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De W I I I
C L IN I ON
A N D T HE
OR I G I N O F T H E SPO I L S SYST EM
IN
N EW
YO R K
BY
H OW A RD LEE M CB A I N, A
.
M
.
Sometime H on ora/ry Fellow in Cons titu tion a l Law,
Co lu mbia Univ ersity
M I TT ED
SUB
IN PA
RTIA L
MENT
FULFI L
R
FOR T H E D EGR EE OF D OCT O
OF T H E
REQUI REMENT S
OF PHI LOSOPHY
I N T HE
FA CULTY
Q
OF
POLITI C A L SCI ENCE
C OLUM B I A UNI VERSITY
I
9 07
D ew IT T
C L I NT O N
THE
A ND
O R I GI N
O F T H E SP O I L S SYST EM
IN
N EW YO R K
BY
H OW A
R D L EE M C B A I N, A
.
M
.
Sometime H o n or a ry Fello w in Con s t itu tio n a l La w,
Co lu mbi a Un iv ers ity
SUB M
I TT ED
I N PA
RT I A L
M ENT
FULFI L
OF T HE
RE QUI RE M ENTS
FOR T H E D EGR EE OF D O CT O R OF P H I LO SOPH Y
IN
FA
LTY
CU
OF
TH E
P OLI T I CA
C OLUM B IA
I
L SCI ENC E
UNIVE RSI TY
9 07
1 00 /
C O P YR I G H T
,
I 9 07 ,
BY
H O W A R D L EE M C B A I N
C O NT E NT S
C H A PTER I
EA RLY
In
tro d c ti o n
M i sre pre
T RON A
G
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ER
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h i ng t n p l i c y O f p tro n g
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L at r c n i d e r ti n f p oliti c in c ab i ne t app i nt m n t
H is Ne w Yo rk app o i n t m ent —T h e o y f H m il t o ni n i nflu enc e re f t e d
G e o rg e Cli n t o n s p li c y o f p tro n g e in Ne w Y rk
rc O f m h f hi i nfl enc e
C o n tr l o f p atr n ge t h e
C n it ti o n al m e t h d f m k i ng app o i nt m n t in Ne w Yo rk
t o I 78 9
H is p o li y p e i
G en r l pri nc iples
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H is p o li y t ti m e o f a d o pti o n o f f e d e r l c n tit ti n
H is p o li c y a f t r I 7 8 9
E rly p liti c s in Ne w Y rk
L i b e r lit y t w r d pp n e nt s
Fir t d i agre m e n t o e r q e sti o n o f n o m i n ti o n
Ori gin o f
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C ON TE N TS
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PA G E
C H A PTER I I I
TH E
CL I NTON-JA Y C O
N TROVE RSY
re p ubli c n pro bl m f p tro n g e
Sign i fi an
o f Ne w Y o rk elec ti n s in 1 8 00
D e w itt Cli n t n s a le a d e r
H i c h ra t e r
H is b irt h nd d
ti o n
H i tr i n i ng in p liti c
H i ttit d e t w r d t h e el c ti o n o f 1 8 00
R e p bli n tt e m pt t
s t exi ti ng c
n il
Pre d n t f
D e w itt Cli nt n o n
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A m b ro s Sp e n ce r p iti n
A m
n t O f p tr n g in t h
o nc il s c n tr l
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n il n d
go e rno r
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f d e r li t n m i n ti n
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t n n
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p o iti n
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CON TE N TS
8
PA G E
C H A PT ER I V
E
N
R PUB L I CA
J
SPO I L S I N
1 80 1
r tirem e nt nd Ge o rge Cli nt o n e le c ti n
D w itt Cli nt o n t h e re l le d e r o f t h e Cl int o n i ns
A ppli c ti n m ad e t o t h e c
n i l in I 8 0 1
N m be r o f
M e nti n o f p oliti c in
No e i d e n ce o f o rg n i ati o n in rec mm e n d ati o ns
A ppli a ti n s f
pp o i nt m en t as c ti nee r
E co n o mi c igni fic anc o f a ti o ne e r
G e n r l h arac t e r f ppli c ti n
D e w itt C li n t n s plan o f d i tri bu ti n
A pp o i n t m e n t s at fir t t w o m e ti ng o f c n i l
n ti e s
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1 04—1 0 6
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C o n t y app o i n t m e n t s d i i d e d b t w e e n p rti e
nti e in w h i c h
mm i ss i o ns h d xpire d
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I n t h e r c o n ti e
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M o ti o f D e w itt Cli nt o n re l d in t h i s
C o m m rc i l pp o i nt m n t d i i d e d b e t w ee n p rti e
ripti n
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t h e pr
n d t h e ir p liti c al
T o t al n m b r f r m o l
ff e c t
C o n tit ti o n l c n nti n o f 1 8 0 1
D w itt Cli nt n f il re t
tt nd
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b q ent
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Rel t n t D w itt Cli n t n
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H A PT ER
rep bli c an p rty in Ne w Y rk
f p ty
T h e Li i ng t n c h ng
D w tt Cl i nt n r e w rd t t h e Li i ng t n
A aro n B rr an d t h e p tr n g
M ti f Cli nt o n h tilit y t B rr
ffi e
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f t hem r
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f B
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V
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1 3 1- 1 3 3
I
32
—1 3 3
l
33
135
‘
1 3 5- I
36
CON TE N T S
9]
PA G E
f
r d
Y r ity w h re B rr tre ng t h l
rge o f t o t l ex l si o n f f ri e n d s o f B urr r f t e d
rg o f ne p o tis m g i n t Cli nt o n r f t d
C lint o nians
Cha
Cha
in Ne w
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a
c u
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k C
o
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a
a
s
s
1 36
ay
s
137
1 3 7—
1 38
e u e
JE FFE R SON
H A PT ER
VI
YOR K PA T RONAG E
A ND T HE NEW
r e w r d s t o t h L i i ng t n
T he B r
l t f Ne w Yo rk pp i nt m e nt
T h s app i nt d
J ff er n pp e l t Geo rge Cli nt n nce rn i ng
O t h e rs pr t s t
Th r
lt
T h c n d i d cy f M t h w L D i
pp rt e r
Hi
D e w itt Cli n t n r f e t o
pp rt
J ff er o n re ply t B rr
n d i d t e al
D w itt Cli n t n
r j ec t d
M r H e n ry A d m c h rg f ll u i n b t w e n J ff rso n n d D w itt
Cli n t n g i ns t B rr r f t e d
rr p nd e nce b tw ee n t h em re l d
N
D w itt Cli n t n i n tro d e d t J ff er n n e rly y r l t r
Ext e nt t o w h i h B rr s f ri n d w re re w r d d in f d r l pp i nt
a
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1 45
—1 46
o
1 46
J e ff rs n s p li cy o f p tr n g n D w itt Cli nt n
J ff rso n e rly p o li cy
q i n t an e w it h
D w itt Cli n t n
f rm d i nd e p n d ntly
E i d n c e t h t Cli n t o n p li c y w
n te
D e w itt Cl i n t o n in t h e Unit e d St t e
C ircu m t n ce o f h i pp o i nt m n t
H i p iti n in t h s n at
R
h is re ign i ng h i e t
ns f
in Ne w Y rk in 1 80 2
P liti
P rt pl y d in b y Cli n t n s d i trib ti o n f t h p tr n g
lo pm n t f t h e p tro nag f r m 1 7 8 9 t 1 80 1 um m ri d
D
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I
59
l
62
CHA PT E R I
E A RL Y P A T R ON A
C ON S T I T U T I O N
G E U N DE R T H E
THE
name o f D e w i tt Cl i nton has been associ ate d fo r a
long ti me w ith a l l that i s reprehensible i n connecti on w it h
the i ntro d ucti o n o f the s o cal l e d spo i ls s y stem i nto t h e
pol i ti cs O f New York Not onl y has the extent to w hi c h h e
carri ed the pol i c y o f removal from o ffi ce been overestimate d
but many other phases O f h i s plan o f d i stributi ng t h e patron
age have been the subj ect o f m i s representati on
E ve n
so
em i nent a schola r as M r Henr y Adams expresses
the Op i n i on that he w as ha rdl y le s s responsible tha n
B urr fo r lo w e ri ng the standard o f New York pol i t ics
and i nd i rectl y t h at O f the nati on an d i n another con
n ec t io n th i s d i sti nguished h i sto ri an makes the un q ual i fi e d
assert i on that Cl i nton urged o n b y pol iti cal sel f i ntere s t
s w ept out o f o ffice ever y federal i st i n New Yo rk to ma k e room
fo r h i s republ i can suppo rters
No r i s ext ravag a nce o f
statement the only erro r i nto w h i ch M r A d ams has f a l l en
H e qui te unj ustl y accuses Cl i nton o f givi ng un d ue pre fer
ment to h i s o w n fam i ly connecti ons an d o f a d o pti ng a
pol i c y O f total exclus i on to w ar d t h e p o l iti cal a dh erents o f h i s
ri val Aaron B urr i n the d i st ri but i on o f b ot h f e d er a l a n d
st ate o ffi ce s
S i m i la r v i ew s h ave b een ex p resse d by hi s
n
a
d
o
a
w
both
befo
re
and
s
i
nce
M
r
A
d
ams
r
te
t o ria n s
-
.
.
.
1
,
-
.
,
2
.
.
.
3
,
,
"
"
,
.
H e n r y A d am s H is t o ry
,
i
,
228 , 229
of
til e Un i ted S ta tes ,
i
.
,
229
,
,
]
ii
,
3 3 ; R o o sev e
lt
,
,
N e w Yo rk
.
,
.
Yo rk
in N e w
,
11
1 12
i
H am m o n d H is t o ry o f Po l i tica l Pa r tie s
H il d r e t h H is t o ry o f t h e Un ited S t a tes v 42 5
,
,
.
a
Un ited S t a tes
i
2 3 0 e t s eq
,
i
,
.
1 73 - 1 8 0 ;
ry o f t/1e
i
/
o
f
/
s
e
o
u
S
c
h
l
r
,
;
1 7 7 ; A l e x a nd e r
1 62
161
,
,
,
'
1
D E W I T T C L I N T ON A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
12
[ 12
general impress io n h as gone abroad that w hen Cli nto n first
came to w i el d h i s po w er i n New Y o rk he i nsti t ute d so d ras
t i c a p roscri pt i on o f h i s pol i ti cal opponents and so tho r
o u g h g o ing a n excl us i on o f those elements o f h i s o w n pa rty
that w ere i n i mi cal to h i s personal i nterests that h i s conduct
can fin d explanat i o n only i n the beli ef that he w as move d by
an overmasteri ng spi r i t o f selfishness and that an y th i ng
l i ke a gui d i ng pri nci p l e must h ave been w holly fo reign to
h i s tho ught and purpose
Un fort unatel y fo r th e fame o f Cl i nton the materi al s fo r
a compl ete stud y o f h i s pol i cy i n the d i stributi on o f th e
New Yo rk pat ro nage h ave never been care full y s i fted al
though they have not been w h oll y i naccessible The manu
scri pt files o f the counci l o f appo i ntment w h i ch th ro w a
fl ood O f l igh t upon t h e hi sto r y o f patronage l i e as yet
u no rgani ze d an d unmounte d
The manuscri pt m i nutes o f
the counci l have b een us e d to some extent but noth i ng
l i ke an exh austi ve s t u d v O f them has h i therto been made
The publ i c papers o f George C l i nton w h i ch h ave rece ive d
onl y occasi onal i nvestigati on o ffer a n i nva l ua b l e source O f
i n fo rmat i on upon eve ry phase o f New Yo rk pol iti cs d uri ng
th e i nteresti ng peri o d o f h i s l i fe ; w h i le the D e w i tt Cl i nton
“
papers the ne w spapers an d pa m p h l et s o f the ti me the
l egi slati ve j ournals an d t h e n umerous p ri nte d collect i ons o f
co rrespondence and w ri ti ngs are a l i k e i n d i spensabl e ai ds
to a fa i r understand i ng o f t h e sha re w h i ch t h e younger
C l i nton h a d i n t h e i nt roducti on o f t h e s y s tem o f spo i l s i n
I t i s pri ma ri l y u p on the s e d ocuments and
Ne w Yo r k
ers
that
t
h
e
p
resent
stu
d
y
i
s
base
d
a
p p
Po li tica l H is t o ry o f N e w Y k i
C h n n in g T/ Jeflers o m n
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
‘
.
2
3
,
.
4
.
,
,
,
.
.
'
or
Sy s t em ,
'
1 7,
18
‘
r
’
a
,
,
a
ze
.
N e w Yo r k S t a t e L i b r a r y
“H m m n d
a
o
,
’
"
.
O ffic e
o
f t h e Se c r e t a r y
o
f S t at e
Po l i t i ca l P a rt ie s in [ Ye w Yo rk p a s s i m
M o u n t e d and c a l e n d a r e d , N e w Yo r k S t a t e L br a r y
,
H is t o ry
’
of
,
i
M o u n t e d bu t
l
r
no t c a e nd a ed
,
C o l u m bi a
.
U n iv e r s i t y L i br ar y
.
.
.
1
A
E
3]
R L Y P A TR ON A GE UND E R TH E
C ONS TI T U TI ON
13
It w as no t unti l 1 8 0 1 a fter the federal government h a d
been i n Operat i on twelve y ears that D e w i tt Cl i nton came
fo rwar d as the ch i e f factor i n the d i str ibuti on o f o ffices i n
Ne w Yo rk
I t is i mposs ible adequatel y to understan d t h e
cond iti o ns w h i ch con fronte d h im i n that y ear w i t h out a
th o ro ugh knowle d ge o f the ci vi l -serv i ce pol i ci es wh ic h h a d
b een adopted by Geo rge Cl i nton governor o f t h e state from
i ts fo rmat i o n unti l t h e year 1 7 9 5 an d b y Jo h n Ja y w h o
as h i s s uccesso r rema i ne d i n O ffice d o w n to 1 8 0 1 E ver y fea
ture o f D e w i tt Cli nton s plan o f parcell i ng o u t t h e patron
age o f the state fo un d some authori t y i n the p ractice w h i c h
had p receded h i m H i s p ol i c y d i ffere d onl y i n t h e ver y
s ubstanti al i ncreas e w h i ch he ma d e i n the number o f re
m o v al s fo r reaso ns o f pol i ti cs
An d i t w i l l b e s h o w n t h at
l i ke M r Je fferson he j ust ified h i s w h ole atti tu d e w it h re f er
ence to the pat ronage u p on the course o f exclus i on to w a r d
h i s own party w h i ch ha d been pursue d by t h e reti ri ng fe d er
a l is t s
Th e spo i ls s y stem i n the broader sense o f t h e term
had ex isted i n New Yo rk long before D e \v i tt C l i nton c ame
i nto power F o r very O bvi ous reasons t h ere fo re it is
necessary to t race i n some detai l the hi stor y o f patro nage in
t h e state p ri or to the v ictory w h i c h p lace d the re p u bl ic a ns in
po w er at the Openi ng O f the n i neteent h centur y
F o r reasons not altogether d i fferent i t seems a d vi s a bl e
also to outl i ne th e federal p racti ce w h i c h h a d O b t a i ne d d ur
i ng the admi ni st rati ons o f Wash i ngton a n d J o h n A d a ms
I t i s t rue that th i s has al read y been ma d e t h e s u bj ect o f c a r e
ful research and that the materi a l fo r i ts i n vest ig at io n l ies
very l argel y i n access ibl e form i n t h e pri nted c o rre s po n d
,
,
.
,
,
.
’
.
.
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
1
,
I
Fis h
,
C iv il S erv i ce
28 ;
a o n ag e 6—
t h e P tr
i rd I l
A d m i n i tr t i n
,
h i n g t o n s an d A d a m s s
i 2 70—2 8 3 ; ii 2 41 -2 6 1
c a n H i s t o r i ca l R e v ie w
ii i 1 04 1 3 5 ; A me ri can
S o c ie ty Pu bli ca tions
—
1
P
a
e
s
r
R ep o r t s 1 89 9 6 7 8 6 ;
3 4 322
p
S e e k in g d u r
i ng
an d
W
as
,
,
,
,
’
’
v
,
,
-
,
,
.
G al l
unt
a
s
a
o
,
"
s.
( ) fli c c
A m e ri
an d H is to rica l
H is t o r ica l A ss o c i a t io n
P /zo d e I s l
.
