91st New York State Legislature


The 91st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to May 6, 1868, during the fourth year of Reuben E. Fenton's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators and 128 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties, except New York County and Kings County. The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all within the same county.
On April 25, 1866, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate districts. The new apportionment was first used at the election of 1867.
According to the Constitution of 1846, twenty years after its elaboration the electorate was asked if they wanted a Constitutional Convention to be held, which was answered at the New York state election, 1866, in the affirmative. On April 23, 1867, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were elected, resulting in a Republican majority. On June 4, the Constitutional Convention met at Albany; adjourned on September 23; and met again on November 12.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

Elections

The 1867 New York state election was held on November 5. All eight statewide elective offices up for election were carried by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Democrats 373,000 and Republicans 325,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1868; and adjourned on May 6. At the same time, the Constitutional Convention continued in session.
William Hitchman was elected Speaker.
On January 15, Charles J. Folger was re-elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.
On February 12, the Legislature elected Matthew T. Brennan to take office on March 1 as a Metropolitan Police Commissioner, for a term of eight years.
On February 28, the Constitutional Convention adjourned sine die. How to put the proposed amendments before the electorate was then debated throughout this and the next Legislature, and all amendments, except the re-organization of the judicial system, were eventually rejected by the voters at the New York state election, 1869.
On March 31, the trial of Canal Commissioner Robert C. Dorn opened before the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments, consisting of the State Senate and the judges of the New York Court of Appeals. Assemblymen William S. Clark, John L. Flagg, John C. Jacobs, John F. Little, William Lounsbery, Alpheus Prince, William B. Quinn, Nicholas B. La Bau and Edmund L. Pitts appeared as the Managers to prosecute the impeachment. Smith M. Weed appeared as Counsel for the Managers. Henry Smith and John H. Reynolds appeared for the defense.
On April 7, the Legislature elected Abram B. Weaver to succeed Victor M. Rice as Superintendent of Public Instruction for a term of three years.
On April 9, Assemblyman Elijah M. K. Glenn accused Assemblyman Alexander Frear to have offered him on March 27 a bribe of $500.
On April 10, a select committee appointed to investigate concluded that "the evidence does not furnish any justification for the charges made by Mr. Glenn against Mr. Frear." Thereupon a resolution was passed to censure Glenn.
On April 11, Glenn resigned his seat.
On June 12, the impeachment trial ended with the acquittal of Dorn on all articles.

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. Thomas J. Creamer and Henry W. Genet changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Party affiliations follow the vote for Senate officers.
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stLewis A. EdwardsDemocrat
2ndJames F. PierceDemocrat
3rdHenry C. Murphy*Democratre-elected; also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
4thWilliam M. TweedDemocrat
5thMichael NortonDemocratalso an Alderman of New York City
6thThomas J. Creamer*Democrat
7thJohn J. BradleyDemocrat
8thHenry W. Genet*Democrat
9thWilliam CauldwellDemocrat
10thWilliam M. GrahamDemocrat
11thAbiah W. PalmerRepublican
12thFrancis S. ThayerRepublican
13thA. Bleecker BanksDemocrat
14thGeorge BeachDemocrat
15thCharles Stanford*Republicanre-elected
16thMatthew HaleRepublicanalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
17thAbraham X. ParkerRepublican
18thJohn O'Donnell*Republicanre-elected
19thSamuel Campbell*Republicanre-elected
20thJohn B. Van PettenRepublican
21stAbner C. MattoonRepublican
22ndGeorge N. KennedyRepublican
23rdJohn F. Hubbard Jr.Democrat
24thOrlow W. ChapmanRepublican
25thStephen K. Williams*Republicanre-elected
26thCharles J. Folger*Republicanre-elected; also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention;
on January 15, elected President pro tempore
27thJohn I. Nicks*Republicanre-elected
28thLewis H. MorganRepublican
29thRichard Crowley*Republicanre-elected
30thWolcott J. Humphrey*Republicanre-elected
31stAsher P. NicholsDemocrat
32ndLorenzo MorrisDemocrat

Employees

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature. Nicholas B. La Bau changed from the Senate to the Assembly.
Party affiliations follow the listing in the Life Sketches.

Employees