The 26th New York State Legislature, consisting of the
New York State Senate and the
New York State Assembly, met from January 25 to April 6, 1803, during the 2nd year of
George Clinton's second tenure as
Governor of New York, in
Albany.
Background
Under the provisions of the
New York Constitution
The Constitution of the State of New York establishes the structure of the government of the State of New York, and enumerates the basic rights of the citizens of New York. Like most state constitutions in the United States, New York's constitut ...
of 1777, amended by the Constitutional Convention of 1801, 32 Senators were elected on general tickets in the four 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.
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.
At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the
Federalists
The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''.
History Europe federation
In Europe, proponents of de ...
and the
Democratic-Republicans.
[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
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
parties.
Elections
The State election was held from April 27 to 29, 1802. Senators
John Schenck
John Schenck (sometimes written ''Schanck'') (1750–1823) was a captain in the New Jersey Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
Background
Schenck was born in the now-defunct Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey on May 26, 175 ...
(Southern D.) and
Solomon Sutherland (Middle D.) were re-elected.
Joseph Annin,
Matthias B. Tallmadge,
George Tiffany
George Sylvester Tiffany (1805–1856) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was born in 1805 at Ancaster, Upper Canada. He married Eliza Anne Strange, and they had one son and four daughters. He was mayor of Hamilton, Ontario in 1848 and ...
(all three Western D.); and Assemblymen
Abraham Adriance (Middle D.),
Asa Danforth
Asa Danforth (1746-1818) was father of salt manufacturer and an early colonizer Asa Danforth Jr. Danforth was originally from Worcester, Massachusetts and moved his family to the Onondaga Valley area of New York. He was known to have anti-Briti ...
and
Jacob Snell (both Western D.) were also elected to the Senate. All eight were Democratic-Republicans.
Sessions
The Legislature met at the Old City Hall in
Albany on January 25, 1803; and adjourned on April 6.
Dem.-Rep.
Thomas Storm
Thomas Storm (September 8, 1748 – August 4, 1833) was an American Revolutionary war officer and state legislator, rising to Speaker of the New York State Assembly in 1802.
Early life
Thomas was born in Hopewell, Dutchess County, New York ...
was re-elected
Speaker
Speaker may refer to:
Society and politics
* Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly
* Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture
* A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially:
** I ...
.
Solomon Southwick
Solomon Southwick (December 25, 1773 – November 18, 1839) was an American newspaper publisher and political figure who was a principal organizer of the Anti-Masonic Party.
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Southwick attended the University of Pe ...
(Dem.-Rep.) was elected Clerk of the Assembly with 42 votes against 31 for the incumbent
James Van Ingen (Fed.).
On February 1, 1803,
the Legislature elected Theodorus Bailey (Dem.-Rep.) to the U.S. Senate, to succeed
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris ( ; January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He wrote the Preamble to th ...
(Fed.).
On February 8, 1803, the Legislature elected
Abraham G. Lansing
Abraham Gerritse Lansing (December 12, 1756 Albany, New York – May 15, 1834 Albany, New York) was an American politician.
Early life
Lansing was born on December 12, 1756, in Albany, New York. He was the son of Gerrit Jacobse Lansing (b. 171 ...
(Dem.-Rep.) State Treasurer, to succeed
Robert McClellan (Fed.).
State Senate
Districts
*The Southern District (6 seats) consisted of
Kings,
New York,
Queens
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
,
Richmond,
Suffolk and
Westchester counties.
*The Middle District (8 seats) consisted of
Dutchess,
Orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
,
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
,
Columbia,
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
,
Rockland and
Greene
Greene may refer to:
Places United States
*Greene, Indiana, an unincorporated community
*Greene, Iowa, a city
*Greene, Maine, a town
** Greene (CDP), Maine, in the town of Greene
*Greene (town), New York
** Greene (village), New York, in the town ...
counties.
*The Eastern District (7 seats) consisted of
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
,
Clinton,
Rensselaer,
Albany,
Saratoga and
Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
counties.
*The Western District (11 seats) consisted of
Montgomery,
Herkimer,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
,
Otsego,
Tioga,
Onondaga,
Schoharie,
Steuben,
Chenango,
Oneida,
Cayuga and
Genesee
Genesee, derived from the Seneca word for "pleasant valley", may refer to:
Geographic features Canada
*Genesee, Alberta, an unincorporated community
United States
*Genesee, California
*Genesee, Colorado
*Genesee County, Michigan
*Genesee Co ...