D E W I T T CLI N T ON A N D TH E S P OI LS S YS T E M
14
[ 14
e nce o f th e peri o d I t i s hoped nevertheless that some new
l ight ca n be t h ro w n upon the pol i ci es O f the early federal
a dmi ni st rati ons part icul arly i n regard to the d i stri but i on o f
pat ronage i n New Yo rk B ut th e stud y o f the fe d eral p rae
ti ce i n conj uncti on w i th that wh i ch prevai led i n the states
i s mo re especi a l l y requi re d b y reason o f the fact that the
pol i ci es adopted b y the nat i onal an d local governments ex
e rt e d a strong i nfluence each upon the other
Certai n i t
i s that there i s a marked s im i lari ty o f d evelo p ment bet w ee n
them ; an d t h ere are ver y goo d reasons w h y t h i s si m i lar it y
should have ex i ste d I n th e fi rst pl ace the state govern
ments st i ll retai ne d i n the esti m at i o n o f t he statesmen o f
the d a y an impo rtance by no means oversha d ow e d by that
o f the fe d e ral government Th e frequency o f res ignati ons
from fe d e ral o ffi ces to accept appoi ntments i n the states i s
a s u ff ic i entl y w o rthy reco rd o f t h e opi ni on that w as ente r
t a in e d as to the pari t y o f i mpo rtance bet w een the parts o f
the new governmental system The general government
was far from re fus i ng to p ro fi t b y the experi ence o f the
states and the state gove rnments i n turn w atc h e d w i th
j eal ous i nterest ever y d etai l o f the a ffa i rs o f the nati on
M o reove r i t must be remembered t h at i n spi te O f t h e t rem e n d
o u s d i stances an d t h e d i ffi cult i es that atten d e d upon t ravel
the p ersonal ti es b et w een t h e great statesmen o f t h e republ i c
w ere p erhaps fa r stronge r th an the y h a ve ever b een si nce
Th e who l e po p ul at i on o f t h e country con fined l argely to the
eastern shore o f t h e cont i nent w as ver y smal l ; t h e number
o f p o l i t ical peo p le was m uch smal ler ; an d the real l ea d ers
even i ncl u d i ng those o f st ri ctl y l oca l fame w e re compa ra
The y w ere al l more o r less acq uai nted w ith
t iv e ly f ew
o n e anot h er a n d the exchange o f i d eas i n t h e long personal
l ette rs w h i ch passe d bet w een t h em serve d to d evelop a ce r
t a i n uni t y o f opi n i on u p on q uesti ons O f publ i c i nterest and
to set i n mot i on un i form i nfl ue n ces that were th e begi n
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
‘
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
1
A
E
5]
RL Y P A TR ON A G E UN D E R TH E
C ONS TI T UTI ON
n in g s o f
1
5
a g enui ne sp i ri t o f nati onal ity I n the quest i ons
wh i ch arose Over the d i stributi on o f patronage t h i s i nte r
change O f i deas must have exerted i ts i nfl uence an d it i s
i mpossible to bel i eve that the republ ican lea d ers b oth na
t io n al and local i nto w hose han d s t h e po w er O f t h e
at
ron
p
age fell by the turn o f events i n 1 8 0 0 w ere not fu l ly ac
q u a in t e d w i th the pol i ci es wh i ch had been p ur s ue d by t h o s e
w h o had p recede d them i n the adm i ni stration o f t h e gov
.
'
,
,
,
e rn m e nt
.
The pl an o f the p resent stu dy the refore i s to exam i n e
care fully the w hole devel opment o f the civi l servi ce b ot h i n
the nat i o nal government and i n New York from t h e t ime o f
the establ i shment o f the federal consti tution d o w n to t h e
yea r 1 8 0 1 w h i ch marked the fi rst change o f pol i ti ca l parties
i n the nat i on The pol i ci es o f the nati onal gove rnment w i l l
be sho w n to have a more o r less defini te connecti on w it h
thos e wh i ch w ere pursued i n the state an d t h e forme r w i l l
be vi e w ed w ith especi al re ference to t h e appoi ntment o f
federal O fficers i n New York Not onl y w i ll th i s p l a n 0 1
p resentat i on serve to show the extent o f D e w i tt Cl i nto n s
departure from p recedents w h i ch had been esta bl i s h e d b ut i t
W i l l a fford the O ppo rtuni ty fo r a systemati c devel o pment o f
th e h i sto ry o f the early patronage i n New Yo r k i n its
vi tal relati o n to the larger questi ons o f pol i ti cs
,
,
,
.
,
.
'
.
When i n 1 7 8 9 Wash i ngton w a s b y the unan imous c h oice
O f th e nat i o n called from h i s reti rement to b e c ome t h e fi rst
p res i dent almost th e l ea d i ng o f the d i ffi cul t p ro bl ems w h i c h
“
con fronted h im w a s that O f appo i nti ng b y a nd w it h t h e
advi ce and consent o f th e senate the executi ve o ffi c i a l s f r
wh i ch the consti tuti o n and supplemental l egi s l ati o n h a d p ro
i
c
n
o
n
t
a
h
d
The
adopti
on
o
f
t
h
e
con
s
t
itut
ion
b
ee
v id e d
r
m
e
e
i
thout
engen
d
eri
ng
much
bi
tterness
an
d
t
h
e
;
f ect e d w
fact o f i ts adopt i on d i d not b y any mean s l i ft it a b ove the
,
o
.
1
D E W I T T CLI N T ON A ND TH E S P OI LS S YS TEM
6
[ 16
plane o f the experi mental The great body o f Wash i ng
to n s letters w ri tten at thi s t ime sho w that he fully real i ze d
the i mpo rtance wh i ch h i s d i st ributi on O f the pat ronage
w oul d play i n allayi ng the f ac t io ns sp i ri t O f opposi ti on
whi ch had a ri sen W ri t i ng to S amuel Vaughan i n M a rch
1 7 8 9 he sai d :
.
’
.
,
,
ept io n o f a m ore de l i cate t as k t ha n t h at w h i c h
is im p os e d by t h e oo n s t it u t io n o n t h e e xec uti v e
I t is t h e n a
tu re O f rep u bl i c a n s w h o a re ne a r ly in a s t ate o f e q ua l it y t o b e
e x treme ly j eal ous a s to t h e d i s po s al o f a ll h o n ora ry an d l u c ra
tive a pp o int ment s P er f e c t ly conv ince d I am t h at i f in j u d i
c ions or un p op ul ar m e as u res s h ou l d b e t a k en by t h e exec utiv e
u n d er t h e n e w govern m e nt w it h regard to a ppo i n tment s t h e
gove rnment i t se l f w o u l d b e in t h e utmo s t d an ge r o f b ein g su b
ve rte d by t ho se m e as u re s SO ne c e s sary i s it at t his c ri s is to
co nc i l i a te t h e go o d w ill o f t h e p eo p l e a n d so im po s s i bl e i t is
in m y j ud g ment to b ui l d t h e e difi c e O f p u bl i c ha p p i n e s s b ut
u po n t h ei r a ff e c ti ons
I
h ave
n o c o nc
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
1
.
I ndeed he avo w ed as one o f h i s c h i e f mot i ves i n givi n g
up h i s cheri shed reti rement from publ i c l i fe the des i re to
so fa r as i n h i m lay As i de
reconci le co nten d i ng part i es
from these d i ffi cult i es ho w ever Wash i ngton w a s pecul i arl y
unembarras s ed i n th e matter O f h i s appoi ntments to o ffi ce
F rom many o f t h e tri als w hi c h face d most o f h i s s uccesso rs
i n o ffice h e w as free T h e p robl em o f removal s d i d not
ex i st fo r all o f t h e O ffices were creat i ons o f the n ew con
pe rhaps but none the less e f
s t it u t io n w h i c h ha d i llegally
f e c t u a lly ab rogated the A rt i cles o f Co nfederat i on and i n
conse q uence eve r y o ffice hel d un d e r that government There
w ere no el ect i o n d ebts to pa y fo r he was und er obl igati ons
to no p a rty o r facti on
2
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
"
.
‘
W a s h i n gt o n
J a n ua r y
1,
,
W r iti ng s ( Fo r d
1 7 89
,
W a s h i n gt o n
xi
w ro te
,
3 68 , n o
to
te
3
.
Sam ue l
1 61222 , 3 66
H an s o n
:
“
.
If I
DE W I TT
18
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E S P OI LS S YS TE M
[ 18
T h o s e w h o o pp ose d t h e co n sti tution b e f ore it s a d op tion f ro m
p ri n cip l e w e re p r e t t y ge n era l ly c o n vinc e d o f t he n ece ss i t y o f
a c ha nge in our f orm er co n fe d era ti o n ; b ut it s being acc e te d
p
by s o l a rge a p a rt o f t h e c o m munit y t h e h a rmo n y w h ic h p re
v a i l s in t h e l egi s l atur e an d t h e p ros p ect o f h avin g t h o s e app re
h en s io n s d o n e a w a y by s o me a l te r ation h ave ind u c e d t h em
“
to s ay w it h yo u t h at i t is t h e d ut y o f e ve ry go o d C i t iz en t o
re j oi c e in e ve ry m e as ure c a l c u l at e d t o c anry it i nt o Op eratio n
”
agree a bly t o t h e
p ri nc i p l es o n w h i c h i t w a s a do p te d
,
,
'
,
'
,
,
,
1
.
A nd there i s no ev i dence i n the man y letters w ri tten at
th i s t i me touch i ng upon hi s pol i cy w ith regard to appo i nt
ments that Wash i ngto n perm i tted h i msel f to be i nfluenced
to any extent by the atti tude wh i ch cand i dates had as
sumed upo n the quest i on o f adopt io n I n the case o f
R hode I sland there i s a sl ight poss ib i l i ty that he ma y
have been urged to some d i sc ri mi nat i on by reason o f the
susta i ned v i ol ence o f the Oppos it i on H e may have fel t that
the securi ty o f new establ i shment i n th i s state wh ich had re
mai ned out o f the Uni on under the const i tut i on fo r so many
month s demanded less l iberal i t y towa rd the pol i t i cal v i ews
o f can d i dates Certai n i t i s that many o f the appl i cants fo r
O ffice w h o w rote to h i m from Rh ode I sland o ff ered i n s up
po rt o f thei r clai ms that they had fav o red the adopti o n o f
th e constit ut i on
O f the ei ghte en nom i nees to the federal
O ffi ces i n R ho d e I sl and w hose names Wash i ngton subm i tte d
to the S enate i n June 1 7 9 0 ho w eve r only four had been
members o f the rat i fyi ng conventi on i n that state Th ree
wh i le one o f them Jo b
O f th ese had voted fo r a d O p t i on
x 7
W a h i n gt o n W iting s (Sp r k s
“
O ffi c e -S e k i n g d r i n g W as h i n g t o n s A d m i n is t r a
G i l l ar d H n t
”
t i o n A me ri ca n H is to i ca l R e v i ew i 2 74 2 78 -9 ; R h od e I s lan d H is
i ii 1 07—1 09 1 2 9 -1 3 5
t o ic l S oc ie ty Pu bl i ca tio n s
“E x ecu tiv e Jou n a l o f t h e S e n a te i
5 1 53 54
i 5 1 5 3 W i ll i m B ar t o n app i n t e d s r yo r o f t h e p o r t o f
I bi d
.
.
,
,
.
2
.
3
,
,
,
.
‘
-
,
,
‘
s
.
,
’
"
u
a
e
,
u
r
,
r
a
r
,
a
,
r
‘
.
,
,
,
.
v
,
.
,
,
,
a
,
,
,
,
,
o
,
.
u ve
19
E
A
R
L
Y
PA
T
R
O
N
A
G
E
UN
DER
]
C ONS TI T U TI ON
TH E
1
9
Comstock had been a leader o f the oppos iti on
T h eo d ore
F oste r appoi nte d to the naval o ffice at P rovi dence w h ich
h e had hel d un d er the state government appea rs to h ave
been som ethi ng o f a t ri mme r b et w een t h e f a ct ion s
He
res igne d h i s appoi ntment i mme d i atel y to take a seat i n t h e
Un ite d S tates senate an d E benezer Thompson fo rmerl y
collecto r o f the p o rt an d a n avowe d oppos iti oni st w as a p
Two oth ers w hom Was h i n g ton
po i nt e d to the vacancy
nom i nated fo r o ffi ce i n R hod e Islan d ha d at least oppose d
t h e const itut i on a t o n e stage i n the hi stor y o f i ts a d o ti on
p
A nd i t may be a d ded that i n some i nstances those w h o were
appoi nted to o ffice d o not appear to h ave presente d nearl y
as st rong c l a i ms o f serv ice i n behal f o f the constituti on a s
o t her re j ected app l i cants fo r the same o ffic e
I n t h e l ight
o f these facts W a s h in t o n s att i tu d e towa rd the opponents
g
o f the consti tut i on i n R h o d e Island falls far short o f a tota l
excl usi on I ndeed the st rongest evi d ence that h e ma d e an y
d i scri mi nat i on aga i nst them i s the fact that apparentl y in
th i s state o nl y w as the subj ect o f pol iti cs b rought for w a r d
i n the appl icat ions fo r o ffice ; an d th i s a t b e s t i s an u n
1
I
,
.
,
,
2
.
,
,
3
,
‘
.
5
.
6
.
’
.
7
H e n r y M a r c h a n t app o in t ed j u d g e o f t h e d i s t r i c t o f R h o d e
I s l an d an d G e o rg e S t il l m a n app o in t e d su r v e y o r o f t h e p o r t o f P a w
t u c k e t Fo r t h e ir v o t e s o n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s e e S t ap l e s R h o d e I s la n d
P r o v id e n c e
,
,
,
,
.
,
i n t h e Co n t i n en t a l Co ng res s , 6 7 2 , 67 3
J o u r nal
‘
640-67 3
of
P r o c ee d
i n gs o f t h e Co n
.
v en
t i o n pr i n t e d in St ap l
,
es
o
,
p
a
.
t
,
.
R Izo d e I s l a n d H is t o ric a l S o c iety P u bl ica t io n s ,
2‘
1 35
‘
.
E x ec u t ive Jo u rn a l
of
v
ii i
,
I 3 4,
I
35
.
n
a te
i 53
D a n ie l E U pd ik
t lze S e
,
,
.
r n o l d s u r v e y o r o f Eas t G r e e n w i c h a n d
s u r v e y o r o f No r t h K i n g s t o w n ; S t ap l e s op c it
59 1 59 4
6
Fo r e x am p l e W il l i am E l l e r y w h o t o o k n o e r y ac t i e p a rt in t h
w a s ap p o i n t e d c o l l e c t o r o f t h e p o r t o f Ne w p o rt
s t r u gg l e fo r ad o p t io n
a n o ffic e s o u g h t by J o h n C o l l in s w h o as
( E x ec u t iv e J o u r n a l i
g o v e r n o r o f t h e s t a t e h ad c a s t t h e d ec i d i n g v o t e fo r t h e ad o p t i n g c o n
5
T h o m as A
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
v
,
e
v
v e n t io n
7
(A me ri ca n H is t o ric a l
1 61222 , i,
2 78 , 2 79
.
,
,
R e v iew ,
i
,
2 79
,
,
.
