The 48th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to April 21, 1825, during the first year of DeWitt Clinton's second tenure as Governor of New York, 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.
The previous session had been dominated by the controversy about the presidential succession, and the question how to choose presidential electors. Party lines broke down when Martin Van Buren tried to have the "Bucktails" faction of the Democratic-Republican PartyOriginally, 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. support William H. Crawford for U.S. president. A large part of the Bucktails favored John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun as possible presidential candidates, and proposed to have the presidential electors elected by the people in districts, similar to the congressional elections. The Anti-Crawford factions became known as the "People's Party", and they joined forces with the "Clintonians" (supporters of DeWitt Clinton, opposed to the Bucktails). The rump Bucktail faction (which followed Van Buren) was called the "Regency Party" by their opponents, a reference to the Albany Regency.
On April 3, a caucus of Bucktail legislators, consisting of the Regency men and a minority of People's men, nominated Canal Commissioner Samuel YoungYoung was an old Bucktail, and supported Henry Clay in 1824. for Governor; and Lt. Gov. Erastus Root for re-election.
On September 22, a State convention "in favor of a new electoral law", consisting of about 30 People's men and about 90 Clintonians, nominated Ex-Gov. DeWitt ClintonClinton supported Andrew Jackson in 1824; most of the People's men supported John Quincy Adams and were hostile to Clinton. for Governor, and Assemblyman James Tallmadge, Jr. (PP) for Lieutenant Governor.
Elections The State election was held from November 1 to 3, 1824. DeWitt Clinton and James Tallmadge Jr. were elected in a landslide.
Cadwallader D. Colden (1st D.), Wells Lake (2nd D.), Richard McMichael (3rd D.), George Brayton (5th D.), Stukely Ellsworth (6th D.), John C. Spencer (7th D.); and Assemblymen John Crary (4th D.) and Samuel Wilkeson (8th D.) were elected to the Senate. Lake and Ellsworth were Bucktails, the other six were Clintonians.
Sessions The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1825, and adjourned on April 21.
Clarkson Crolius (PP) was elected Speaker with 109 votes out of 122.
In his message to the Legislature, Gov. Clinton recommended to enact that presidential electors be chosen by the people, by general ticket and a plurality of votes.
On February 1, the Legislature failed to elect a successor to U.S. Senator Rufus King, and the seat became vacant on March 4, 1825.
On February 16, the Legislature elected Gamaliel H. Barstow (Clint.) to succeed Abraham Keyser, Jr. (Buckt.) as New York State Treasurer.
State Senate Districts The First District (4 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties. The Second District (4 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. The Third District (4 seats) consisted of Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties. The Fourth District (4 seats) consisted of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. The Fifth District (4 seats) consisted of Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida and Oswego counties. The Sixth District (4 seats) consisted of Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The Seventh District (4 seats) consisted of Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties. The Eighth District (4 seats) consisted of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara and Steuben counties.
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 Crary and Samuel Wilkeson changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
The party affiliations follow the vote for a U.S. senator on February 1 which showed that there was no majority; and that Clintonians and People's men, although having combined for the election against the Bucktails, were opposed to each other.
District Senators Term left Party Notes FirstJohn Lefferts*1 year Dem.-Rep./BucktailJasper Ward*2 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailDavid Gardiner*3 years People's PartyCadwallader D. Colden4 years Clintonian SecondStephen Thorn*1 year People's PartyJames Burt*2 years People's PartyWilliam Nelson*3 years People's PartyNelson did not vote for a U.S. senator, but had been a People's man at the previous session.Wells Lake4 years Dem.-Rep./Bucktail ThirdCharles E. Dudley*1 year Dem.-Rep./BucktailJames Mallory*2 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailJacob Haight*3 years People's PartyRichard McMichael4 years Clintonian FourthJohn Cramer*1 year ClintonianArchibald McIntyre*2 years ClintonianSilas Wright, Jr.*3 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailJohn Crary*4 years Clintonian FifthThomas Greenly*1 year People's PartySherman Wooster*2 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailPerley Keyes*3 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailGeorge Brayton4 years Clintonian SixthTilly Lynde*1 years People's PartyIsaac Ogden*2 years People's PartyLatham A. Burrows*3 years People's PartyStukely Ellsworth4 years Dem.-Rep./Bucktail SeventhJesse Clark*1 year ClintonianJonas Earll, Jr.*2 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailJedediah Morgan*3 years ClintonianJohn C. Spencer4 years Clintonian EighthHeman J. Redfield*1 year Dem.-Rep./Bucktailalso D.A. of Genesee Co.John Bowman*2 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailJames McCall*3 years Dem.-Rep./BucktailSamuel Wilkeson*4 years Clintonian
Employees Clerk: John F. Bacon
State Assembly Districts
Albany County (3 seats) Allegany County (1 seat) Broome County (1 seat) Cattaraugus County (1 seat) Cayuga County (4 seats) Chautauqua County (1 seat) Chenango County (3 seats) Clinton County (1 seat) Columbia County (3 seats) Cortland County (2 seats) Delaware County (2 seats) Dutchess County (4 seats) Erie County (1 seat) Essex County (1 seat) Franklin County (1 seat) Genesee County (4 seats) Greene County (2 seats) Hamilton and Montgomery counties (4 seats) Herkimer County (3 seats) Jefferson County (3 seats) Kings County (1 seat) Lewis County (1 seat) Livingston County (2 seats) Madison County (3 seats) Monroe County (3 seats) The City and County of New York (10 seats) Niagara County (1 seat) Oneida County (5 seats) Onondaga County (4 seats) Ontario County (3 seats) Orange County (4 seats) Oswego County (1 seat) Otsego County (4 seats) Putnam County (1 seat) Queens County (2 seats) Rensselaer County (4 seats) Richmond County (1 seat) Rockland County (1 seat) St. Lawrence County (1 seat) Saratoga County (3 seats) Schenectady County (1 seat) Schoharie County (2 seats) Seneca County (2 seats) Steuben County (2 seats) Suffolk County (2 seats) Sullivan County (1 seat) Tioga County (2 seats) Tompkins County (2 seats) Ulster County (3 seats) Warren County (1 seat) Washington (4 seats) Wayne County (2 seats) Westchester County (3 seats) Yates County (1 seat)
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. Silas Bowker changed from the Senate to the Assembly.
