Land Bill-Gen. Jackson's conduct in relation to the Land

Bill-Marriage of Mr. Wright-Removal of the Deposites from the Bank

of the United States-Mr. Clay's Resolution, and Mr. Wright's Speech

thereon-His Speech on Mr. Webster's motion to Recharter the United

States Bank-Session of 1834-5-Mr. Wright elected a member of the

Committees on Finance and Cornmerce-His Speech on the last day of

the Session-Mr. Van Buren elected Vice-President-Mr. Wright is a

Member of the Baltimore Convention at the Nomination of Van Buren

for President-Mr. Wright's conduct in the Senate in relation to the

Anti-slavery movements-Bill for the Distribution of the Surplus Funds

-Specie Circular-Mr. Wright elected Chairman of the Finance Com-

mittee-In 1837, re-elected to the United States Senate by the New

York Legislature.
125

Suspension of Specie Payments by the Banks-Extra Session of Con-

gress in September, 1837-Mr. Wright's Opinion on the Subject of the

Suspension of the Banks and of the Independent Treasury, as expressed

by him previous to the Extra Session of Congress-At the Extra Session

Mr. Wright reports the Independent Treasury Bill-It passes the Sen-

ate, but is lost in the House of Representatives-He brings in the same

bill at the Regular Session, but it fails of passing-July 4, 1840, the

Bill becomes a Law-Mr. Wright votes for Mr. Clay's Resolution against

any interference with Slavery in the District of Columbia-Mr. Wright's

Oration delivered at Canton in 1839-His Efforts to promote Mr. Van

Buren's Election in 1840.........
147

Continuation of the Political History of the State of New York-Cata-

logue of the Senators-Whig and Democratic Caucuses for nomination

of Speaker-P. B. Porter, Jr. chosen Speaker-Governor's Message-

General Root's Resolution to amend the Constitution of the United

States Virginia Controversy-The Glentworth Fraud-Removal of

Robert H. Morris from the Office of Recorder of New York-Freder-

ick A. Tallmadge appointed his successor-Proceedings on the Bill to

Abolish Capital Punishment-Bill for the appointment of County Su-

perintendents of Common Schools-John C. Spencer-His talents and

labors-E. S. Randall-Francis Dwight-General Harrison's Inaugu-

ration-His Cabinet-His Death-Mr. Tyler's Cabinet-John C. Spen-

cer Secretary of War-Trial and Acquittal of Alexander McLeod--

William Kent appointed Circuit Judge of the First Circuit-Death of

Bates Cook-Result of the election in November, 1841....... Page 182

Levi S. Chatfield chosen Speaker of the Assembly-Unusual number of

men of talents this year elected Members of that House-Isaac R. El-

wood chosen Clerk of the Senate-Gov. Seward's Message-Comptrol-

ler's Report-Dispute between the Governor and Senate on the Bill for

the Repeal of the Law in relation to the Receivers of Insolvent Banks

-Caucus for nominating State Officers-A. C. Flagg, Comptroller, S.

Young, Secretary of State, George P. Barker, Attorney-general, Thom-

as Farrington, Treasurer, Nathaniel Jones, Surveyor-general-Canal

Commissioners-Debates in the Senate and Assembly on the Finances

-Mr. Hoffinan's Speech-Mr. Flagg's Report-Mr. Hoffinan's Finan-

cial Bill of 1842-It passes the Assembly-Proceedings in the Senate

thereon-Mr. Dickinson's Substitute, and Messrs. Foster's and Faulk-

ner's Amendments-The People's Resolutions-Indications of Dissen-

sions in the Democratic and Whig Parties-Virginia Controversy again

discussed-Bill for removing the State Printer-Vetoed by the Governor

--Proceedings in Congress-Mr. Wright's Speech on the Loan Bill--

His Speech on the Bill for dividing the States into single Congressional

Districts-New Tariff Bill-Mr. Wright's Speech on this Bill-Demo-

cratic State Convention-William C. Bouck nominated for Governor-

He is elected-D. S. Dickinson elected Lieutenant-governor

George R. Davis nominated and elected Speaker-Governor's Message-

Gov. Bouck's Birth and Education-Lyman Sanford appointed Adju-

tant-general-Agitation of the Presidential Question at Washington-

Proceedings on board the Brig Somers, and death of Mr. Philip Spencer

-South Carolina Legislature nominate Mr. Calhoun for President-

Character of the State Officers in 1843--Course of the Governor-Con-

test respecting State Printer-E. Croswell, H. H. Van Dyck-E. Cros-

well appointed State Printer-Albany Atlas-Mr. Wright re-elected

United States Senator-Mr. Dickinson's Resolution in relation to the

conduct of Gov. Bouck as Canal Commissioner-The distribution of the

Books containing the result of the Geological Survey-Young and

Dickinson-Bill for abolishing the Office of Bank Commissioner-Re-

jection by the Senate of nominations made by the Governor

Character of Leading Members of the Legislature of 1844-Democratic

Caucus for Speaker-Mr. Litchfield nominated and elected-James R.