,
,
e
DE W I TT
20
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[2 0
ce rtai n in d i cat io n o f the extent t o w h i ch s uch cl aims w ere
co ns i dere d
I t i s t rue also that Wash i ngton appoi nte d to o ffi ce man y
w h o had d i st i ngui she d themselves b y serv i ce i n the R evo
l u t io n and that th i s fact w as urged i n s uppo rt o f the i r ap
peals fo r cons i derat i on
There i s l i ttl e ev i dence ho w ever
that Washi n g to n eve r cons i dered s uch clai ms as o u t balanc
i ng s uperi o r merit
H e i ndeed frankly a d mitt ed that t h e
comparati ve cl aims from th e fo rmer mer its and s u ffe r
”
i ngs i n servi ce o f the d i fferent cand i dates const i tuted an
essenti al cons i derati on but he was careful to place fitness
o f character firs t
To a w i dow whose h usband had l ost
h i s l i fe i n the wa r Wash i ngton w rote that he coul d not
consult h i s pr ivate i ncl i nati ons i n the matter o f ap
and
that
he
oul
d
nom
i
nate
o
nl
y
s
uch
as
n
w
o
i
n
m
t
s
t
e
p
shall be best qual ified to d i scha rge th e functi ons o f the de
”
I
t
i
s
not
un
to
wh
i
ch
the
y
shall
be
appoi
nted
n
ar
t
m
e
t
s
p
reasonable to assume mo reover that Washi ngto n h ad i n
many cases some personal kno w l e d ge o f the fitness o f the
appo i ntees w h o had been i n th e mi l i ta r y serv ice o f the i r
country d uri ng the pe ri od o f the R evol uti on
A t mo s t
t h e re i s a w i de gul f stretch i ng bet w een re w ar d s fo r servi ce
upon the fiel d o f battle rendered fo r the common i nterest
o f all a nd re w ard s fo r servi ce rende red i n the i nterest o f
“
O ffic e -S e e k i n g d r i n g W as h i n gt o n s A d m i n is tr
G ai l l a r d H u n t
”
t i o n A me rica n H is t o rica l R ev iew i 2 76
x i 3 67 n o t
W s h i n gt o n W ri t ing s (Fo r d
M y 2 1 I 789 ibid x i 3 9 4
Se n t e d ec l i n d t
n w hom th
o f B n j m in Fi h b o
in t h e
A
.
1
.
.
,
.
,
2
.
,
3
.
,
,
4
.
,
,
’
‘
,
,
,
2
3
‘
a
a
s
.
,
,
,
,
,
a
u
.
,
e
c as e
,
a
e
,
.
.
s
o
e
a
e
ur
r m as n av al o ffic e r o f t h e p o r t o f Sav an n ah I n a m e s s ag e c o n
t ai n i n g a m i l d r e pr o o f o f t h i s ac t io n W as h i n g t o n g av e am o n g o t h e r
“
r e as o n s fo r t h e n o m i n at io n t h a t w h i l e Fis h bo u rn w as a n o ffi c e r in
h is c o n d u c t app e ar e d t o
a c t i v e s e r v ic e a n d c h i e fly u n d e r m y o w n e y e
i
s
i
s
1
6
T
a
t
e
i
r
r
pr
h
l
E
J
S
e
n
i
h
n
o
f
M
e
l
u
r
a
i
v
e
o
u
c
t
e
x
e
a
c
b
a
e
o
me
;
p e r h ap s t h e o n ly c as e o f s e n a t o r i a l r e j e c t i o n o f a n o m i nat i o n m ad e by
-2
2
2
n
v
n
t
o
h
a
i
h
i
gt
r
i
g
f
o
f
W
s
Li e
4
W as n o n ; I v n
g
co nfi
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
2 1
E
A
R
L
Y
]
P A TR ON A GE
U N DER
T H E C O N S TI T U TI O N
2 1
part i cular pol i t i cal party S urely i n the former there i s
t raceable no element o f the spo i ls system as that term i s
a ppl i ed
i n the later d evelopment o f the h i sto ry o f the
patronage
O n the whol e i t seems reasonabl y wel l susta i ned that
Wash i ngton adhered very closely to a ri gi d pol i cy i n the
matter o f appo i ntments— a pol i c y w hi ch he lai d do w n fo r
h i s gui dance even befo re enteri ng o ffice The elements o f
that pol i cy were : ( I ) a refusal to make any promi ses pre
v i o ns to nomi nat i on ; (2 ) an e ffort to gather i nfo rmati on
concerni ng candi dates from all possible sources ; ( 3 ) a
j udgment as between cand i dates based p rimari l y o n the
g reatest fitness fo r the o ffice to be fill ed speci al consi dera
t i o n bei ng gi ven to those w h o had filled analogous o ffices
under the state governments ; (4) the d i stributi on o f a p
“
p o int m ent s w i th fair p ropo rti o n among the several stat es
( 5 ) the dete rm i nat i on not to lay h imsel f open to the cha rge
o f nepoti sm no r to cons i der fri endshi p alone as su ffi cient
It i s not to be gai nsai d
b as i s fo r publ i c p referment
that these elements const i tute the broadest possible plat fo rm
t hat i s compat ible w i th a consc i ent i ous des i re to di stribute
the patronage w i th puncti l i ous regard fo r the pri nci ple o f
i mpart i al i ty ; nor i s i t to be doubted that Wash ington w a s
s crupulously honest i n h i s e ffort to make them somet h ing
mo re than a v i s i on and a theo ry o f words An d h is suc
Fo r a c o n tr r y ie w s e e A me ri ca n H is t o ric a l R e v iew i 2 8 2
x i 3 49 n o t e ; 3 66 3 67 3 68 n t ;
W h i n gt o n W rit ing s (Fo r d
a
.
1
.
'
.
2
3
,
4
.
,
6
.
.
1
a
2
as
x ii, I
7
v
,
,
o
e
t 3 9 5 ; A d am s Wo rk s i x 5 6 1 ; R o w l a nd L if e d flfi
Ch a r les Ca rro l l ii 204; Jay Co rrespo nde nce a n d
3 5 0, n o e ;
of
P u bl ic P ap ers , iv ,
5’
,
,
,
.
,
.
Co rresp o n de n ce
420
,
,
x i,
‘
,
W a s h in g t o n
,
,
,
19 7, 198
,
,
.
,
W
( Fo r d
xi
,
Writ ing s (Fo r d
xi
ri t ing s
,
,
t
,
3 5 0 , no e ;
,
3 67 ,
.
W as h in g t o n
x i,
3 67 ,
t
no e ;
39 5 ,
t
no e
.
t
no e
.
39 5
,
t
no e ;
D E W I T T C LIN T O N A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS TE M
22
[22
cess j ustified the e ffo rt B ut even w i th the favo rabl e c o n
d it io n s un d er w h i ch he i naugurate d the ci vi l serv i ce pol i cy
o f the Un ite d S tates
an d upon t h e ver y th reshol d o f h i s
adm i n i strati o n he w rote :
.
,
T h at pa rt
t h e P re s id e nt s d ut y wh i c h o bl ige s h im to no min
at e p e rso n s f or o ffic e is t h e mo st d e l ic ate
an d in ma ny in
s t ances w i ll be
to m e t h e m o s t u n p l easi ng ; f or it m ay f re
q ue nt ly h a ppe n t h at t h ere w ill b e s evera l a p p l i can t s f or t h e
sa m e o ffi ce w h o se m e rits a n d p reten s i o n s a re s o n e a r ly e q u a l
t h at i t wil l re q ui re t h e ai d o f s u p er n atural int u itiio n to fi x
u p on t h e rig h t I s h al l h o w eve r in al l eve n ts h ave t h e
c onso la tion o f k no w in g t h a t I e n tere d u p o n m
o
f
fi
e
n
o
n
c
u
c
y
fi ne d rby a n y enga gements a n d u nin flu e nc e d by any t ies ; a n d
t ha t n o m ean s in m y p o w er w i ll b e l e f t un t ri e d t o fin d out
a nd no min ate t h o s e c h aracte rs w h o w i l l dis c ha rge t h e d uti e s
of t h ei r re s p eot iv e o ffi ce s t o t h e b e s t i n te re s ts a n d h ighe s t
c re d i t o f t h e American U ni o n
o
’
f
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
1
.
Whether Wash i ngton w ould have been able to stand so
rigi d ly upo n a pl at fo rm o f fitness for o ffice had pol i ti cal
cond i t i ons been other than they we re i s to say the l east
questi onable I n the l ight o f subsequent developments i t
i s i nteresti ng to note that very early i n h i s admi ni strati on
he came to real i ze that i t woul d be exped i ent i n some in
stances to fin d berth s fo r certai n men whether a n o ffice
sought them unmi stakabl y o r not W ri ti ng to M ad i son i n
August 1 7 8 9 he asks :
,
,
.
.
,
,
Wou l d it d o n o w t h at M r B a rto w h as d ec l i n e d t h e J u d g e s
S e at (We s te rn Terri tory ) to n omi n at e C o l C arrington f or
t h at o ffi ce — I f n o t c an you t h i n k o f any ot h e r t h at w ou l d
w h ic h h as n o t a n
s ui t h im
o f n e w c re at io n ; by t h i s I me a n
’
.
'
.
,
,
,
J o s e p h J o n e s M ay I 4 1 789 W as h i n gt o n W ri t ing s (Fo r d
x i 39 4 no t e S e e al s o l e t t e r t o J o h n A r m s t r o n g Fe br uar y 6
l
To
,
ibid
,
.
,
.
,
x ii, I
7
.
,
,
,
,
,
1 79 1
,
2
E
A
R
L
Y
3]
UNDER
TH E C O N S TI T U TI O N
2
3
c c u p a n t o r s ome one w h o f ro m sim i l a ri t y o f Offi ce
m ay ha ve b et ter p rete ns io n s t o i t
W ha t c an I do w i t h A [ rt h ur ] L [ ee ] ? H e h a s a pp l ie d t o
be n omi n ate d o n e o f t h e As soc i ate J u d ges bu t I c a nnot b rin g
my min d t o a do p t t h e re q ue st Th e o p i n io n e n tert a i ned o f
h im by t h ose w it h w h o m I a m mo s t c o nver s ant is u np rOp i
tio u s a nd ye t f e w m en h ave re c eive d more m a r k s o f p u bl i c
f av o r a n d c o n fide n ce t h an h e h a s T h e se co n tra d ictio n s a re
embar ra s s in g
ac
tu a l
P A TR ON A GE
o
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
1
.
It
onl y a f ew y ears a fter Was h ington became p res i
d ent that pol i ti cal parti es began to emerge from t h e gro w
i ng co nfl i ct o f o p i n ions and to assume certai n we l l d e fine d
v i ews upon the pol i ci es o f the a d mi ni st rati on T h e chi e fs
o f thes e part i es were members o f hi s cabi net and he w as i n
consequence s ubj ecte d to the embarrassment o f pol i t ical
facti o ns among h i s o w n chosen a d vi sers D issens i ons an d
estrangements upon matters o f pol iti cs soon became the o r
der o f the day and the republ i can press o f t h e countr y i n
the hands o f s uch men as F reneau B ache D uane an d C al
l en d ar sought t o p i llo ry the pres i dent w it h vi rulent eriti
There i s l i ttle w o n d er that Washi ngton came to re
c is m
gard pol it i cal o rthodox y so far as the p ol i ci es o f the a d
m i ni st rati o n w ere concerne d as a necessa ry q ua l i fi cat ion for
That he d i d so regard i t at least i n the case
o ffic e -hol d i ng
o f i mpo rtant o ffices we have hi s o w n w o r d s i n evi d ence
”
I sho ul d cons i der i t an act o f governmental s uici d e h e
to b ring a m a n i nto
w rote to E d w ard Carri ngton i n 1 7 9 5
so h i gh 3 Office [ S ecretar y o f S tate ] w h o w as un f rien dl y
”
to the const i tuti o n a nd la w s w h i ch are to b e h is gui d e
A nd agai n to T i mothy P i ckeri ng i n regar d to fil l i ng the
“
o ffi ce o f Attorney General
I s h all not w h il s t I h a ve t h e
w as
-
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
2
.
,
,
,
,
,
2
W as h i ng t o n
,
W rit ing s ( Fo r d
x i,
W as h in g t o n
,
W rit ing s (Fo r d
x iii
42 0 , 42 1
,
1 15
.
.
D E W I T T C LIN T O N A ND TH E S P O IL S S YS T E M
24
[2 4
hono r to adm i ni ster the government bri ng a man i nto an y
office o f consequence know i ngly w hose pol i t i cal tenets are
a d verse to the meas ures wh i ch the general government a re
”
I f Wa sh i ngton i ntende d t h i s l iteral ly i t m i ght
p ursu i ng
w el l be argued that there i s no v er y great step bet w een a n
”
o ffice o f consequence and an o ffi ce o f i nconsequence A t
any rate there i s certai nly some i nd i cati on that be fo re the
close o f h i s execut ive servi ce Wash i ngton came to bel i eve
that the pol i t i cal att i tude o f a cand i date coul d not be
wholly i gno red
I t has been sai d that the i nfluence o f H am i lto n w as ex
e rt e d w i th th e pres i dent to secure the appo i ntment i n N ew
Yo rk o f those w h o w e re fri endly to t he co nst i tuti on an d
th at t h e obj ect o f th i s d i scri m i nati on was to weaken th e
po w er o f George Cl i nton the lea d er o f the party o f the O ppo
s i ti ou i n that state A n exam i nat i o n o f the compl ete l i st
o f Wash i ngton s early New Yo rk appo i ntments ho w ever
i ndi cates l ittl e i f any H am i lto ni an i nfl uence I t i s t rue that
the fe d eral j udge an d the attorney nomi nated fo r the d i s
t ri et o f Ne w Yo rk h ad favored the adopti on o f the con
B u t if w e may j udge b y th e p revi ous h i sto r y
s t it u t io n
o f h i s other appo i ntees i n New Yo rk Wash i ngto n w as fa r
mo re i nfluenced b y thei r m i l itary servi ces h i s k nowl edge
o f them from a personal acqua i ntance w i th them o r bv
the fact th at they had h el d analogo us o ffices under t h e
state government W i l l i am S S mi th appo i nted marshal
o f th e d is t riot f h ad been o ne o f h i s aid es as w el l as h av
,
,
,
1
.
,
.
,
.
2
,
,
.
’
,
,
.
3
4
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
0
’
‘
2
W a s h i n gt o n
,
H am m o n d
H is t o ry
,
x iii
W rit ing s (Fo r d
,
1 07
.
P o l it ic a l P a rt ie s i n N e w Yo rk ,
P a t ro n ag e , 1 5 ; R o o s e v e l t , N e w Yo rk ,
of
i
,
i h
31 ; Fs
1 60 ; A l e x
Civ il S erv ice a nd t h e
i 44
a n d e r P o l it ica l H is t o ry o f Ve w Yo rk
E a ec u t iv e Jo u rn a l o f t h e S e n a t e i 3 2
2
n
a
u
r
o
u
i
v
e
t
l
l
i
t
ii
E
c
J
l
i
x
e
2
1
3
a
t
es
D eb
E o
4
“W as h i n gt o n W r it in s Fo r d
x iv 43 3
(
g
1
,
3
,
.
,
’
,
.
,
5
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
2
D E W I TT
6
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E SP O IL S S YS TE M
[2 6
i n New Yo rk C i ty and ove r aga i nst i t stood that o f George
Cl i nto n i n the state P rev i o us to 1 7 8 9 Cl i nto n had stoo d
fo r the o ffice o f gove rno r at each o f the four s uccess i ve elec
t i ons s i nce the adopti on o f the state co nst i tuti o n i n 1 7 7 7
O n each occas i on he had been chosen w i thout m uch oppo
s it io n
W ith a m il i tary reco rd o f no mean p retens i ons
and a reputat i on fo r abi l i ty s i mpl i ci ty and s i nce re devo
ti on to the p ubl i c wel fare o f the state over wh i ch he pre
s ided as ch i e f magi strate he enj oyed th e co nfidence o f a
p ol i ti cal consti tuency that co ul d not be eas i l y d i ve rted from
him
No small pa rt o f Cl i nto n s i nfluence i n th e state had o f
necess ity o rigi nated i n the large patronage w h ich ha d been
subj ect to h i s d i sposal d uri ng h i s long adm i ni strati on as
governo r I n o rde r ful ly to understand w h at use he had
made o f th i s factor i n h i s pol i t i cal u p bui ld i ng i t i s necessar y
to exam i ne bri efl y the system by wh i ch o ffices were d is t ri
buted i n Ne w Yo rk under the fi rs t consti tut i on
P rompte d by the i nheri ted d i strust o f the col on ial g o v
e rn o r the co nventi o n wh i ch framed an d p rom ulgated that
consti tuti on h ad sought t o prevent any abuse o f th e powe r
i n the han d s o f t h e governo r b y p ro v i d i ng fo r t w o co uncil s
t o hol d hi m i n c heck— th e o ne i n the matte r o f h i s veto the
othe r i n that o f h i s appo i ntments The theo ry o f a counci l
to control and d i mi n i sh the po w er o f the s i ngle execut i ve was
a favo ri te o n e w i th the const i tut i on makers o f the early
o nv e n
c
eri
od
I
t
found
a
rdent
advocates
i
n
the
federal
p
t i on o f I 7 8 7
H am i lto n ha d oppose d suc h a co unc i l and
l c t i o n f d l e g a t s t t h e P o g h k ee p i c o n e n t io n G eo rg e
In th
C l i n t o n r c i d n ly 1 3 4 t e
c m p r d w i t h 2 73 5 w h i h w n t t
J h n J y : M u n l l A nn a l s of A l ba ny i 3 3 0 ; L e ak e op c it 3 3 2
1
,
.
