70th New York State Legislature


The 70th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5 to December 15, 1847, during the first year of John Young's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1821, 32 Senators were elected on general tickets in eight senatorial districts for four-year terms. They were divided into four classes, and every year eight Senate seats came up for election. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually.
On May 13, 1845, an "Act recommending a Convention of the people of this State" was passed, submitting at the next State election to the people the question whether they wanted to call a convention to amend the State Constitution. At the State election in November 1845, the question was answered in the affirmative. The Constitutional convention met from June 1 to October 9, 1846. The amended Constitution abolished rotative renewal of the Senate, required all legislators to be elected in single districts, made the State cabinet offices elective by popular ballot, and made major changes in the judicial system. The new Constitution was submitted to the electorate at the next State election for ratification.
On March 30, 1846, the Legislature re-apportioned the Assembly districts: Chautauqua, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Madison, Ontario and Wyoming counties lost one seat each; Albany, Erie, Kings and St. Lawrence counties gained one seat each; and New York City gained three seats. The total number of assemblymen remained 128.
On May 13, 1846, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate districts: Kings County was transferred from the 1st to the 2nd District; Ulster County from the 2nd to the 3rd District; and Schenectady County from the 3rd to the 4th District.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Democratic Party was split into two factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers." The radical abolitionists appeared as the Liberty Party. The Anti-Rent Party nominated some candidates, but mostly cross-endorsed Whigs or Democrats, according to their opinion on the rent issue.
The Whig state convention met on September 23 at Utica, and nominated Assemblyman John Young for Governor; and Hamilton Fish for Lieutenant Governor.
The Democratic state convention met on October 1 at Syracuse, and nominated Gov. Silas Wright and Lt. Gov. Addison Gardner for re-election.
The Anti-Rent state convention met in October at Beardsley's Hotel in Albany, and endorsed John Young for Governor; and Lt. Gov. Addison Gardiner for re-election.
The Native American state convention nominated Ogden Edwards for Governor; and State Senator George Folsom for Lieutenant Governor.
The Liberty state convention nominated Henry Bradley for Governor and William L. Chaplin for Lieutenant Governor.

Elections

The New York state election, 1846 was held on November 3. John Young was elected Governor; and Lt. Gov. Addison Gardiner was re-elected. The new Constitution was adopted by a large majority, with 221,528 votes for and 92, 436 against it.
Harvey R. Morris, Thomas Crook, Samuel H. P. Hall, Abraham Gridley, Francis H. Ruggles ; and assemblymen John Townsend, Ira Harris and Nelson J. Beach were elected to the State Senate.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1847; and adjourned on May 13.
William C. Hasbrouck was elected Speaker with 71 votes against 50 for John L. Smith.
On February 12, Albert Lester was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate, to preside during the absence of Lt. Gov. Gardiner.
On June 7, the New York special judicial election, 1847, was held to fill the judicial offices elective under the new State Constitution, for example the judges of the New York Court of Appeals, the justices of the district benches of the New York Supreme Court, county judges, surrogates, district attorneys etc. Lt. Gov. Gardiner was elected to the Court of Appeals. State Senators Ira Harris and Augustus C. Hand; and Assemblyman William B. Wright were elected to the Supreme Court.
On July 5, Lt. Gov. Gardiner took office on the Court of Appeals, and President pro tempore Albert Lester became Acting Lieutenant Governor.
The Legislature met for a special session on September 8, 1847; and adjourned on December 15.
On September 27, the Legislative passed "An Act to provide for the election of a Lieutenant Governor", to fill the vacancy at the next State election.
On November 15, the Legislature elected Thomas Clowes as a Canal Commissioner, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Nathaniel Jones.