District Assemblymen Party Notes AlbanyGeorge BattermanSamuel S. LushStephen WillesAlleganyLazarus S. Rathbun* Dem.-Rep./BucktailBroomeBriant StoddardCattaraugusDaniel Hodges CayugaElijah DevoeRoswell EnosJohn W. HulbertEphraim C. MarshChautauquaNathan Mixer ChenangoRussel CaseCharles MedburyRobert MonellClintonJosiah Fisk ColumbiaAmbrose L. Jordan Clintonianalso Recorder of the City of HudsonJoseph LordKillian Miller CortlandJames ChattertonJosiah Hartunsuccessfully contested by Jabez B. Phelps DelawareJabez BostwickHerman I. Quackenboss DutchessJohn Armstrong Jr.Eli AngevineEnos HopkinsGilbert ThorneErieCalvin FillmoreEssexWilliam SmithFranklinAsa Hascall GeneseeJeremiah BrownFitch ChipmanShubeal Dunham*Gaius B. Rich GreeneGilbert Bedell Dem.-Rep./BucktailAlvin Bushnell Dem.-Rep./Bucktail Hamilton and Montgomery Henry Cunningham* ClintonianSamuel JacksonAlexander St. JohnPeter Smith* HerkimerSamuel Dexter Jr.Warner FoltsJacob Wire JeffersonJohn B. Esselstyn ClintonianRichard Goodell* Dem.-Rep./BucktailGeorge White C/PPKingsWilliam Furman* C/PPLewisAmos Buck Jr. LivingstonJames Faulkner ClintonianRobert McKay Clintonianpreviously a member from Genesee Co. Madison Elias P. BenjaminNehemiah HuntingtonJames Nye MonroeGustavus ClarkHenry Fellowspreviously a member from Ontario Co.Thurlow Weed New YorkJames Benedict* People's PartyGilbert Coutant Dem.-Rep./BucktailClarkson Crolius* People's Partyelected SpeakerMaltby Gelston Dem.-Rep./BucktailSamuel L. Gouverneur People's PartyJohn Morss* People's PartyJonathan E. Robinson Dem.-Rep./BucktailDavid Seaman* People's PartyIra B. Wheeler People's PartyGeorge Zabriskie People's PartyNiagaraDaniel Washburn* Dem.-Rep./Bucktail OneidaJoseph KirklandDavid PiersonIsrael StoddardBroughton WhiteSamuel Woodworthpreviously a member from Herkimer Co. Onondaga Erastus BarberMoses KinneJames R. LawrenceJames Pettit Ontario Claudius V. Boughton ClintonianGideon Pitts*Bowen Whiting* Dem.-Rep./Bucktail Orange William FinnNathaniel P. HillJoseph McLaughlinSamuel J. Wilkin* ClintonianOswegoChester Hayden OtsegoHenry BarberIsaac HayesOliver JuddJohn WoodburyPutnamDavid Knapp QueensWilliam Jones* People's PartyThomas Tredwell* People's Party RensselaerJohn CarpenterJacob C. LansingFenner PalmerJacob G. VanderheydenRichmondHarmanus GarretsonRocklandAbraham Gurnee People's PartySt. LawrenceJacob A. Vanden HeuvelJacob Adrian Vanden Heuvel; changed his name to "Van Heuvel" by Act of the Legislature in 1832; see Documents of the Assembly of the Staate of New York (55th Session; 1832; pg. 15) SaratogaNicholas B. DoeAlpheus GoodrichPhilip SchuylerSchenectadyJohn S. Vrooman SchoharieJoseph I. Borst Dem.-Rep./BucktailFreeman Stanton Clintonian SenecaJames De Mott People's PartyDaniel Rhoad Dem.-Rep./Bucktail SteubenJohn KennedyJames McBurney SuffolkDavid Hedges Jr. Dem.-Rep./BucktailJoshua Smith Dem.-Rep./BucktailSullivanJohn Hall Jr. TiogaCharles PumpellySamuel Winton TompkinsJoshua NorthJared Patchin UlsterJames Cockburn ClintonianJacobus Hardenburgh ClintonianJacob J. Hasbrouck ClintonianWarrenWilliam Cook WashingtonDavid Campbell*Lemuel HastingsEzra Smith* C/PPSamuel Stevens People's Party WayneWilliam H. Adams ClintonianEnoch Morse Clintonian WestchesterJeremiah Anderson Dem.-Rep./BucktailThaddeus Crane Dem.-Rep./BucktailJoseph Scofield Dem.-Rep./BucktailYatesPhilip Robinson
Employees