.
2
.
,
,
,
,
.
’
.
.
,
3
"
,
.
.
1
‘
.
o
e e e
e
se
Civ il
’
The
L is t
c o ns
,
ti tutio n
t u t io n a l H is t o ry
of
M a d is o n P ap ers
f N e w Yo r k ,
w as c
h i e fly
N e w Yo rk
,
iii
,
15 22
,
,
1
1 88 8 ,
the wo
i
,
49 5
523
.
rk
,
1 66
of
et s eq
e
c
,
,
o
v
a e
o
,
S t at e
s e
u
o
s as
vo
o
e ve
a
o
e
e
.
.
.
,
o
.
.
J o h n Jay ;
L i nc o l n ,
Co ns t i
2
E
A
R
L
Y
PA
T
R
ONA
G
E
UN
DER
7]
TH E C O N S TI T U TI O N
in
the F ederal i st papers had cited the construct ion o f t h e
New Yo rk execut ive w it h d i sapproval
The exact w o r d
i ng o f A rti cl e " " I I I o f the co nst i tuti on w hi ch establ i she d
the counc i l o f appo i ntment was as follo w s :
1
.
Th a t a l l o ffi c ers o t h er t h an t h o s e w h o by t h i s C o n s titutio n a re
direc t e d t o b e o t h er w i s e ap p oi n te d s h all b e a pp oi nte d in t h e
ma n ne r f o l l o w ing t o w it : Th e a s s embly s h all o n c e in ev e ry
y e a r o pe n ly n o minat e an d a pp oi n t o ne o f t h e s e n ator s f ro m
e ac h gre at d is tri c t w h i c h s en ator s s h all f orm a c ou nc i l fo r
t h e ap p oin t me nt o f t h e sa i d o ffi ce r s o f w hic h t h e gover nor for
t h e time b eing or th e l ieute n a n t gover no r o r t h e p re s i d e n t o f
t h e s en ate w h e n t h ey s h al l re s p e c tiv e ly a dmi n i s ter t h e gov
b ut n o
s h a l l b e p re s i d e n t a n d h ave a c as ti ng voi c e
e rnm e n t
ot h er vote ; an d w it h t h e ad vi se an d c o n s e n t o f t h e s a i d c ou n
an d t h a t a m aj orit y
s h a l l a p p oi n t a l l o f t h e s aid o ffi c ers
c il
o f t h e s a i d c ou n c i l be a q u o ru m ; an d fu rt h e r t h e sa i d s e nator s
s h a ll n o t be e l igi bl e t o t h e s a i d c ou n c i l f or t w o y e a r s s u c
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
"
c es s iv e ly
2
.
I t was cl ea rly the i ntent io n o f the framers o f th i s art i c l e
to c reate a co unci l rep resenti ng the d i fferent secti on s o f
the state w hose br i e f tenure o f o ne year w ould deny to it s
members the possib i l i ty o f bui l d i ng u p a mach i ne o f pe r
sonal i nfl uence The po w ers o f t h e governor the onl y
stand i ng member w oul d be e ffectuall y contro l le d an d t h e
patronage o f the state l i fted o ut o f t h e han d s o f a s i ng l e
man and pl aced upo n a plat fo rm o f equi t y j ust i ce an d w is
dom What they really accompl ishe d w as q ui te anot h er
th i ng The y fai le d to take i nto consi d erati on t w o i m po r
n
—
tant possibi l i t i es that o f a governor an d h i s counci l b ei g
at loggerhea d s and the d evel opment o f pol i ti cal pa rti es
as
w
I n the case o f the former the l anguage o f the a rticle
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
‘
'
’
P ea era l i s t
P o o re ,
(Fo r d
Ch a rt ers
47 2 , 5 1 3
’
ana
,
5 14
.
Co ns t it u t io n s ii
,
,
13 36
.
2
D E W I T T C LIN T O N A N D TH E S P O IL S S YS T E M
8
[2 8
expl i ci t as to the governo r s excl us i ve po w er o f nom i n
ati on I n the case o f the latter the system o ffere d a splen
d i d Oppo rtuni ty fo r the c reat i on by the l egi slature o f a
more o r less responsi bl e execut i ve
D uri ng the per i ods o f the revol ut i on and subsequent con
federat io n th i s method o f d i st ributi ng pat ro nage i n New
Yo rk was follo w ed w i tho ut givi ng ri se to any seri o us con
fl i et o f a utho ri ti es Governo r Cl i nton eas i l y dom i nated the
s uccess i ve co unc i ls o f appo i ntment
H e w a s tact ful able
forceful H e had no great fami ly in flu e nce beh i nd h im
but he enj oyed a keen qual ity o f l eade rsh ip and possesse d
the abi l i ty to i nsp i re and hol d the confidence o f h i s co ns t it
u en t s
There were no o rgan i zed part i es ; there were no elec
t io n debts to l i qui date fo r h i s re elect i on as governor w as
almost und i sputed a fter
There i s ever y reason to
bel i eve j udgi ng from the general cha racter o f the man an d
from the fact that no conspi cuous complai nts w ere mad e
agai nst h i m that Gove rno r Cl i nton wh i l e perhaps not nu
m i nd ful o f the necessi ty fo r strengtheni ng h imsel f pol it i cally
i n appo i nt
w as neverthel ess ca re ful i n seeki ng i n formati on
i ng only fit cha racters and i n maki ng removals w ith d i s
creti on
I t i s t rue that i n I 7 8 5 Ph i l i p S chuyler u rged upo n
Jay the necessi ty o f h i s becomi ng a cand i date for gove rno r
i n opposi t i on to Cl i nton obs e rvi ng tha t
’
no t
.
.
.
.
,
,
.
,
.
-
,
,
,
,
,
2
,
,
3
.
,
t h e p er s o n a t p re s ent i n t h e c h ai r o f G over nment so evid ent ly
s trives to mai n t a i n h is po pu l a nit y at t h e e x p ense o f g oo d G ov
t h at i t h as give n re al con c er n to ma ny a s w e l l as t o
e rnm en t
,
,
,
,
'
Civ il
L is t , S t a t e
of
N e w Yo r k
,
1 88 8 , 1 66
.
p p o i n t m e n t in T r y o n c o u n t y 1 7 78 ; G e o rg e C l i n
T h e C l i n t o n p ap e r s e l s e
t o n P u bl ic P ap ers (pr i n t e d ) ii 62 1 746 -7 48
w h e r e c i t e d are t h e u n p u b l i s h e d m a n u s c r ip t v o l u m e s
Yo u m ay r e s t a s s u r e d S ir t h a t I w i l l r e m o v e n o M an f r o m O flic e
w i t h o u t a H ea r i n g as t o d o i t is in c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e I d ea I e n t e r t ai n
ii 5 5 2
o f P ubl i c J us t i c e
I bid
"
A
s
in t h e
c ase o f a
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
‘
3
,
,
,
"
.
.
,
,
.
29
E
A
R
L
Y
PA
T
R
ONA
G
E
UN
DER
]
m ysel f
T H E C O N S TI T U TI O N
2
9
No t
o n ly t h e l o w e s t b ut t h e m o s t u n w or t hy c h a r ac t e r s
a re c ount e n anc e d by h im a n d t h roug h h is i nflu e n c e
l
d
a
ce
in
p
o ffi c e s o f t ru s t G re at pa rt o f t h e m ag is t r-acy o f t h i s a n d t h e
a dj a ce nt We s ter n a n d N o rt he r n C ou n tie s a re w ret ch e s t ha t
w ou l d d isgr a ce t h e mo s t de s p i c abl e o f a l l go ver n m e nt s — t h e s e
s erve h i s t urn ; an d h e a b et s a f a c tio n
r
v
te
ly
h
e
t
h
i
k
i
a
as
n
s
(p
but su ffic i ent ly n otoriou s to t ho s e w h o h ave t ak e n pa i n s to be
in f orme d ) w h i c h w i s h e s t o d e s troy b ot h pu blic an d p riv at e
C re d it a n d W h os e s o le a im is t o r i s e i nto im po rt an c e o n t h e
ruin o f o t h ers
.
'
.
,
,
,
1
.
I t must be borne i n m i nd however that Cl i nton h a d
twi ce t ri umphed over S ch uyler i n the electio n o f governo r
and that th e l atte r sti ll cheri shed the hope o f ousti ng t h i s
man w hose fam i ly and connect i ons d i d not entitle h im to
”
so d i sti ngui shed a predomi nance
At any rate there i s a
cha racteri st ic r i ng o f fai rness and an element of j ust rebu k e
i n Ja y s re fusal to stand I n repl y he w rote :
,
,
"
,
3
.
’
.
I f t he c i r cu ms t an c es o f t h e S t a t e w ere p re s s i ng i f re al
d i sgu s t an d d i s co n te n t h a d s p rea d t h rough t h e c ou n try i f
a ch ange h a d in t h e ge n er a l o p i n io n b ec ome n o t o n ly a d v is
a n d t h e go o d e x pe ct e d f rom t h at c h a ng e
a bl e b ut n e c es s a r y
d ep en d-e d o n me t h en m y p re s e n t o bj e c tio n s w ou l d imm e d i
a te ly yie l d to t h e c o nsi d era t io n t h at a go o d citi z e n ough t c h ee r
f u l ly to t ake a ny s t at-io n w h i ch o n suc h oc c as io n s h is cou n try
m ay t h i n k p ro p e r to a s s ign him
,
,
'
'
,
,
,
,
4
.
I n the federal ist papers H ami lton al so condemne d i n no
uncertai n terms t h e character o f Cl i nton s a p poi ntments
B ut H ami lto n w as scarcely a fai r cri tic T h e o n e o v e r
master i ng des i re o f h i s heart at that time w as to see the
"
’
.
.
‘
J o h n Jay Co rresp o n d en ce a n d P u blic P ap ers iii 1 5 1
N e w Yo r k S t a t e 1 8 86 1 66
1 44; Civ i l L is t
i 1 41 —
I bid
156
i
i
1
i
l
i
d
b
i
1
5
5
i
t
o
c
n
a
Jo h J y p
47
l e Fed era l is t (Fo r d
47 2 5 1 4
,
2
.
"
,
‘
,
5
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
DE W I T T C LIN T O N
30
A ND T H E S P O IL S
S Y S TE M
[30
c onsti tut i on become a th i ng o f real i ty and the fact that
Geo rge Cli nton stood as a power ful menace t o the real i za
t i o n o f h i s hopes coul d not h ave fai led to color h i s opi n i on
I n the struggl e w hi ch a ros e ove r the adopti on o f the
federal const i tut i on George Cl i nton became the l eader o f
the v igo ro us oppo siti on w h i ch developed i n N ew Yo rk
There i s l ittl e reason to beli eve that i n w i el d i ng the strong
a rm o f h is i nfluence and prest ige agai nst adopt i on h e acted
otherw i se than from a s i ncere conv i cti on that the p roposed
fo rm o f government w oul d be a menace to t he sa fety and
Only a casual rea d i ng o f h i s re
w el fare o f t h e c o untr y
marks u p on the floo r o f the convent i on serves to reveal the
i ntense ea rnestness o f t h e man w hatever may be thought o f
the so ph i st ry o f h i s polit i cal s c ience
Chancellor Ke nt
-fiv e l iv i ng i n Poughkeeps i e
as
a
young
man
o
f
twenty
w ho
w a s i n constant attendance upon the sess i ons o f the con
v e nt io n w r ites o f h i m :
,
.
.
,
,
1
~
.
,
2
.
,
,
T h ough I f e l t s tro n g p re j u d i ces aga i n st G overnor C l i n ton as
t h e l e ad e r o f t h e A n ti Fe d era l p a rt y ye t d u ri ng t h e cou rs e
I b e c ame ver y f avorably s tru c k w i t h t h e
o f t h a t Co nve n tio n
d i g nit y w it h w h i c h h e p resi de d an d w i t h h is u na s s umi ng a n d
mo d est p rete n sio n s as a s p e ak er I t i s i m possibl e not t o f ee l
res p ec t f or su c h a m an a n d f o r a y ou n g p e rso n n o t t o be
s ome w h at over a w e d in h is pre s e nc e w h e n it w as a p pa re nt in
a l l h i s a c t io n s a n d d e p o rt m ent t h at h e p o s se s s e d gre at d ec i s i on
o f ch aract er an d a st ern i n flex ib i lit y o f p u rp o s e
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
-
,
r
3
.
Whethe r Cl i nto n w as o r w as not moved b y s i n i ster mo
t iv es i n oppos i ng th e a d opti on o f the consti tuti on i t i s cer
tai n that he th re w the w eight o f h i s pol it i cal i nfl uence
E l l i t D eba t es ii 3 5 9
s e G
rg e C l i n t o n P bl ic P apers
Fo o r i g i n l d r af t o f s p ee c h
xxi i 5 9 7 6—5 9 78
,
‘
o
,
.
es,
s
a
r
e
eo
,
.
,
3
,
,
Ke n t M em o irs
,
a nd
L et t ers
of
C/za n ce l l o r Ken t 3 06
,
.
u
,
RL Y P A TR ON A GE
A
E
3 ]
1
U N DER
TH E C O N S TI T U TI O N
3
[
aga i nst i t at every legit i mate poi nt o f attack O n the ques
t i on o f adopti on the o fficers o f the state w e re d iv i d e d
though i t i s p robable that a maj ori ty o f th em w e re i n the
pa rty o f the o ppo s i t i on
There i s l ittle ev i d ence t h at C li n
to n ei ther by th reats o r promi ses made use o f h is o ffi cial
pat ronage to strengt hen th e p o wer o f h i s part y
The ulti mate vi cto ry o f the adopt ion i sts i n the conventi o n
w ithd rew from Cl i nton a substanti al number o f mi l d sup
porters F rom t hi s ti me o u h is fi rm ho l d upon the peopl e
o f the state began to weaken
H am i lton i mme d iatel y lai d
plans to p revent the governor s re-elect i on i n th e s p ri ng
o f 1 78 9
and althou gh h i s sh rewdly c h osen can d i d ate o f
comprom i se J u d ge R obert Yates w as d e f eate d the re
s ult o f the electi on was general l y favo ra b le to the Hamil
t o n ia n party
The cleavage o f parti es i n New Yo rk over the q ue s t i on
o f adopti on and thei r tempo ra ry organ i zat i on un d er the
leadersh i p o f Cl i nton and Hami lton d i d not i n an y sense
d i sap pear a fter the deci s ion o f that i ssue
Pol i ti c s in
New Yo rk have from the begi nni ng been i ntensely persona l
M en more l argely than p ri nci pl es have been the d et e rm in
i ng facto r i n party fo rmat i on and pa rt y d evelopment A n d
.
.
1
.
2
.
.
,
.
’
,
3
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
‘
E ll io t , D eba tes , ii,
22 1
.
t h a t in t h e s t at e c o nv e n t i o n o f 1 788 t h e c h arg e w
d e fin it e ly m ad e a g ai n s t C l in t o n t h a t h e w a s u s i n g h is p a tr o n a g e t o d
f e a t t h e c o n s t it u t io n I n t h e o p e n i n g s p e e c h o i t h e c o n e n t i o n C h a n
c e ll o r L iv in g s t o n e x h o r t e d t h e o ffi c e r s o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o f o rg e t t h e
p r id e o f o ffi c e an d t o h av e n o in t e r e s t a s m ag i s tr a t e s in ad v a n c i n g t h
p o w e r o f t h e s t a t e a t t h e e xp e n s e o f t h e u n i o n a nd h e w a s a n s w r e d
s o m e w h a t ac r im o n io u s ly by M r
L an s in g ( E l l i o t D e ba t es ii 2 1 6 2 20
L iv in g s t o n s im p u t a t i o n h o w e v e r w a s o n ly t h a t t h e o ffic e r s o f
t h e s t a t e m ig h t b e i n flu e n c e d by pr iv a t e pr e j u d i c e s bo r n f s e l f i n t r e s t
a n d t h e r e is c e rt ain l y n o t h in g in h is r e m a r k s w h i c h c o u ld be e e n re
”
“
f
a g ai n s t C l in t o n s u s e
m o t e ly c o n s tr u ed in t o a
d e fin i t e c h arg e
p a tr o n ag e C R Fi s h Th e Civ il Serv ice a nd t h e P a t ro n ag e 5 6
i 5 16
H am il t o n Wo rk s ( L o d g e
2
M r Fis h
s ay s
.
as
e
v
.
e
e
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
e
o
,
v
’
o
.