State Senate

Districts

Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John Townsend, Ira Harris and Nelson J. Beach changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Under the provisions of the new State Constitution, all senators were legislated out of office at the end of the year 1847, and all 32 seats were to be filled at the election in November 1847 with senators elected to a two-year term in single districts.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftPartyNotes
FirstDavid R. Floyd-Jones*1 yearDemocrat/Hunker
FirstGeorge Folsom*2 yearsNative American
FirstEdward Sanford*3 yearsDemocrat
FirstJohn Townsend*4 yearsDemocrat
SecondJoshua B. Smith*1 yearDemocrat
SecondRobert Denniston*2 yearsDemocrat
SecondSaxton Smith*3 yearsDemocrat
SecondHarvey R. Morris4 yearsDemocrat
ThirdStephen C. Johnson*1 yearDemocrat/Barnburner
ThirdJohn P. Beekman*2 yearsDemocrat
ThirdWilliam H. Van Schoonhoven*3 yearsWhig/Anti-Rent
ThirdIra Harris*4 yearsWhig/Anti-Rentresigned his seat during the recess, after
election to the New York Supreme Court
FourthOrville Clark*1 yearDemocrat/Hunker
FourthAugustus C. Hand*2 yearsDemocratresigned his seat during the recess, after
election to the New York Supreme Court
FourthSamuel Young*3 yearsDemocrat/Barnburner
FourthThomas Crook4 yearsDemocrat
FifthThomas Barlow*1 yearDemocrat/Barnburneruntil July 4, 1847, also First Judge of the Madison County Court
FifthEnoch B. Talcott*2 yearsDemocrat/Barnburner
FifthJoshua A. Spencer*3 yearsWhig
FifthNelson J. Beach*4 yearsWhigon November 2, 1847, elected a Canal Commissioner
SixthClark Burnham*1 yearDemocrat
SixthGeorge D. Beers*2 yearsDemocrat
SixthThomas J. Wheeler*3 yearsDemocrat
SixthSamuel H. P. Hall4 yearsWhig
SeventhAlbert Lester*1 yearDemocraton February 12, 1847, elected President pro tempore:
from July 5, 1847, Acting Lieutenant Governor
SeventhHenry J. Sedgwick*2 yearsDemocrat/Barnburner
SeventhRichard H. Williams*3 yearsDemocrat
SeventhAbraham Gridley4 yearsWhig
EighthFrederick F. Backus*1 yearWhig
EighthCarlos Emmons*2 yearsWhig
EighthGideon Hard*3 yearsWhig
EighthFrancis H. Ruggles4 yearsWhig