Rose elected Clerk-Governor's Message-Meeting at Albany of the

friends of a Convention-Formation of the Committees of the Assembly

-Mr. Foster's Resolution for the Reduction of Postage-Mr. Foster

elected President pro tem. of the Senate-Death of Judge Cowen-

Samuel Beardsley appointed Justice of the Supreme Court-Death of

Gen. P. B. Porter-James V. L. Pruyn and James J. Wadsworth ap-

pointed Regents of the University-J. P. Cushman resigns the office of

Circuit Judge, and A. J. Parker appointed his successor-Mr. Farring-

ton appointed Treasurer-J. C. Spencer nominated Associate Justice of

the United States Supreme Court-His nomination is rejected by the

Senate-Causes-Silas Wright nominated for same Office-He declines

-Nomination of Chancellor Walworth for same Office-Afterwards

the Chancellor's name withdrawn by the President, when Judge Nel-

son was nominated and appointed......

Gen. Chamberlain's Resolutions-Mr. Dennison's Report on the Canal

Policy and Bill-Assembly's Finance Bill amended in the Senate, and

passes-The state of feeling in the Assembly and Senate between the

Hunkers and Radicals-B. F. Hall's Bill for a Convention, and proceed-

ings thereon-Bill for electing Canal Commissioners-Removal of Mr.

Cassidy from the office of State Librarian-Policy of the Whigs-Cal-

vin H. Hulburd-Democratic Legislative Caucus-Protest of the minor-

ity-Whig Legislative Address...
403

BALTIMORE CONVENTION.

The issue on which Mr. Van Buren was beaten in 1840-Annexation of

Texas-Mr. Van Buren's Letter to Mr. Hammit-Intrigues at Wash-

ington-Two-third Rule-Proceedings at the Baltimore Convention-

Nomination of James K. Polk-Mr. Wright declines to be a Candidate

for Vice-President-George M. Dallas is nominated Vice-President--

Whig Convention-Mr. Clay nominated for President-Mr. Freling-

huysen for Vice-President--Millard Fillmore supported by the New

York Delegation-His Character

Public feeling on the announcement of the Presidential Nominations-

Native American Party-Liberty Party-Anti-Rent Party-Two sec-

tions of the Whig Party-Conservative and Radical-Difficulties in the

selection of a Democratic candidate for Governor-Radical papers de-

mand the Nomination of Mr. Wright-His unwillingness to be a

Candidate- His Letter to the Editor of the St. Lawrence Republican-

Syracuse Convention-Mr. Wright nominated for Governor-Whig

State Convention-Secret Circular--Mr. Clay's Letters--Their Effect

--Action of the Native American Party--Also of the Liberty Party-

Result of the Election-Position and Policy of the Governor elect--Mr.

Wright resigns his seat in the United States Senate-Governor Bouck

appointe Messrs. Dickinson and Foster United States Senators in place

of Governor Wright and N. P. Tallmadge..

CHAPTER XVII. .

Condition of the Democratic Party at the commencement of the year 1845

-Contest about the nomination of Speaker-Mr. Seymour and Col.

Crain-Mr. Seymour is nominated and elected-Governor's Message--

Caucus to nominate State Officers-Its result-Caucus to nominate

United States Senators-Messrs. Dickinson and Dix nominated and

elected-Mr. Polk's offer to appoint Mr. Wright Secretary of the Treas-

ury-Gov. Marcy appointed Secretary of War

Opinions of the Hunker and Radical Members of the Legislature of 1845

on the subject of the necessity of a Constitutional Convention-Differ-

ent views of the Hunkers, Radicals, and Whigs on that subject-Char-

acter of John Young-Amendments to the Constitution proposed by

the Legislature of 1814, and approved by the Electors at the Novem-

ber election of that year-Action of the Whig Members of the Legis-

lature on those Amendments-Circumstances which led to the passage

of a Convention Bill-Final passage of the Bill in the Assembly-De-

bate on that occasion-Proceedings in the Senate on the Convention

Bill-Its final passage in that House-Passage of the Canal Bill--Is

vetoed by the Governor-Resignation of Judge Kent, and appointment

of Judge Edmonds as Circuit Judge of the First Circuit....... 535

Bill to prevent persons appearing disguised and armed-Anti-rent Conven-

tion at Bern-No Democratic legislative Caucus was held at the close

of the session-Address of the Radical members-Whig legislative Cau-

cus and Address-Democratic Mass Meeting at Albany-Different opin-

ions as to the course pursued by Governor Wright-J. A. Spencer and

Samuel Young elected Senators-General Result of the Election in

November, 1845-Death of General Jackson-Death of Judge Suther-

land-Death of Francis Dwight-His Character......
562

Legislature of 1846-Col. Crain and Mr. Bailey, candidates for nomina-

tion to the Speakership-Mr. Crain nominated and elected Speaker—

Delos W. Dean, Clerk-Anti-Rent Outrages-Trial of the Insurgents

in Delaware County-Judge Parker-John Van Buren-Governor's

Message-Legislative Proceedings-Debate in the Senate on the Reso-

lutions proposed by Mr. Jones-Bill on the subject of State Printer-

Proceedings and Debates thereon in the Senate and Assembly--Act

abolishing Distress for Rent-Mr. A. G. Chatfield chosen Speaker pro

tem.-Col. Young elected President pro tem. of the Senate-R. E.

Temple appointed Adjutant-General-Hiram Gray appointed Judge of

the Sixth Circuit--L. H. Sanford Vice-Chancellor of the First District-

Death of Jonas Earl....

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