.
.
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
,
.
DE WI T T CL I N T ON
2
3
S Y S TE M
A N D T H E S P OI L S
[32
i t was that the ri se o f federal i st an d republ i can parti es
i n the nati on upon the b road i ss ue o f consti tut i onal i nter
r
i
e
t
a
t
on
found i n New Yo rk tolerabl y w ell organ i zed
p
p a rt i es the i ntegr i ty o f whi ch had been ma i ntai ned d ur i ng
t h e f ew y ears i nte ri m s i nce 1 7 8 9 l argel y i f not ent i rely
upon the basi s o f personal al legi ance
Cl i nton real i zed that the day o f h i s und i spute d pol i t i cal
ascenda ncy had passed The call i n the elect i on o f 1 7 8 9
w a s close
The comb i nat i on party o rgan i zed by H ami lton
h ad leaped full grown i nto the cont est and ea c h yea r that
There wa s
p asse d s aw i t mature i n i nfl uence and power
n ever a t i me w hen t he governo r nee d ed t o ex e rc is e greater
care i n the d i str ibuti o n o f h i s patronage Yet he seems to
h ave exh ib i ted s i ngular fo rbearance to w ard h i s opponents
I n the elect i o n o f 1 7 8 9 A aron B ur r had th rown h i s i nfluenc e
agai nst Cl i nton but be fo re the y ea r w a s o ut Cl i nton had
appo i nted h i m atto rne y general i n the place o f R i cha rd Varick
resigned
I n th i s ho w ever t h e governo r may have been
moved by much mo re than the l iberali ty o f d i s i nterest f o r
Bu rr was the leade r o f the coteri e o f young men w hose
i nfl uence w as not to be sa fel y overlooked I n 1 7 9 0 R obert
Yates h i s opponent o f the y ear be fore fo r the o ffice o f
governo r w as upon Cl i nton s nomi nati on rai sed to the o ffice
o f ch i e f j ust ice
A year later the assembl y hav i ng passed
an act creat i ng several n ew count i es i t devolved upo n the
so
,
’
,
.
.
.
1
.
.
'
.
.
2
,
.
3
.
,
,
,
4
.
,
’
,
5
.
,
6
,
‘
1 66
C l in t o n
.
6 , 39 1 ; Y a t e s
Civ i l
5 , 9 62 ;
,
L is t , S
t at e
of
N e w Yo r k
,
1 888 ,
.
(C h e e t h a m ) A Vie w o f t h e P o l zt zra l
'
'
Co nd u c t
of
A
a ro n
B u rr ,
10, 13
.
Co u nc il o f A pp o in t me n t ii 1 8 5 1 86
T w o y e a r s l a t e r 1 79 1 B u rr w as e l ec t ed t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S e n a t e
a n d in 1 7 9 2 w a s n o m i n a t e d by C l i n t o n fo r a s e a t u p o n t h e su pr e m e
be n c h o f N e w Yo r k a p o s it i o n w h i c h h e d e c l in e d
M S M in u t es o / t h e Co u nc il o f A ppo in t m e n t ii 2 2 4
A s s e m b/y Jo u r n a l x i
5 7 1 01
3
M S fll zn u t es
'
.
of
the
,
,
,
‘
,
,
.
,
°
,
.
‘
,
v
,
,
.
,
.
.
’
DE WI TT CL I N T ON A N D THE S P O I L S S Y S TE M
34
[34
posed j udgesh i p was Pete r W Yates but i t was sai d that
Governo r Cl i nton although unwi ll i ng to nomi nate Yates
di d not w i sh to make an open rupture w i th those o f h i s
party w h o favo red h i m
Cl i nton seems to have regarded
i t as h i s p re rogat ive to d eterm i ne i n cases where t h e l aw
w as s i lent o n the m atter the number o f o fficers necessary to
the per formance o f the funct i ons o f government
B ut on
t h i s occas i on he cleverly rai sed the questi on o f the ne ces
s it y o f appo i nt i ng an addi ti onal j udge by s ubm i tti ng the
matter to th e co unc i l O f t h e four member s o f the coun
c i l F rey was the o nly federal i st The d i v is i on o f op i ni on
w i th i n th e counci l i s cl early sho w n by an entry i n the mi n
utes o f Octobe r 2 2 1 7 9 3
.
,
1
.
2
.
.
.
'
,
E xc e l l enc y t h e G overnor h avi n g s u b mi tt e d to t h e co n
s i de rat io n o f t h e C ou n c i l t h e p ro p riet y o f p ro c ee d i n g to t h e
A pp oi n tm e n t o f a F i f t h J u d ge o f t h e S up reme C ourt an d d i f
f e re nt p erso n s b ei n g n o m i na te d f or t h at O ffi ce t w o o f t h e
”
M em b ers to W it M H a s b rouc k an d M F re y e x p res s e d
d ou b ts res p e c ti n g t h e neces s it y o f su c h an A p p oi n tme n t a t t h i s
ti m e an d M H asbro u ok al s o s ugge s te d t h at if suc h a n
A p p oi n tment w a s ne c ess a r y h e h a d n o t b ee n abl e to f orm a
sa tis f ac to ry O pin ion a s to t he mo s t s u it abl e C h ara c ter to fill
th at im p o rt an t Offic e an d t ho s e G ent l eme n d i d t h e re fo re d e
c l ine t o vot e fo r an y pe rs o n t o fil l t h a t O ffi c e ; a n d t h e o t h e r
“
G e l s ton an d M Woo d w ort h n o t
t w o mem b er s to W it M
agreei ng in t h ei r V ote s a s to t h e p er so n to b e a pp ointe d t h e re
u pon R esolve d t h at t h e f u rt h er co ns id era ti o n o f t h i s S u bj e c t
3
b e p o s tp o n ed u n ti l M o n d ay n ext
H is
.
r
.
,
.
r
.
,
'
,
r
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
The d i sagreement conti nued at the next meet i ng and
fu rther cons i derati on o f th e matter was de ferred to the fi rs t
‘
2
3
H am m o n d
A
lba ny
,
o
p
c it
.
,
i
,
80
G az et t e , O c t o be r
M S M in u t es
.
.
of
t /1e
.
23 ,
Co u ncil
1 79 4
.
of
A ppo in t m e nt
,
ii i
,
65
,
66
.
A
E
35]
RL Y
PA TR O N A GE U NDER
TH E
C O N S TI TU TI ON
35
eek i n J anuar y 1 7 9 4 I f the governo r i n real ity ques
t io n e d the adv isab i li ty o f maki ng t h e appo i ntment i t w ill
be observed that one republ i can counci llo r Hasbrouc k
s i ded w i th hi m and the fe d eral i st member natu rally p re
ferred t o sanct ion a pol i cy o f procrasti nati on rat h er t h an
see Benson s possibi l i ti es utterl y destro y e d
Th e newl y elected legi slature w i t h i ts st rong fe d eral i st
maj ori ty came together on the sevent h o f Januar y an d t h e
plan by wh i ch B enson was to be seate d w as at o n ce d i s
closed S carcely h ad the oath o f o ffice been a d mi n i stere d
to the members and t h e necessary o ffi cers o f t h e assembl y
el ected w hen Jos iah Og d en Ho ffman a member from New
Yo rk rose and i n an i mpass i oned speech vi olentl y attac k e d
the governo r an d the counci l fo r thei r fai l ure to a pp o int a
“
fi fth j udge H e move d that the house immed i ately pro
c e e d to nomi nate and a p po i nt a Counc il o f A ppoi ntment ;
and he o ffered as reasons for th e i mme d i ate appo i ntment
the necessi ty o f losi ng no time i n arresti ng
o f the counci l
the p rogress o f the p resent co unci l before they shoul d pro
c e e d t o the appo i ntm ent o f a fi fth j udge ; w h i c h h e remar k e d
common repo rt ha d a ffi rmed w as to fall upon i n prej u d ice
to the man w h o best deserved i t one w h o ho w ever h e m ig h t
”
The
i
t
r
n
t
e
i
n
o
t
be e qual i n a bilit ies was
superi or i n
y
g
ex i sti ng counci l ha d not l i ved i ts one bri ef year A grave
i
nterpretati
on
i
nvolve
d
The
as
w
quest i on o f const i tuti onal
reasonabl e i ntent o f the consti tut i on w as obv i ousl y th at any
n be
given c o unci l sh o ul d ex i st fo r one y ea r
The moti o
fo re th e house had no sha d o w o i precedent i n w h i c h to
sa
A n e ffo rt w as made to prevent t h e accu t i on
h i de i tsel f
“
w a s o pp ose d
postponement
B ut
o f i ndecent e xped i t i on
ap
s
by M r H o ffman w h o remarked that the m i ch ie f o f
w
.
,
,
,
.
,
’
.
,
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,
,
.
"
,
,
,
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,
,
,
2
.
,
.
.
3
.
.
‘
.
,
.
‘
3
A
A
ly Jo u rn a l x
rt ic l e xx ii i
s s em b
,
.
v
ii 4
,
.
2
J a n ua r y
A l
A s s em bly Jo u rn a l x ii
ba ny
‘
C az e t /e
,
,
v
.
9
,
1 704
1 5
,
.
.
DE WI T T CL I N T O N
36
A ND TH E
S PO I L S S Y S TE M
[36
p o i nt i ng an i mproper person to th e o ffice o f st h j udge
”
mi ght be do ne that very night
The fede ral i st s had
come p repa red to stri ke bol dly and they woul d brook no
delay i n com i ng i nto the i r o w n W i th a fine sco rn al i ke
fo r the q ui bbles o f consti tut ional l aw the autho r i ty o f p re
cedent a nd th e p ropri ety o f slow del iberati on they over
whelmed thei r opponents and a new counci l cons i sti ng o f
th ree federal i sts and o ne republ i can w as chosen o n the fi rst
day o f the sess i on
The governo r and th e ex i st i ng counci l When they saw
the open hand o f the assembly had i t eas i ly i n thei r powe r
to frustrate the purpose underlyi ng thi s unprecedented pro
cee d ing
There was no mo ral o r legal autho ri ty over them
to prevent thei r appo i nt i ng Yates o r any other rep ubl i can
they chose to th e o ffice s ought fo r B enson even wh i le the
house was i n the very act o f choos i ng the i r s uccessors
There i s no ev i dence howeve r that s uch a p rOp o s al w as ad
Gove rno r Cl i nton i n possess i ng what he bel i eved
v an ce d
to be an excl us i ve right o f nom i nat i on probably felt rea
s o nably safe aga i nst bei ng ent i rely ove rri dden
The new co unc i l ho w ever were no mean servants o f
those who had call ed them i nto th i s unti mely ex i stence
They were certai nly not to be o utdone by the assembly i n
the matter o f act i ng w i thout s upersens i tive scruples upon
the finer techn i cal i t i es o f co nsti tuti o nal law The w ord i ng
o f the consti tuti on upon the quest i on o f the r ight o f nomi na
t i on was not expl i ci t whateve r may have been i ts p rev i ous
i nte rp retati on and th e i ntent i on o f i ts framers ; and they
took d ue advantage o f the doubtful cl ause Benso n was
nom i nated by a member o f the co unci l and was el ected ove r
th e protest o f the governo r by the vote o f th e th ree fede r
al i st members
As a resul t t h e governo r was degraded to
,
1
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,
,
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,
,
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,
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,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
2
.
A l ba ny G a z e t t e ,
M S Ill in u t es
.
of
J an ua r y 9 1 79 4
Me Co u n cil o f A pp o in t m en t
,
.
,
iii, 68
.
E
A
R
L
Y
P
A
T
R
O
NA
G
E
U
N
DER
37]
C ON S TI TU TI ON
TH E
37
the l evel o f any other co unci llo r w ith the sol e d i ff erence
that h i s term was f o r three years an d w as not subj ect to
the w i ll o f the assembly ; and the whole mach i nery o f ap
po i ntment was theo reti cal ly at least made s ubservi ent to
the change ful pol i ti cal w i l l o f the legi slat iv e department o f
the gove rnment O ne check still remai ned i n the d i scret io n
H e sti ll
o f the governo r b ut i t was drasti c i n its e ffects
possessed the powe r to adj ourn the counci l an d he might
easi ly have decl i ned t o reconvene them w i th the result that
s uch vacanci es as ex i sted woul d have remai ned unprovi ded
fo r B ut he was not w i ll i ng t o apply such hero i c t reatment
to the s ituati on A s the pres i d i ng o fficer o f the counci l he
h i msel f must have p ut the questi on o n the nomi nati on o f
B enso n by o ne o f the counci llors although the m i nutes do
not bea r reco rd o f the fact
The el ect i o n o f B enso n t o the newly created j udi ci al o ffice
was t h e fi rst o f a s eri es o f acts by w hi ch a wholly new
method o f maki ng appo i ntments was tempo rari l y i nsti tuted
i n New York The federal i st counci l took the power o f
the patronage largely o ut o f the hands o f th e governor
and proceeded to d i stribute o ffices w i th l ittle regard for
h i s w i shes Governo r Cl i nto n was at first content w ith re
and
i
n
re
agai
nst
the
act
ions
o
f
the
counci
l
m o n s t rat ing
fus i ng to a ffix h i s name to the mi nutes
B ut i n M arch
1 7 9 4 h e del ivered to the clerk o f the council to be filed
among i ts pape rs a formal p rotest agai nst the maj ority o f
“
”
“
the co unci l
As I concei ve i t my duty he w rote
to
manner
bea r test i mony i n the most expl i ci t and unreserved
pri
nciples
I
co
nsti
tut
i
onal
aga i nst every departure from
from
t
h
e
r
f
o
d i ssenti ng
n o w del ive r i n w ri ti ng my reason s
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
.
.
1
‘
2
,
.
,
3
,
,
.
,
‘
2
A l ba ny G az et t e , O c t o be r
M S M in u t es
.
of
th e
2 3 , 1 79 4
.
Co u n c il o f A ppo in t m e n t
8 4 8 5 , 8 7 , 89 , 9 6 , 1 05 1 45 . e t c
3
h
e fil e s
n
t
h
p
p
r
f
m
o
a
u
n
d
o
t
n
o
g
s
i
e
T is a
,
,
,
iii , 68 , 7 6 , 7 8 80 , 8 1
,
.
of
the
c o u nc d
.
,
DE WI TT C L I N T O N
38
S P O I L S S Y S TE M
A ND TH E
[ 38
”
meas ures pu rs ued by the co unci l
No t only had they
cla imed and exerci s ed a right o f nom i nat i o n co ncurrent
w ith the governo r b ut they had made many other encroach
ments upo n what he rega rded as the pre rogat i ves o f the
governo r I n cases where the n umbe r o f o ffi cers w as not
defini tely p rescribed by law they had clai med the r ight o f
dete rm i n i ng th i s quest i on wh i le the governo r co ntended
that s i nce he alone was respons ible fo r th e adm i n ist rat i on
o f the l aws the quest i on as to h o w many o fficers were needed
fo r e ffectual adm i ni strati on belonged solely t o h i m H e
also obj ected to the co u nci l s res i sti ng w itho ut ass igned
cause the reappo i ntment o f o fficers whose comm i ss io ns coul d
by law be mad e out only annual ly H e compl ai ned that
the co unci l had acted arb itra r i ly and w i thout sound di s
”
cret i o n i n d i splaci ng s uch o fficers and he po i nted o u t
that where pol i ti cal part i es ex i st th i s pol i cy coul d result o nly
“
i n dep riv i ng men o f o ffice becaus e they had too much in
dep endence o i spi ri t to suppo rt meas ures they suppose in
“
”
j ur i ons to the comm un i ty and i n i nduci ng others from
an und ue attachment to o ffice to sacrifice the i r i ntegri ty to
”
Governo r Cl i nton caused th i s
imp roper cons i derat io ns
p rotest to be made publ i c i n the fall o f I 7 9 4 and the feder
al i st m embers o f the co unci l i mmed i ately repl i ed to i t i n a
l ong revi e w o f the whol e s i tuat i on
They de fended thei r
act i ons and made every e ffo rt to exh ibi t a glar i ng inc o n
s i stency bet w een the spi r it o f Cl i nto n s protest and the re
co rd o f h i s ow n pol i cy o f patronage Thei r e ffort was
weak They adm i tted that they had encreased the num
be r o f o fficers i n i nstances where the number i s not as ce r
and that they had d i splaced o fficers w i th
t a ined by law
‘
.
