24th New York State Legislature

The 24th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from November 4, 1800, to April 8, 1801, during the sixth year of John Jay's governorship, in Albany.

24th New York State Legislature
←23rd 25th→
The Old Albany City Hall (undated)
Overview
Legislative bodyNew York State Legislature
JurisdictionNew York, United States
TermJuly 1, 1800 – June 30, 1801
Senate
Members43
PresidentLt. Gov. Stephen Van Rensselaer (Fed.)
Party controlFederalist (25-18)
Assembly
Members108
SpeakerSamuel Osgood (Dem.-Rep.)
Party controlDemocratic-Republican
Sessions
1stNovember 4 – 8, 1800
2ndJanuary 27 – April 8, 1801

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, amended by the re-apportionment of March 4, 1796, Senators were elected on general tickets in the senatorial districts for four-year terms. They were divided into four classes, and every year about one fourth of the Senate seats came up for election. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually.

In 1797, Albany was declared the State capital, and all subsequent Legislatures have been meeting there ever since. In 1799, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the last Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor.

Senator John Addison died in 1800, leaving a vacancy in the Middle District.

In 1800, Greene County was created from parts of Albany and Ulster counties, and was apportioned 2 seats in the Assembly, one each taken from Albany and Ulster.

In August 1800, U.S. Senator John Laurance (Fed.) resigned.

At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.[1]

Elections

The State election was held from April 29 to May 1, 1800. Senators William Denning (Southern D.), James Gordon (Eastern D.) and Jedediah Sanger (Western D.) were re-elected. Benjamin Huntting, Ebenezer Purdy (both Southern D.), James W. Wilkin, David Van Ness, Solomon Sutherland, John C. Hogeboom (all four Middle D.), Stephen Lush (Eastern D.) and Assemblyman Robert Roseboom (Western D.) were also elected to full terms in the Senate. Jacobus S. Bruyn (Middle D.) was elected to a one-year term to fill the vacancy. Gordon, Sanger and Lush were Federalists, the other nine were Democratic-Republicans.

Sessions

The Legislature met at the Old City Hall in Albany on November 4, 1800, to elect presidential electors; and the Senate adjourned on November 7, the Assembly on November 8.

Dem.-Rep. Samuel Osgood was elected Speaker with 62 votes against 31 for Federalist Dirck Ten Broeck.

On November 6, 1800, the Legislature elected 12 presidential electors, all Democratic-Republicans: William Floyd, Isaac Ledyard, Anthony Lispenard, Philip Van Cortlandt Jr., James Burt, Gilbert Livingston, Thomas Jenkins, Peter Van Ness, Robert Ellis, John Woodworth, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and Jacob Eaker. They cast their votes for Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

On November 6, 1800, the Legislature elected John Armstrong (Dem.-Rep.) to fill the vacancy in the U.S. Senate.

The Legislature met for the regular session on January 27, 1801; and adjourned on April 8.

On January 27, 1801, John Armstrong was re-elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate.

On February 26, 1801, Gov. John Jay sent a message to the Assembly about the controversy that had arisen in the Council of Appointment concerning the right to nominate appointees. Jay held that only the governor could nominate somebody, and the councillors then could only approve or reject this nomination. The Dem.-Rep. councillors however claimed that they too had the right to nominate appointees, and Jay had adjourned the council and did not make any appointments anymore. Jay asked the Assembly to solve the problem, but they refused, claiming that it was a constitutional issue to be decided by the Governor and Council. Jay asked then the chancellor and the justices of the New York Supreme Court for their opinion, but they refused to give it, claiming that to give opinions was outside the scope of their constitutional duties. To find a way out of the impasse, the Legislature passed on April 6 an "Act Recommending a Convention" which called for the election of delegates to a convention, to consider amending the State Constitution concerning the Council of Appointment and the apportionment of the State Legislature.[2]

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. Robert Roseboom changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