Employees

Districts

Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
Party affiliations follow the vote on Clerk, except Keyser and Walsh.
DistrictAssemblymenPartyNotes
AlbanyJohn FullerDemocrat
AlbanyJohn I. GallupDemocrat
AlbanyValentine TreadwellWhig
AlbanyRobert D. Watson*Democrat/Anti-Rent
AlleganyGrover LeavensWhig
AlleganySamuel RussellWhig
BroomeOliver C. CrockerDemocrat
CattaraugusRufus CrowleyWhig
CattaraugusJoseph E. WeedenWhig
CayugaSamuel Bell*Whig
CayugaWilliam J. Cornwell*Whig
CayugaJohn T. Rathbun*Whig
ChautauquaMadison Burnell*Whig
ChautauquaCharles J. OrtonWhig
ChemungWilliam MaxwellDemocratpreviously a member from Tioga Co.
ChenangoRansom BalcomWhig
ChenangoDavid McWhorterWhig
ClintonRufus HeatonDemocrat
ColumbiaJohn S. GouldWhig
ColumbiaWilliam M. MillerDemocrat
CortlandTimothy GreenWhig
DelawareJonathan C. AllabenDemocrat
DelawareDonald ShawWhig
DutchessEpenetus CrosbyWhig
DutchessWalter ShermanWhig
DutchessAves I. VanderbiltWhig
ErieObadiah J. GreenWhig
ErieJohn D. HoweWhig
ErieHoratio ShumwayWhig
ErieWilliam H. PrattWhig
EssexWilliam H. ButrickWhig
FranklinJoseph R. FlandersDemocrat
Fulton and HamiltonDarius MooreWhig
GeneseeHeman Blodgett*Whig
GeneseeAlonzo S. UphamWhig
GreeneWilliam V. B. AdamsWhig
GreeneAlmeron MarksDemocrat
HerkimerAbijah BeckwithDemocrat
HerkimerJefferson TillinghastDemocrat
JeffersonJohn BoydenDemocrat
JeffersonSamuel J. DavisDemocrat
JeffersonJohn D. DavisonDemocrat
KingsJohn A. EmmonsDemocrat
KingsEbenezer W. PeckWhig
KingsAbraham D. SoperDemocrat
LewisThomas BakerDemocrat
LivingstonWilliam S. Fullerton*Whig
LivingstonAndrew SillWhig
MadisonGeorge T. TaylorWhig
MadisonPeter Van ValkenburghWhig
MonroeWilliam C. Bloss*Whig
MonroeJohn McGonegalWhig
MonroeJohn B. SmithWhig
MontgomeryGamaliel BowdishWhig
MontgomeryAndrew S. GrayWhig
New YorkAlexander M. AllingDemocrat
New YorkCharles BaxterDemocratresigned on January 12, 1847, to fight in the Mexican–American War
New YorkJohn H. BowieDemocrat
New YorkLyman CandeeDemocrat
New YorkEdward R. CarpentierDemocrat
New YorkDavid J. ChatfieldDemocrat
New YorkJohn E. Develin*Democrat
New YorkDennis GarrisonDemocrat
New YorkHenry KeyserDemocrat
New YorkJames C. RutherfordDemocrat
New YorkDaniel E. SicklesDemocrat
New YorkWilson Small*Democrat
New YorkNorman B. SmithDemocrat
New YorkAlexander Stewart*Democrat
New YorkMichael WalshDemocrat
New YorkUzziah WenmanWhig/Nat. Am.
NiagaraBenjamin CarpenterWhig
NiagaraChristopher H. SkeeleWhig
OneidaNathan BurchardWhig
OneidaAbel E. ChandlerDemocrat
OneidaIsaac CurryWhig
OneidaJohn DeanDemocrat
OnondagaWilliam HendersonDemocrat
OnondagaJohn LakinDemocrat
OnondagaManoah PrattDemocrat
OnondagaJoseph PrindleWhig
OntarioEmery B. PottleWhig
OntarioEzra PierceWhig
OrangeJoseph DavisDemocrat
OrangeWilliam C. HasbrouckWhigelected Speaker
OrangeHudson McFarlinWhig
OrleansAbner HubbardWhig
OswegoOren R. EarlWhig
OswegoM. Lindley LeeWhig
OtsegoCyrus BrownDemocrat
OtsegoFrancis U. FennoDemocrat
OtsegoWilliam TempleDemocrat
PutnamBenjamin B. BenedictDemocrat
QueensWessell S. SmithWhig
RensselaerJoseph GregoryWhig
RensselaerAmos K. HadleyWhig
RensselaerDavid S. McNamaraWhig
RichmondGeorge H. Cole*Democrat
RocklandJohn A. HaringDemocrat
St. LawrencePhineas AtwaterDemocrat
St. LawrenceHenry BarberDemocrat
St. LawrenceBishop Perkins*Democrat
SaratogaJoseph DanielsWhig
SaratogaThomas C. MorganWhig
SchenectadyDavid CawWhig
SchoharieElisha HammondDemocrat
SchoharieThomas Smith*Whig/Anti-Rent
SenecaAnsel BascomWhig
SteubenHiram ChapmanDemocrat
SteubenWilliam DivenWhig
SteubenWilliam HunterDemocrat
SuffolkHenry LandonDemocrat
SuffolkJohn L. SmithDemocrat
SullivanWilliam B. WrightWhigresigned his seat during the recess, after
election to the New York Supreme Court
TiogaCharles R. BarstowWhig
TompkinsSamuel LawrenceWhig
TompkinsHenry W. SageWhig
UlsterJacob H. De WittWhig
UlsterJohn D. L. MontanyeWhigunsuccessfully contested by Isaac L. Hasbrouck
WarrenJohn Hodgson 2dDemocrat
WashingtonAdolphus F. HitchcockWhig
WashingtonSamuel McDoualWhig
WayneSamuel MooreWhig
WayneIsrael R. SouthardWhig
WestchesterJames E. BeersWhigunsuccessfully contested by John R. Hayward
WestchesterEzra Marshall*Democrat
WyomingArden Woodruff*Whig
YatesNehemiah RapleeDemocrat

Employees