,
.
,
.
’
.
,
,
1
.
?
’
.
.
l
P rin t ed in t h e A l ba ny G a z e t t e , O c t o be r
Or
23
,
1 7 9 4.
i g i n l in C i i l Fil e s o f t h e C n c i l o f A pp o i n t m e n t
i g n d P h : S c h yl r S l h S tr n g Z i n a H an co c k
1 7 9 4, s
in t h e A
a
e
ou
v
,
lba ny
u
e
G az e t t e , O c
,
e a
t o be r
23 ,
o
,
1 79 4
.
.
,
O c t o be r 3 ,
R e pr
i n t ed
E
A
R
L
Y
PA
T
R
O
N
A
G
E
UN
DER
39 ]
C O N S TI TU TI O N
TH E
39
”
o ut an hear i ng o r w i tho ut ass igni ng a cause
A nd i n
thei r e ffo rt to gro und thei r act ion upon precedent they ran
sacked the m i n utes o f the counci l an d d re w forth a s i ngl e
i nstance d uri ng the peri od o f the revolutio n i n wh ich an
o fficer was removed a fter hav i ng refused to appear and de
fend h i msel f aga i nst the charges made agai nst h im The y
absurdly cont ended also that whenever a promotion ei ther
c ivi l o r m i l itar y was made other than i n accordance w i th
seni o ri ty and rank a whole l i st o f d isplacements was v i r
t u ally reco rd ed and i nstances were c ited to sho w that t h i s
had been done Upon the fact al ready o b served that the
governo r s ubmi tted to the counci l the quest ion o f t h e pro
p riet y o f appo i nt i ng a fi fth j udge they concluded that the
governo r admitted the right o f the counci l to determi ne
the numbe r o f o fficers w here t he law was s i lent on the po i nt
A few other i solated i nstances w ere c ited i n wh ich the
names o f j ust i ces who had served fo r th e consti tut ional term
o f th ree years d i d no t reappear w hen the trienn i al commi s
s i ons were i ss ued although other reasons than executi ve re
moval might eas i ly have acco unted fo r these f ew cases
Noth i ng co ul d have better served to show the uni fo rm j u s
t i ce and moderat i on i n Geo rge Cl i nton s use o f the po w e r
o f pat ro nage than the very fact that three o f h i s b itterest
pol i t i cal opponents w ere unable even under urgent i nci te
ment to muster i n thei r i nd i ctment an y th i ng be y ond a s i n g le
c ivi l case i n wh i ch a some w hat aggress i vely vi olent fede r
al i st had at the exp i rat i o n o f h i s commi ss ion been super
f
b
y
a
republ
i
can
w
i
hout
any
charge
o
f
i
ne
fi ci enc y
t
s ed ed
h av i ng been filed agai nst h im
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
’
1
.
1
The
c as e
of
B e n j am
in
G i l be r t
h e r i ff
t h at co u nt y
,
s
of
p l ay e d an i m p o r t an t r ol e in
C l in t o n c o n t e s t o f 1 79 2 ; H am m o n d op c it i
Co u n ci l o p p o in t me n t ii 2 9 3 3 5 0 G il be rt
iii 7 9
t h e f e d e r a l is t c o u n c i l ;
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
in
.
,
O t s e go
c o n nec
,
ty
w ith
co un
t io n
,
w ho
t he
h ad
Jay
8 5 ; M S M i n u t es o / ( b e
w a s r e s t o r e d t o o ffic e by
.
DE W I T T CL I N TO N
40
A N D TH E
S PO IL S S Y S TE M
[ 40
It i s to be noted that this unmanageabl e counc i l d i d not
attempt to make many actual removals from o ffice Th ey
seem to have been content wi th res i s ti ng the reappo i ntment
o f thei r pol it i cal O pponents at the exp i rati on o f thei r legal
terms o f o ffice R eappo i ntment to o ffice where no sus
t a in e d accusati on o f i ne ffici ency was rai sed had however
become so st rong a p recedent that the fa i l ure to reappoi nt
was l ooked upon as a removal I n some cases the acti on
o f th e co unc i l was resented by the rep ubl i cans whose com
m i ss i ons were not rei ssued I n one i nstance the membe rs
o f the legi slature took the matter up w ith the co unc il i n be
hal f o f thei r const i tuents
A dam Comstock and others
w rote to th e co unci l :
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
W
t h e s ub s cri b ers Re p resenta tive s o f t he P eo p l e o f t h e
Co unt y o f S ara toga b ei n g d ee p ly imp re s s e d w it h t h e u npre~
c e d ent e d p rocee d ings o f t h e l as t C oun c i l o f A pp oint me n t r ela
tive to t h e m agi s trac y i n t h e C oun ty w e h av e t h e h on o r to re p
resent ; a great n um b er o f w h o m h ave b een i n d isc rimi n ate ly
d egra d e d f rom t h ei r o ffi c e w i t h out t h e L
l e as t p reten c e o f Co m
p l a i nt a gain s t t h e m ; a n d w h o h ave serve d t h ei r Co unt y in t h e
C h aracter an d S tat ion o f M agi st rates w i t h H o n our 8: A b il it y
a n d t o t h e great a n d gener a l sati s f a c ti o n o f t he p eo p l e— Have
t h o t i t o u r d ut y t h en ear ly an d resp ect f u lly to a dd ress y ou
1
t h e C ounc il w i l l t a k e
o n t h e su b j ect
a n d R e q u es t t h e Ho n
t h e case i n to c o nsi d era tion an d t o reappoi nt a ll su c h s o m a ny
o f t h ose w h o h ave b een omi t te d i n t h e l a s t G ene ral C ommi s
sion w h o h ave d one h o no ur to t h ei r app o intm ent
W e b eg f urt h e r to o b s erve t h at Ad a m C o m st o c k h avi ng
b een o mitte d in t h e G e n eral comm i s s ion d o es not w i s h t o b e
rea ppo i n te d
e
,
-
r
'
,
’
e
,
.
,
.
1
.
The onl y notori ous act o f removal reco rded agai nst the
1
C o m s t o c k an d o t h e r s t o t h e
t bc Co u n c il o f A ppo in t me n t
A d am
Fil es
of
.
c o u nc
il
,
Fe b r u ar y 4
,
1 79 5
;
Civ il
DE WI T T CLI N T ON A ND
42
TH E
S P O I L S S Y S TE M
[ 42
s i des yet nei th er o f them appears to have cons i dered to
an y app reci able extent the atti tude w h ich their appoi ntees
ass umed upon th i s i ssue A s pol it ical parti es began to de
v el o p Wash i n gt on sho w ed only sl ig h t evi dences o f a d i s
posi ti o n to cons i d e r the pol i ti cal v i ews o f cand i dates w hi l e
G eorge Cl i nto n i n n umero us i nstances appoi nted to o ffice
those who were pol i t ical ly antagon i sti c to h i m Both o f
them ret i red be fo re the necessi ty fo r a d i rect exp ress i o n
o f pol i c y upon the subj ect o f pol i ti c al appo i ntments ha d
become p ressi ng A nd we sha ll see that some y ears late r
w hen Geo rge Cl i nto n w as rest ored to po w er he sti ll res i sted
t h e establ i shment o f a general s y stem o f spoi ls O n th e
w hole i t seems that d ur i ng the first peri o d o f th e h i story o f
the pat ron age a standar d o f j ust ice puri ty and freedom
from l i ttleness was establi shed wh i ch m ust be ascribed
l argely t o the favorabl e cond i t i ons under wh i ch the early
system o f appo i ntments was i naugurate d
Certai n i t i s
that i n the later peri od w h i ch w i tnessed the devel op
ment o f the ful l po w er and i nfl uence o f conten d i ng pol i ti cal
pa rt i es i t w o ul d have been i mposs ible to preserve u nm o d i
ne d th e standa r d w h i ch h a d been set
,
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
C HA PT E R I I
P A T R ON A G E
U N DE R T H E
FEDERA
L I ST S
THE
v i ctory o f the federal i sts a t the polls i n the sp ri ng
o f 1 7 9 3 co nv i nced George Cl i nton that the peri od o f h i s
p o lit i cal a s cendanc y i n New Yo rk was d raw i ng to a close
E ve r s i nce I 7 SS when A lexander Ham i lton i nsti tute d the
first vi go rous oppos i t i on to h i s power he had been gra d ually
los i ng h i s hol d upon th e peopl e o f the state The change
o f the federal cap ital from New Yo rk to Ph i ladelph i a had
removed from the cont est much o f Ham i lton s personal in
flu e nc e but the w a r o f pol i t i cs w aged o n
D i stresse d b y
i ll ness and l o oki ng defeat i n the face Cl i nton determi ned
not to become a cand i date fo r re-electi on I n the spri ng
o f 1 7 9 5 he i ss ued an ad dres s to the freeholders o f Ne w
Yo rk announc i ng h i s i ntent i o n to w i thdra w from publi c
l i fe
There w as i n nei the r part y a pre-em i nent candi date fo r
the s uccess i on H am i lton altho ugh he had resigned from
Wash i ngton s cab i net refused to allo w h i s name to be
place d i n nom i nat i o n by the federal i sts and the party w a s
unw i ll i ng to r i sk i ts s uccess upon Ph i l i p S chu y ler w h o a
few years be fo re had been de feated by Aaron B urr i n the
legi slat i ve vote fo r Un ited S tates S enato r Ch i e f Justi ce
re
been
cand
i
date
o
f
the
part
y
at
the
h
h
h
t
e
w
o
a
d
p
Jay
ced i ng el ec t io n w as abroad upon a ve r y del i cate mi ss io n
the sati s factory res ul t o f w hi ch coul d by no means be p re
d i cted At a meet i ng hel d i n A lbany ho w eve r the le a d
.
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’
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,
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,
’
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1
,
,
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,
,
,
l
H a m il t o n f /zs t o ry
'
,
43 ]
,
,
.
0f
l
R epu b ic ,
v i,
213
.
43
44
DE W I TT
CLI N T ON
A N D T H E S P OI L S
S Y S TE M
[ 44
i ng men o f the party final l y determ i ned to nomi nate h im
although there was not su ffici ent t ime le ft to secure fr o m
Lon d o n h i s co nsent to the nomi nati o n
Th ree years be
fo re he had agreed to become a cand i date and w o ul d i n
al l p robab il i ty have been elected had no t the votes o f three
co unti es upon a techni cal i ty been declare d i nval i d by a
st ri ctly part y vote o f the board o f canvassers It w as felt
that whatever mot i ves had made h im w i ll i ng t o su rrender
the o ffice o f Ch i e f J ust i ce o f the Un ite d S tates for the gov
e rn o rs h ip o f New York i n 1 7 9 2 co ul d be none the l ess
potent i n 1 7 9 5
I n the rep ubl i can ranks Colonel B urr d i d not enj oy the
d egree o f confidence necessary to secure the nom i nat i on
a nd others w ere unw i ll i ng to t ake i t A fter some d ebate
th e party at l ength sel ected R obert Yates ch i e f j usti ce o f
the sup reme court o f New Yo rk Yates i t w i ll b e recalled
had been H ami lton s cand i date agai nst Cl i nton i n 1 7 8 9
but he was sti ll counted a republ i can Th e fact that a
man co ul d i n so short a per i od as s ix y ea rs b ecome suc
c e s s iv e ly the cand i date o f t w o op p osi ng facti on s w i thout
bei ng d ubbe d an apostat e serves to sho w that part i es at the
t i me o f th e adopti on o f t h e consti tut i on h ad not become
ri gi d ly o rgani zed i f i ndeed they can be sa i d to have ex
Y at e s s i no r d i nate am b i ti on fo r o ffice made
is t e d at al l
h i m cal lous t o the p rospect o f d e feat from wh i ch ot h er pro
m i nent repu b l i cans recoi le d The very ch oi ce o f h i m w as
eloquent o f the w eakness o f the part y The c h i e f j ust ice
o f Ne w Yo rk w as not th e man to rally th e depleted fo rces
o f t h e repub l i cans i n thi s contest w ith t h e Ch i e f J ust i ce o f
t h e nati on an d t w o d ays be fore Jay la n d e d i n Ne w Yo rk
h e w as el ected b y a large maj o rity
H e p romptly res igned
h i s exal te d j u d ic ial posi t i on
I n h i s fi rst message to th e legi sl at ure Governo r Jay took
,
1
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,
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,
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,
,
’
,
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,
,
,
’
.
.
.
,
.
.
'
Jay L if e o f Jo /m Jay
,
,
i
,
355
.
U NDER
P A T R ON A G E
45 ]
TH E FED E R A L I S TS
45
up the quest i on o f th e governor s consti tuti onal share i n
the maki ng o f appoi ntments H e po i nted out that i t had
no t yet been de fi n i tely settled whether a j ust const ructi on
o f the const i tut i o n assigned t o the governo r the excl us ive
”
right o f nom i nat i on
Ci rcumstanced as I am he sai d
“
i n relat i o n to thi s quest i on I thi nk i t p roper merely to
state i t and to s ubmi t to your cons i derat ion the expedi ency
”
o f determ i ni ng i t by a declarato ry act
The legi slatur e
was i n a n embarrass i ng s it uati o n It w a s wel l known that
Jay w h o had h i msel f d ra fted the arti cle i n questi on ei gh
teen years be fo re bel i eved that t h e po w er to make nomi na
tio ns belo nged excl us ively t o the governo r The quest i on
was no longe r o f p racti cal i mportance n o w that the governo r
and counc i l were o nce mo re o f the same pol i t i cal c reed
The federal i st l egislature was enti rely w i ll i ng to have a
federal i st gove rno r make all nomi nat i ons to a federal i st
counci l T o pass an act however declari ng th i s right t o
l i e excl us i vely i n the governo r w oul d be too shameless a
con fess i o n o f unscrupulous ness i n the att i tude w hi ch the y
had ass umed the yea r prev i o us The sel ect co mmi ttee o f
the assembly there fo re to whom th i s pa rt o f Ja y s
“
sp e ech was re ferred repo rt ed that a declarato ry act de
fini ng the powers o f the Counci l o f Appoi ntment o r pre
scrib i ng the manne r i n wh i ch they shal l be exerci se d i n the
”
and t w o
O pi ni on o f the commi ttee w o ul d be i nexped i ent
days later the house passed a resol uti o n adopti ng the re
2
Th i s put an end to Jay s e fforts
po rt o f the comm ittee
N ew Y r k G o e n o s A l s s ag es i 48 49
x i x 48 5 3 M J h n C H am i l t o n y s (H is
A s s embly Jo u
al
’
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,
,
,
,
1
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,
,
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,
,
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’
,
,
,
,
’
.
’
o
2
v
rfl
e
r
r
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
r
.
o
sa
.
l e x and e r H a m i l
t o n w as app e a l e d t o fo r a t r u e c o n s tr u c t i o n o f t h e a rt ic l e a n d t h a t h e
t o o k t h e v ie w r e c e n t ly ac t e d u p o n by t h e f e d e r al is t c o u n c i l app o i n t e d
T h i s s ee m s t o h av e b e e n H am i l t o n s c o n
u nd e r Go v e r n o r C l i n t o n
s tr u c t i o n o f t h e a r t i c l e b e f o r e t h e c o n tr o v e r s y h ad a r i s e n (Fe d e ra l is t
Fo r d e d
bu t it d o e s n o t app e a r t h a t h e t o o k a n y ac t i v e p a rt in t h e
d i s c us s io n w h i c h a r o s e in 1 7 9 5
t o ry
of
l
t lze R ep u b ic ,
v
i, 341 , 3 42 ) t h a t
at
t h is p o in t
A
,
’
.
,
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,
.