District Senators Term left Party Notes
Southern Ezra L'Hommedieu* 1 year Dem.-Rep.
DeWitt Clinton* 2 years Dem.-Rep. elected to the Council of Appointment
David Gelston* 2 years Dem.-Rep. also Surrogate of New York County
John Schenck* 2 year Dem.-Rep.
John B. Coles* 3 years Federalist
Richard Hatfield* 3 years Federalist
William Denning* 4 years Dem.-Rep.
Benjamin Huntting 4 years Dem.-Rep.
Ebenezer Purdy 4 years Dem.-Rep.
Middle Jacobus S. Bruyn 1 year Dem.-Rep. elected to fill vacancy, in place of John Addison
Peter Cantine Jr.* 1 year Federalist
James G. Graham* 1 year Dem.-Rep.
Ebenezer Foote* 2 years Federalist also Delaware County Clerk
Ambrose Spencer* 2 years Dem.-Rep. also Assistant Attorney General (3rd D.);
elected to the Council of Appointment
Isaac Bloom* 3 years Dem.-Rep.
John Hathorn* 3 years Dem.-Rep.
John Suffern* 3 years Dem.-Rep.
John C. Hogeboom 4 years Dem.-Rep.
Solomon Sutherland 4 years Dem.-Rep.
David Van Ness 4 years Dem.-Rep.
James W. Wilkin 4 years Dem.-Rep.
Eastern Ebenezer Clark* 1 year Federalist
Anthony Ten Eyck* 1 year Federalist
Jacobus Van Schoonhoven* 1 year Federalist
Abraham Van Vechten* 1 year Federalist also Recorder of the City of Albany
Leonard Gansevoort* 2 years Federalist
John Sanders* 2 years Federalist elected to the Council of Appointment
Zina Hitchcock* 3 years Federalist
Ebenezer Russell* 3 years Federalist
Moses Vail* 3 years Federalist vacated his seat upon appointment as Sheriff
of Rensselaer County on November 11, 1800
James Gordon* 4 years Federalist
Stephen Lush 4 years Federalist
Western Thomas Morris* 1 year Federalist elected in April 1800 to the 7th United States Congress[3]
Michael Myers* 1 year Federalist
Seth Phelps* 1 year Federalist
William Beekman* 2 years Federalist
John Frey* 2 years Federalist
Frederick Gettman* 2 years Federalist
Thomas R. Gold* 2 years Federalist also Assistant Attorney General (7th D.)
Vincent Mathews* 3 years Federalist
Moss Kent* 3 years Federalist
Robert Roseboom* 4 years Dem.-Rep. elected to the Council of Appointment
Jedediah Sanger* 4 years Federalist also First Judge of the Oneida County Court

Employees
  • Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker

State Assembly

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.