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. Abraham Adriance, Asa Danforth and Jacob Snell changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Employees
*Clerk:
Henry I. Bleecker
State Assembly
Districts
*
Albany County (6 seats)
*
Cayuga County
Cayuga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,248. Its county seat and largest city is Auburn. The county was named for the Cayuga people, one of the Indian tribes in the Iroquois Confed ...
(3 seats)
*
Chenango County
Chenango County is a county located in the south-central section U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,220. Its county seat is Norwich. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning 'large bull-thist ...
(4 seats)
*
Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
(1 seat)
*
Columbia County (4 seats)
*
Delaware County (2 seats)
*
Dutchess County (7 seats)
*
Essex County (1 seat)
*
Genesee
Genesee, derived from the Seneca word for "pleasant valley", may refer to:
Geographic features Canada
*Genesee, Alberta, an unincorporated community
United States
*Genesee, California
*Genesee, Colorado
*Genesee County, Michigan
*Genesee Co ...
and
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
counties (3 seats)
*
Greene County (2 seats)
*
Herkimer County
Herkimer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,139. Its county seat is Herkimer. The county was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. It is named af ...
(3 seats)
*
Kings County (1 seat)
*
Montgomery County (5 seats)
*The City and County of
New York (9 seats)
*
Oneida County (4 seats)
*
Onondaga County
Onondaga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 476,516. The county seat is Syracuse.
Onondaga County is the core of the Syracuse, NY MSA.
History
The name ''Onondaga'' derives from ...
(2 seats)
*
Orange County
Orange County most commonly refers to:
*Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Orange County may also refer to:
U.S. counties
*Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando
*Orange County, Indiana
*Orange County, New ...
(4 seats)
*
Otsego County (4 seats)
*
Queens County (3 seats)
*
Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 161,130. Its county seat is Troy. The county is named in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the ...
(5 seats)
*
Richmond County Richmond County may refer to places:
Australia
*Richmond County, New South Wales, a cadastral division
Canada
*Richmond County, Nova Scotia
United Kingdom
*Richmondshire, the original Richmond County in Yorkshire, England
United States
...
(1 seat)
*
Rockland County
Rockland County is the southernmost county on the west side of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. It is about from the Bronx at their closest points. The county's population, as of t ...
(1 seat)
*
Saratoga County
Saratoga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York, and is the fastest-growing county in Upstate New York. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was enumerated at 235,509, representing a 7.2% increase from the 2010 popul ...
(4 seats)
*
Schoharie County
Schoharie County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 29,714, making it the state's fifth-least populous county. The county ...
(2 seats)
*
Steuben County (1 seat)
*
Suffolk County (3 seats)
*
Tioga County (1 seat)
*
Ulster County
Ulster County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is situated along the Hudson River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 181,851. The county seat is Kingston. The county is named after the Irish province of Ulster.
History
...
(4 seats)
*
Washington County (6 seats)
*
Westchester County
Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...
(4 seats)
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. Stephen Lush changed from the Senate to the Assembly.
Employees
*Clerk:
Solomon Southwick
Solomon Southwick (December 25, 1773 – November 18, 1839) was an American newspaper publisher and political figure who was a principal organizer of the Anti-Masonic Party.
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Southwick attended the University of Pe ...
*Sergeant-at-Arms: Ephraim Hunt
*Doorkeeper: Benjamin Whipple
Notes
Sources
''The New York Civil List''compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
ee pg. 108f for Senate districts; pg. 118 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 176 for assemblymenbr>
''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 184ff)
Election result Assembly, Columbia Co.at project "A New Nation Votes", compiled by
Phil Lampi, hosted by
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...
Digital Library
Election result Assembly, Dutchess Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Greene Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Herkimer Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Queens Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Rensselaer Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Schoharie Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Steuben Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Washington Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Election result Assembly, Westchester Co.at project "A New Nation Votes"
Partial election result Senate, Southern D.at project "A New Nation Votes"
ives only votes from Richmond and Westchester co.br>
Partial election result Senate, Middle D.at project "A New Nation Votes"
ives only votes from Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess and Greene co.br>
Partial election result Senate, Western D.at project "A New Nation Votes"
ives only votes from Schoharie and Steuben co.
{{NYLegislatures
1802 in New York (state)
1803 in New York (state)
026
1802 U.S. legislative sessions