D E IVI T T
46
CL I N T ON A N D
TH E S P OI L S S YS TE M
[ 46
to s ec ure a l egi slat i ve settlement o f the t roublesome ques
t i o n It i s do ubt ful at best whether the legi slatu re was
legally competent to i nterp ret th i s clause o f th e co ns t it u
t i on construct i ng the execut i ve de p artment : and i t appears
that no case o f appoi ntment i n wh ich nomi nati on was made
by a counci llor was ever brought be fo re the courts fo r
adj u d i cat i o n
I n practi ce ho w ever J a y b egan to ex e r
c i se w i thout questi on the excl usi ve right o f nom i nat i on
When J oh n Ja y became governo r o f New Yo rk t h e re
sult o f h i s m i ss i on to E ngl and was not know n I t i s t o
sa y the l east ext remel y p roblemat ical w h ether h e coul d have
carri ed the electi on even agai nst Yates had the text o f t h e
t reaty that he had negoti ated been ma d e publ i c before the
vote w as taken at th e polls The vi olent sto rm o f d is ap
p robati on w i t h wh ich th e t reaty w as recei ved had its cen
ter i n New Yo rk Ja y was rev i led and v il l ifie d in terms
o f th e most ext ravagant abuse He con d ucte d h i msel f
t h rougho u t th i s harass i ng peri o d w it h a calmness and dig
n it y w h i ch testified to h i s consci ousness o f duty ful l y per
fo rmed But the si tuat i on c reated b y hi s fo reign neg o t ia
t i ons d i d not s erve to smooth h i s execut ive pat h w ay A l
though the oppos i ti on to the t reaty w as led by the republ i
cans the federal i sts were very fa r from yi eld i ng i t a m i ld
tempered approval U nder such c i rcums tances a man o f
l ess p rob i ty o f p urpose woul d have felt j ustified i n doi ng
eve r y th i ng possibl e to d emonstrate h i s l oyalty to the party
w h i ch ha d place d h i m i n o ffi ce and to w eaken the party
I n the
w h i c h w a s heapi ng so muc h obl o q uy u p on h i m
compl ete control o f the state pat ronage w h i ch no w passe d
o ver to h im Jay ha d i t i n h i s po w er w ith the adv i ce and
”
consent o f h i s fe d e ral i st counci l to accompl i sh th i s double
p u rpose o f pun i sh i ng h i s pol it i cal O pponents and rei nstat ing
.
‘
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,
,
2
.
’
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,
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,
,
L in c o l n ,
’
A
s s em b
ly
H is l o r r
Jo ur n a l
.
x xi
v
,
of
A
’
z
'
zt
'
Yo rk , i 60 5 60 6
,
,
.
P A TR ON A GE
47 ]
U ND E R
T H E FE D E RA L I S TS
47
hi msel f iii the hearts o f the estrange d element o f h i s o w n
pa rty
Yet i n Sp i te o f the pol i ti cal turbulence w i th wh i ch Ja y s
w a s ushere d i n
a dmi ni strati on
an exami nat i on o f the
fi les o f t h e co unci l fail s t o reveal any pa rt y feel i ng re
flect ed i n the appl i cati ons fo r o ffice w h i c h w ere p resente d
to the governo r and th e counci l These appl i cat i ons d o not
d i ffer essent i ally in tone from t h ose w h i ch were sent i n d ur
i ng the ad mi n i strat io n o f Geo rge Cl i nton The ol d fo rm
o f a peti ti on s igned by fri en d s i n th e local i ty i n w h ic h t h e
o ffice w as s i tuated w as for t h e most part preserved I t i s
t rue that d uri ng the latter part o f Cl i nton s term he ha d
been o ften ignore d i n the appl i cati ons o f federal i st can d i
dates M any o f them w ere addressed either to the counci l
alone o r to o ne o f i ts members The d ra fters o f one pet i
t i on i ndeed had been so l acki ng i n del i cac y and good man
”
ners as to d ra w a li ne th rough th e w o rd Governo r a fter
Upon
havi ng w ri tten t o th e Governo r and the Counci l
Jay s access i on to the chai r appl i cat i ons began once mo re to
b e a dd resse d to the governo r and co unc i l Not man y o f
t hem urge pol i t i cal cons i d erat i ons openl y i n support o f thei r
clai ms I n the case o f smal l men not l ikel y to be kno w n
b y the governo r o r an y member o f the counci l rel i ance w a s
placed ei ther i n the goo d federal i st names appen d e d to t h e
pet i ti on o r upon the i nfo rmat i o n w h i ch coul d b e h a d from
members o f th e assembly and senate O ccasi ona l ly h o w
eve r the pol i t i cs o f th e cand i date i s freel y put for w a r d
Nathani el D el evan i n a l ong l etter d e fendi ng the cha racter
o f o n e Joseph P ray w h o appli e d to be appo i nted a j usti ce
o f the peace i n D uches s Co unt y says
.
’
,
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’
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,
,
,
1
,
’
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,
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.
,
,
,
om m en d ed J o h n A k i n
h
er
o
s
I
i
f
orme
d
ave
rec
n
a
m
s
n
p
n t y pr y i n g t h
p
A p e t i t io n f r m B r d l bi n M o n tg m r y
14
I 79 5 ;
f th p
p in t m en t o f T h o m B o r n e s j t i
; F b
S ome
.
‘
as
o
C iv i l Fil es
oa
o
of
t /1 e
a
,
a
u
Co u n c il o f
A
e
o
a
us
ce
pp o in t me n t
o
.
co u
e
,
e ac e
e
a
e
.
,
a
D E W I TT
48
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS TE M
CL I N TON
[ 48
J o h n Ta ffy Jo b C ra w f or d an d Dan i e l Da vi s— M r D a vi s I
b e l i eve to b e very c a pa bl e o f t h e Offi c e
n ot w i t h s tan d i ng
h is p o l i tic a l p r inci pl es I a m p ersua d e d t h e Fe d e nal c ha ra cter s
w ou l d a c q u iesce i n h is a ppo int m ent — I b e l i eve h im t o be more
c a p a bl e t h an ei th er o f t h e o t h er t hre e ca n d i d at es — O n t h e
w h o l e to c o mp romi s e t h e b us iness t he b e t ter w ay I b e l ieve
w i ll b e to ap p oint b ot h M r D avi s an d M r P r ay an d t h en e ac h
1
p arty w i ll b e s at is fie d
,
.
,
'
,
,
.
.
.
I t i s wo rthy o f note that both appl icants w ere appo i nt ed
Aga i n i n a peti tio n recommend i ng Thomas Bourne fo r a
s im i la r appo i ntment i n M ontgomery Co unty the pol i ti cs o f
the cand i date i s urged The pet it ion h umbly p rayed h i s
E xcellency and the Honorable the Counci l to appoi nt the
sai d Thomas Bourne to the o ffice o f o ne o f o u r J ust ices o f
the peace as our To w n i s la rge and extends a great w ay i n
length and as w e y ou r peti ti oners can reco mmend hi m t o
be a good F ederal R epubl i can and a man o f goo d moral
”
Bourne had been s i mi larly recommended t o
characte r
the federal counci l under Geo rge Cli nton the peti t i on stat
i ng that the reaso n he had not been nomi nated to th e
counci l at the ti me that the tow n w as set o ff was as i t w as
supposed by reason o f h i s support i ng th e F ederal Cand i dates
”
at the ensui ng E lecti on
When Jay entered upon h i s o ffice h e natu rall y found a
large maj o ri ty o f the state o ffices fi lled w ith republ i cans
S ome federal i sts as w e have seen had been ap po i nted by
Cl i nton and man y o f h i s earl i er appoi ntees had upon the
ri se o f pol i ti cal pa rti es become O pposed to h i m i n pol i ti cs ;
2
.
.
3
.
,
4
.
.
,
,
,
5
Civ il Fi/es o f Me Co u ncil o f A pp o iu /mm l
M S M in u t e s o f t h e Co u n c il o f A pp o iu l me u l iii 1 5 6
No v e m b e r 5 1 7 9 5 ; Civ il Fil es o f M e Co u n c il o f A ppo iu /nm zl
Fe b r u ar y 1 4 1 7 9 5 ; ibid
I t w i l l b e o b s e r v e d l a t e r o n t h a t m a n y f t h o s e r e m o v e d f r o m o fiic e
t h e r e p u bl i c a n s in 1 8 0 1 w e r e o r i g i n a l l y ap p o i n t e d by C l i n t o n
No v e m be r
26,
1 79 5
z
;
,
.
,
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,
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5
by
.
o
.
.
D E W I TT
50
CLI N T ON A N D
TH E S P OI LS S YS T E M
[ 50
By the terms o f the const i tut i on o f New Yo rk the chan
c e l lo r the j udges o f the sup reme court
th e fi rst j udge O f
the co unty co urt w ere placed beyond the remov i ng power
O f t h e governo r o r the co unci l
The h igher j ud i c i al o ffi
cers there fo re we re given all t h e i ndependence necessary
fo r the proper performance o f thei r d ut i es The i n feri o r
O ffices o f the j ud i ci ary w ere
ho w ever made d i rectly s ub
j cet to the change ful w i ll O f the appo i nt i ng po w er I t was
“
exp ressly p ro v i ded That new commi ss i ons shall be i ss ued to
j udges o f t h e county courts ( othe r th an t o the fi rst j udge )
a nd t o j ust i ces o f the peace o nce at least i n every th ree
”
S heri ffs and co roners had to be a ppoi nte d annu
years
all y and the fo rmer were not perm i tted to serve mo re than
fou r s uccess ive years
A number o f petty appo i ntments
w ere le ft for local d i stri but i on and th e final provi s i on cover
i ng all othe r o ffi ces was That where by th i s convent i on
the d urati o n o f a ny Office shal l not b e ascerta i ned such
o ffice shall be construed to be hel d d uri ng the pl easu re o f
”
M ayo rs and reco rders o f
the counci l o f appoi ntment
ci ti es were also subj ect to annual appo i ntment I t i s o b
v i ons the re fo re th a t most o f t h e m i no r o ffici als were
fo rced to make frequent appl i cati ons f o r th e rene w al o f
the i r comm i ssi ons Th i s o f cou rse meant that changes
w ere o ften made at the exp i rat i on o f a commi ss i on wh i ch
w ould not have occurred had a pos i t ive act o f removal been
necessary
f
di
d
not
by
an
y
m
eans
subst
i
tute
federal
i
st
o
ficers
at
Jay
the expi rat io n o f every repub l i can comm i s si on Thi s w oul d
have amounted almost to a general prosc ri pti on so f re
uently
d
i
d
t
h
ese
commi
ssi
ons
call
fo
r
renewal
To
these
q
,
,
,
1
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,
,
.
,
,
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,
2
.
3
.
,
,
,
,
4
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,
,
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.
‘
’
‘
A
A
A
r t i c l e xx i v P o o r e Ch a rt ers
rt i c l e xx v iii ibid ii 1 3 3 7
rt i c l e xx v ii i ibid ii 1 33 7
.
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
a nd
Co n s t it u t io n s
A rt i c l e xx
’
,
v
ii
,
i
,
1 336
.
ii
.
1 3 36 .
5
1
P A TR ON A GE UND E R TH E FE D E RA LI S TS
]
5
I
i n fe ri o r o ffi ces however many federal i st appo i ntments must
have been made i n j ust th i s manner The mi nutes show i n
the gene ral co unty comm i ssi ons made o ut under Jay sub
s t a nt ial
d i fferences i n personnel f rom those i ssued by
Cl i nto n
These commi ssi ons were fo r j udges ass i stant
j udges and j ust i ces an d were i n accordance w i th the co n
s t it u t ion o f necess i ty made out at l east every th ree years
O f co urse i t i s o nly i n ra re i nstances that t h e pol it i cs o f
those whose n ames were d ropped i n maki ng o u t the n ew
l i st s can now be asc ertai ned It i s p resumable that many
w ere republ i cans
What w i th res ignati ons change o f re
s id en ce p romot i ons and deaths among the holders o f o ffi ces
s ubj ect ent i rely to the pl eas ure o f the appo i nt i ng po w er and
what w i th the necess i ty fo r a frequent rene w al o f the l i mi te d
commi ss i ons t h e i nfl ux o f federal i sts i nto o ffi ce w as by no
m eans i nsi gnificant
and
the
federal
i
sts
ere
i
n
power
w
Ja y
s ix years ; when th ei r do w n fall was accompl i shed the re
publ i cans i n New Yo rk fo und almost every posi t i on o f co n
s equence occup i ed by a federali st I ndeed i t appears t h at
many o f those appoi nted by Geo rge Cl i nton an d retai ned
d uri ng th e federal i st r "gi me w ere regarded as federal i sts
I n add i t i on t o the changes o f o fficers whi ch were made
at the exp i rat i on o f commi ss i ons there a re also evi dences
that actual removal s w ere i n some i nstances ma d e J udge
W i ll i am Jay i n h i s b i ography o f h i s fathe r makes the
“
broad statement that not o ne i nd ivi d ual w a s d i smi ssed
”
by h i m fro m o ffi ce o n acco unt o f h i s poli t i cs
The spi ri t
o f th i s statement i s perhaps j ustified by the fact that no n o
tori ous i nstance O f pol i t i cal ost rac i sm i s reco r d ed agai nst
,
,
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1
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,
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Co u n cil o f A pp o in t me n t ; as in Qu e e n s w h e r e
fiv e n am e s are d r o pp e d and t h r e e n ew n am e s app ear ; c o m p ar e i i 3 3 2
-ou
n
e
f
w
i
s
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i
n
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e
s
t
h
g
fi
v
e
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h
a
g
l
t
t
t
r;
i
n
s
y f
iii 1 9 6 ; o r K
iii 62 8 7 w i
iii 6 w i t h iii 1 9 7 ; c o m p a r e a l s o ii 33 9 iii 64 8 1 1 07
c o m p a r e ii 345
1 13
w it h iii 1 9 8 1 9 9
M S M in u t es
of
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t he
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DEW I TT
52
CL I N TO N
A ND TH E S P OI L S
S YS TE M
[52
h im and b y the addi t ional fact that d i smi ssal d i d not by
the const ruct i on o f the counc i llors power necessari ly o ri
A s a l i teral statement howeve r
g ina t e w i th th e governo r
i t i s fa r from accurate The facts are o f course mo re o r
l ess elus i ve but i t seems w ell assure d that a cons i derabl e
number o f lesser o ffici als pai d the p ri ce o f thei r oppos i ti o n
w i th the i r pos iti ons
Certai n i t i s that when the republ i
cans were resto re d to powe r i n 1 8 0 1 a number O f letters
fro m deposed o fficers seek i ng rei n s tatement assert that
they were removed d uri ng the a d m in is t rat io n o f Governo r
Jay o n account o f the i r pol i t ics A lexander Z u nt z aski ng
to be reappo i nted as auct i onee r ass igns as one o f h i s claims
“
to consi derat i o n that the l ate Governo r j ay made the ver y
n
E xp ress i on that hi s reaso n o f remo v i ng my C o m o n Acc t
my autho ri ty I hav e o f th i s by
o f bei ng a R ep ubl i can
”
Ph i l i p Pell w ri ti ng to Gove rno r
E z [ ek iel ] R ob i ns Es q
Cl i nto n i n 1 8 0 1 states that t w elve years previ ous he w as ap
“
po i nted su rrogate o f Westchester count y and conti nued
”
unti l some t i me i n Octobe r last when he goes
I was
superseded by th e then Governo r and Co unci l o f appo i nt
ment Wh y th i s removal from O ffi ce I kno w not unless to
grati fy the des i re o f S amuel Yo ungs w h o p robably was a
”
H i s statement i s bo rne o ut b y t h e fact that
favo ri te
the m i nutes bea r no reco rd o f the cause o f h i s removal
A ga i n :
,
’
1
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,
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,
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,
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,
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S
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2
r
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,
,
,
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3
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"
.
T h e p etitio n o f E p h r a im Hoit o f t h e C ity o f Ne w Yor k
b ro k e r
R e s p ect f u lly S h e w et h
T h at d uri n g t h e a d m i n i s tr ati o n O f h is E x ce ll en cy G over no r
C l i nt o n h e w a s a ppoi nt e d o ne o f t h e Au ct io n eer s o f t h e s a id
,
,
‘
A
s s em b
J u ly
“J ly
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’
6
7
ly
Jo u r na l
Civ il
,
1 80 1 ;
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1 8 0 1 ; ibirl
.
,
xx i v
Files
,
201
of
.
the
Co u n c il
MS
.