District Assemblymen Party Notes
Albany Johann Jost Dietz* Federalist f
Prince Doty* Federalist
John Vernon Henry* Federalist also New York State Comptroller
Joseph Shurtleff* Federalist
Dirck Ten Broeck* Federalist
Jacob Ten Eyck Federalist
Peter West Federalist
Jacob Winne* Federalist
Cayuga Silas Halsey* Dem.-Rep.
Chenango Jonathan Forman
James Glover
Clinton and
Essex		 vacant Benjamin Mooers and Daniel Ross were tied in first place
with 229 votes each, so there was "no choice"
Columbia William Cantine Federalist
Asa Douglass Federalist
Dirck Gardenier Federalist
Ezekiel Gilbert* Federalist
John Livingston Federalist
Elisha Williams Federalist
Delaware Gabriel North Dem.-Rep.
Erastus Root Dem.-Rep.
Dutchess Abraham Adriance* Dem.-Rep.
Benjamin Akins Dem.-Rep.
Elisha Barlow Dem.-Rep.
Nicholas H. Emigh Dem.-Rep.
Robert Johnston* Dem.-Rep.
Ebenezer Mott* Federalist
Zalman Sanford
Isaac Sherwood* Dem.-Rep.
Smith Thompson Dem.-Rep.
John M. Thurston Dem.-Rep.
Greene Thomas E. Barker Federalist previously a member from Albany Co.
Caleb Benton previously a member from Columbia Co.
Herkimer Nathan Smith Dem.-Rep.
Evans Wharry Dem.-Rep.
George Widrig Dem.-Rep.
Kings Jacob Sharpe Jr.* Dem.-Rep.
Montgomery Cornelius Humfrey* Dem.-Rep.
Archibald McIntyre* Dem.-Rep.
Alexander Sheldon Dem.-Rep.
Jacob Snell* Dem.-Rep.
Simon Veeder* Dem.-Rep.
Christopher P. Yates Dem.-Rep.
New York Philip I. Arcularius Dem.-Rep.
John Broome Dem.-Rep.
George Clinton Dem.-Rep. in April 1801 elected again Governor of New York
Horatio Gates Dem.-Rep.
James Hunt Dem.-Rep.
Henry Brockholst Livingston Dem.-Rep.
Elias Nexsen Dem.-Rep.
Samuel Osgood Dem.-Rep. elected Speaker
Ezekiel Robins Dem.-Rep.
Henry Rutgers Dem.-Rep.
Thomas Storm Dem.-Rep.
John Swartwout Dem.-Rep.
George Warner Dem.-Rep.
Oneida Jesse Curtiss
Abel French Federalist
David Ostrom* Federalist
Onondaga Asa Danforth Dem.-Rep.
Ontario and
Steuben		 Lemuel Chipman Federalist
Nathaniel Norton* Federalist
Orange Aaron Burr Dem.-Rep. previously a member from New York City;
elected U.S. Vice President on February 17, 1801, and took
office on March 4, thus vacating his seat in the Assembly
James Clinton Dem.-Rep. previously a member from Ulster Co.
Andrew McCord* Dem.-Rep.
Peter Townsend Dem.-Rep.
Henry Tucker Dem.-Rep.
Otsego Benjamin Hicks Federalist previously a member from Rensselaer Co.
Solomon Martin Federalist
Jedediah Peck* Dem.-Rep.
Jacob Ten Broeck* Dem.-Rep.
Queens Jonah Hallett* Dem.-Rep.
Abraham Monfoort* Dem.-Rep.
Joseph Pettit Dem.-Rep.
John I. Skidmore* Dem.-Rep.
Rensselaer Jonathan Brown Dem.-Rep.
John Lovett Federalist
James McKown* Federalist
Josiah Masters* Dem.-Rep.
Hosea Moffitt Federalist
John E. Van Alen Federalist
Richmond Paul I. Micheau Federalist
Rockland Samuel G. Verbryck*
Saratoga Daniel Bull*
Adam Comstock* Dem.-Rep.
Henry Corl Jr. Federalist
James Merrill
James Warren*
Schoharie Joseph Borst Jr.
Suffolk Nicoll Floyd* Dem.-Rep.
Jared Landon* Dem.-Rep.
Abraham Miller Dem.-Rep.
Mills Phillips Dem.-Rep.
Tioga Edward Edwards Federalist
Ulster Benjamin Bevier Jr. Dem.-Rep.
Conrad E. Elmendorf Federalist also Assistant Attorney General (2nd D.)
Philip Eltinge Federalist
Joseph Hasbrouck Jr. Dem.-Rep.
Washington Seth Alden Federalist
David Hopkins Federalist
Gerrit G. Lansing Federalist
Timothy Leonard Federalist
William McAuley Federalist
Edward Savage* Dem.-Rep.
Westchester Abijah Gilbert Dem.-Rep.
Robert Graham Federalist
Abraham Odell Dem.-Rep.
Abel Smith* Dem.-Rep.
Thomas Thomas Dem.-Rep.

Employees
  • Clerk: James Van Ingen
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Ephraim Hunt
  • Doorkeeper: Peter Hansen

Notes
  1. The Anti-Federalists called themselves "Republicans." However, at the same time, the Federalists called them "Democrats" which was meant to be pejorative. After some time both terms got more and more confused, and sometimes used together as "Democratic Republicans" which later historians have adopted (with a hyphen) to describe the party from the beginning, to avoid confusion with both the later established and still existing Democratic and Republican parties.
  2. The History of Political Parties in the State of New-York, from the Ratification of the Federal Constitution to 1840 by Jabez D. Hammond (4th ed., Vol. 1, H. & E. Phinney, Cooperstown, 1846; pages 156ff)
  3. Morris continued to sit in the State Senate until the end of this session, because Congress met only on December 7, 1801.

Sources
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