A pp o in t m e n t
l /i u u t e s
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of
of
t /1e
.
Co u n c il
,
iv
,
2 77
.
P A TR ON A GE
53]
ci t y
and
UN D E R
TH E FED E RA L I S TS
53
tinue d s u ch unt i l t h e ad m inistratio n o f h i s E x
c e l l enc y Governor J
ay
w h en he w a s s u p erse d e d w i t h o u t a n
y
re ason b eing a ssigne d
Th at h e t ru st s f ew p ersons {h ave b ee n b etter rec o mmen d e d
t h a n y our p eti tioner an d h e b egs l e ave to re f er t h e C ou nci l t o
t h e r ecomm en d ation n o w o n fi l e amo n g t h e
er
a
p p s o f th e
C ounc i l o f a p p ointm ent
Your p et itio ner t h ere fo re h op es t h at as no c au s e w h at ever
w a s a s s i gne d f or d is p l a c ing h im h e m a w i t h
so
l
ici
t
r
o
n
i
e
t
y
p p
y
o f y our h ono ra bl e b o dy a re a
p p oi n tme nt w h i c h h ere by h e
m ost res p ect f u l ly do e s : An d as in d ut y b ound h e w i l l ever
p ra y & c
co n
,
.
u
,
r
.
,
,
,
'
1
.
The m i nutes o f the counci l also yi el d some l igh t upon the
q uest i o n o f removal s d ur i ng Jay s term o f o ffice It w as
the c ustom i n the c o unci l i n case o f a removal fo r mi scon
d uct in Office fo r the accusati on to be entered o n the mi nutes
and fo r the accused to be notified that the counci l w as ready
to hea r hi s de fense I f the accusat i on w as susta i ned and
removal follo w ed an e nt ry w as then made stati ng the cause
o f the removal M r Hammond the h i sto ri an o f New
Yo rk pol i t i cs po i nts o u t two i nsta nces o f removal under
f
o
i
n
whi
ch
no
ca
use
entered
One
was
the
case
w
as
J ay
Joh n Jacob Lans i ng removed from t h e o ffice o f sheri ff o f
New Yo rk i n D ecember 1 7 9 8 and the o ther w as that o f
Jeded i ah Peck w h o was removed from the o ffice o f j u d ge
o f Otsego county i n M arch
The latter w as clearly
a case o f pol i t i cal removal A care ful exami nati on o f the
m i nutes however reveals that i n numerous ot h er i nstances
a supersedeas was i ss ued w i thout an y reco rd o f m i scon d uct
bei ng entered altho ugh the custom o f enteri ng the cause fo r
’
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J u l y 3 1 8 0 1 ; Civ i l Fil es o f t h e Co u n cil o f A pp o in t m en t S e e al so
l e t t e r s o f S am u e l P a g e J u l y 4 1 80 1 a nd o f J am e s L o w e rr e J u l y 8 1 80 1
A l ba ny R eg i s t er A u g u s t 2 5 1 80 1
‘
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3
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,
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D E W I TT
54
CLI N T ON A N D
TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
removal was i n most cases fol lowed
I n M arch 1 7 9 6
H ezeki ah H o ld ri dge was re m oved from the o ffice o f j us
ti ce o f the peace i n Col umb i a co unt y w i thout ass igned
cause
I n A ugust 1 7 9 8 A sa D an fo rth w as depr ived w i th
o ut apparent cause O f the j u d gesh i p o f th e court o f co mmon
pleas i n Ono ndaga as w ell as o f h i s l i eutenant -col onelcy i n
the m i l i ti a ? A fter M arch 1 7 9 9 James Pro vo ost was no
lo nger al lo w ed to i nspect l umber fo r the count y o f A lbany
although no m i sco n d uct appears agai nst h i m
M any other
i nstances m ight be po i nted o u t
I f al l the removals from
o ffice d uri ng Ja y s adm i ni strat i on i n wh ic h no entry O f the
cause w as ma d e are to be regarded as r emovals fo r pol i t i cal
reaso ns the evi dence i s tolerabl y concl usi ve tha t the pol i c y
was adopted at least to an appreci able extent I t must be
remembered h o w ever that the m i nutes kep t b y the counci l
were very meager and someth i ng i t may be can be la i d to
the del i nquency o f the reco rd i ng secretary B ut w hether
o r not ever y one o f these removal s w as fo r the o ffense O f
pol i ti cs i t i s l ikely that some o f them w ere I t i s colo ri ng
the facts o f h i sto r y there fore t o state that the pol i cy o f
removal w as whol ly fo rei gn to the a d m i n istrat ion o f the
federal i sts i n New Yo rk
The pol i cy wh ich Jay purs ued i n the d i s tribut i on O f the
patronage i n New Yo rk i s o f supreme i nterest chi efly be
cause h i s electi on to the governo rsh ip o f the state marked
the first change o f part y supremacy H e w as c reat i ng pre
cedent at fi rst hand for nei the r i n New Yo rk no r i n na
t io nal pol iti cs had th ere ever been presented the s i t uat i on o f
a new adm i ni strati on w h ose pol it i cal pri nci ples d i ffered
~from those o f i ts pre d ecesso r
D ispl acements i n o ffice fo r
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,
1
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,
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[ 54
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M S I ll in u t es
.
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I bid
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,
iv , 8 5
l bid
.
,
iv
.
of
th e
Co u n cil iii
,
,
.
iv ,
.
5 6, 8 2 , 9 3 ,
2 05
1 3 6 , 1 70 ,
I
7 S,
I
45
.
1 7 6 , 2 03 , 2 48 , 2 7 1
,
2 77 .
P A TR ON A G E UND E R TH E FE D E RA LI S TS
55]
55
reaso ns o f pol i ti cs were begun w i th no l ittle v igo r b y t h e
federal i s t co unci ls under Cl i nton and wh i le as h as been
poi nted o ut a s i mi la r pol i c y was pursue d by Governo r Jay
at least to some ext ent yet no th i ng w hi ch coul d be termed
a general system o f removals was adopted
When w e turn from the co ns i derati on o f local condi ti ons
to those wh i ch obtai ned i n nat i onal pol i ti cs at the same
tim e w e fi nd o ne str i ki ng d i fference w h i ch bears an im
po rtant and obv i ous relat i o n t o the problem o f the ci vi l ser
vi ce When Joh n Adams s uc ceeded to the presi dency i n
1 7 9 7 there was no change o f p ol i ti cs i n the admi ni strat ion
A dams was i nde ed the first p res i dent elected by a part y
upo n fai rly w el l defined i ssues but Wash i ngt on al
though noth i ng o f a pa rt i san was nevertheless a federal i st
H i s appo i ntees had been chosen w i th great
in h i s bel i e fs
care and del iberat io n and once i n Office they naturall y in
I t i s probable
c lin e d to the creed o f the adm i ni strat i on
therefo re that A dams d i d no t find man y o f them i ni mi cal to
the pol i c i es o f t he adm i n istrati on and the quest i o n o f re
m o v al s d i d not i n any large sense ari se
I t i s d i fficult t o ascertai n w hat general pr i nciples gui de d
M r A dams i n the maki ng o f appo i ntments H e has left
us i n w rit i ng no s uch clearly outl i ned pol i cy as Wash i ng
to n s letters exh ib it A nd y et there w ere reasons fo r th i s
The w hol e number o f o fficers was not great and most o f
them were acceptably filled Th e fact that M r Adams re
c e iv e d w i thout quest i on t h e beque st o f a ready ma d e cab i net
w oul d seem to i ndi cate t h at the i dea o f maki ng promi scuous
chan ges among thos e i n o ffice never occurre d to h im Co n
w
w
therefo
re
that
h
i
s
appo
i
ntments
ere
narro
ed to
s id e ring
the fill i ng o f chance vacanci es and occas i onal Offices o f ne w
c reat ion there was l it tl e need fo r h is formulat i ng an elab
o rate pol i c y M o reove r it i s p ro bably t rue that A dams le ft
o ffi
n
e
t
i
r
i
t
m
h
i
s
cabi
net
members
th
e
o
o
f
many
more
a
to
pp
,
,
,
,
.
.
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,
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-
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‘
D E W I TT
56
CL I N T ON
A ND T H E
S P O IL S S Y S TE M
[ 56
cers than d i d Wash i ngton
Owi ng to these f a cts the num
ber o f appl i cat i ons fo r execut i ve favo r was m uch smal le r
than i t had been du ri ng the adm i ni strat ions o f Wash i ngto n ;
an d the d i st ribut i on o f t h e patronage d i d no t become o ne
O f t h e seri ous ex ecuti ve p robl ems o f A dams s te rm o f Offi ce
S i nce the questi o n was d i sti nctly one o f m i no r cons i der
ati on duri ng an adm i n i st rat io n that w as i n some other pol i
t i cal aspects one o f the most t urbul ent i n o u r h i sto r y i t i s
scarcel y a matter fo r wonder that i t i s only b y patch i ng to
gethe r a fragment h ere and an i solated i nstance there that
w e are abl e to arri ve at anyth i ng that might be call e d a
p ol i cy or system o f a ppo i ntment
I t seems reasonably certa i n that i n h i s c i vi l appoi ntments
at least A dams adopted a care ful pol i cy o f excl us i on to
No i nstance has been po i nt e d
w ard all republ i can cand i dates
o u t o f hi s havi ng appoi nted to o ffice a man pol i ti cal ly opposed
to the party that had place d h im i n o ffice altho ugh he re
c e iv e d appl i cati o ns from republ i cans as wel l as fe d eral i sts
\Nh e t h e r A d ams acte d i n th i s from the personal conv i cti on
t h at upon the party i n po w er l ay the d uty o f strengtheni ng
i ts hol d by a j ealous d i stribut io n o f pat ronage o r whether
h e w a s strongly i nfl uenced by the fear o f senatori al rej ec
t i on seems O pen to quest i on The senate was not p repared
to exh ibi t th e same de ference to h i s nom i nees w h ich they
h ad w i th one excepti o n acco rded those o f Wash ing t o n
an d A d am s d i d not fai l to real i ze th i s H i s second nom i n
at i on that o f h i s so n J oh n Qui nc y A d ams to be m i n i ster
1
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'
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'
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A m e rica n H is t o ri c a l R e v ie w ,
,
2 42
.
p o i n t s o u t t h i s f ac t in t h e v al uabl e
u in g A d a m s s
s t u d y h e h a s m ad e o f t h e app l i c a t i o n s fo r o ff c e r ec e i v e d d r
h
e De
f
t
o
v
e
s
h
a
c
l
e
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n
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i
tr
t
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p
p
r
t
r
h
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s
n
fi
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h
e
a
n
t
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n
a
s
e
d
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b
a
ad m n s
p art m e n t o f S t a t e
’
1 bi d
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ii
ii
,
2 41
M r Gal l i ar d H u n t
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.
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i
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3
l bzd
'
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,
ii,
2 43
.
CLI N T ON A N D
DE W I TT
58
TH E S P OI LS S YS TE M
[ 58
”
able bar t o promot i on yet h i s theo reti cal asserti o n o f pol i
t i cal generos ity and i nd ependence fall s far sho rt o f creat i n g
a l iberal pol icy o f pat ronage when i t i s placed ove r aga i nst
the fact that h i s c i vi l appo i ntments were co n fi ned excl u
s iv e ly t o federal i sts
Pol i ti cal pri nci pl es an d d i scr et i on
”
w i ll al w ays be c o ns i dered
h e w ent o n i n the lette r to Wol
“
w i th other qual ificati ons and well w eighed i n all
cott
”
appo intments
A n d th i s o ne sentenc e pro bably cont ai ns
the essence O f Adams s Op i n i o n o n the s ubj ect Pol i ti cal
cree d w as o f i mpo rtance b ut other qual ificati ons w ere not to
b e i gnore d
A n d there i s no ev i den ce that he w as careles s
”
i n the cons i de rat i on o f t h ese other qual i fi cat io ns
It w as
an era when al m os t ever y act o f the admi n i st rati o n was as
h o w ever honest
c ribed to s i ni ste r i ntent and ever y erro r
H ad h e
w as eagerly fe rreted o u t fo r mal i gna nt assault
appo i nt e d unfit chara c ters solely upon the bas i s o f thei r
pol i t i cal serv i ces the republ i can p ress w o ul d hardly have
perm itte d th e fact to be concealed
That they d i d not
heral d many erro rs i n th i s regard i s no t ri vi al ev i dence that
there we re f ew to heral d
A d ams s s y stem o f pat ronage was ho w ever attacked in
H e w as accused o f nepoti sm and the
t w o othe r regard s
f ew i sol ated cases o f pol i t i cal removal s w h i ch h e made w ere
held up t o publ i c sco rn
Nei ther o f the accusat i ons was
I n regard to t h e fo rmer A dams
w i thout bas i s i n fact
seems to h ave lacked t hat fine consci ent i ousness and that
j ealous rega rd fo r h i s o w n goo d repute w h ich ha d prompted
Washi ngto n to re fuse un d er s im i lar c i rcumstances to nom i n
ate fo r o ffi ce member s o f h i s o w n fami ly
I n a l etter to
,
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,
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3
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‘
Jefle rs o n P a pe rs , M as s ac h u s e t t s H
Ca l l e n d e r
,
Th e
A d m in is t ra t io n
V/as h i n gt o n
of
,
W rit ing s ( Fo r d
161
s
o
e
o ns ,
l xi
,
1
9
Us 3 1 3 2 ; W o o d H is t o r i
P ro spec t B ef o re
Jo h n A d a m s ,
i t o r i cal C l l c t i
'
,
1 62
xi
,
,
,
.
,
39 5
,
t
no e
.
.
of
the
P A TR ONA GE
59 ]
UND E R
TH E FE D E R A L I S TS
59
Ham i lto n w ri tten i n 1 8 0 0 i n regard to a change o f
mand i n the army fo r h i s son in-l aw he sa y s :
com
-
,
I a n ti c ip at e c ritic i s m in ever yt h i ng th at re l ate s to Co l o ne l
S mit h ; b ut c riti c i sm n o w c riti c i z e d so l on g I re ga r d no more
“
”
t h an
G re a t G eo rge s b i rt h d a y s on g
C o l o n el S mit h s erve d
t h ro ug h t h e w a r w it h h i gh a p p l au s e o f h is s u p erior s He h as
s erve d a b roa d in t h e d i lo m ati c c or s at 'h o me as m a rs h al l a n d
p
p
s u p er v i s or an d n o w as c o mma n da n t o f a b rig a d e
T h e s e a re
se rvi ce s o f h is o w n
not m ine H i s c l aims a re h is o w n I
s e e no reason or j u s ti c e in e xc l u d i n g h im f r o m al l s ervi c e
w hil e h is c omr a de s a re a ll a m b as sa d or s or ge ne r a l s mer e ly
b e c au s e h e m a rrie d m y d a ugh ter
,
,
’
'
.
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,
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,
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‘
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,
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1
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Th i s seems to s um up A dams s i ndependence o f att i tu d e
towa rd the p rop ri ety o r i mp ropr iety o f h i s lend i ng h i s o ffi ci al
po w e r o f patro nage t o t h e advancem ent o f h i s relati ves
Colonel S mi t h had marri ed h i s onl y daughte r a nd i t w a s i n
h i s i nterest that A dams mo re than once la i d h i msel f Open to
seve re cri t i ci sm Wash i ngton had earl y s i ngl ed S m ith out
fo r p re ferment and A d ams saw no reason w h y he shoul d b e
l ess alive t o h i s so n in law s deserts I n 1 7 9 8 the i mm i
n en c e o f war w i t h F rance called fo r the o rgani zati on o f a
p rov i si onal army o f wh i ch Washi ngton w as appo i nted l i eu
tenant general and commander in -ch i ef
Colonel S mi t h
was menti oned b y Wash i ngt o n as h i s cho i ce fo r one o f t h e
H i s name w as also
t hre e br igad i er gene ral s t o be a p p o i nted
put d o w n i n a l i st of poss ibl e nomi na ti ons for the o ffi ce o f
adj utant general b ut h i s name rank ed thi rd i n a l i st o f
can d i dates o nly one o f w hom was to be place d i n nomi na
“
ti on
Adams p ro mptly nomi nated hi m to be A d j utant
”
Gen eral w i th t h e rank o f B rigad ie r General
an d the
A d m s L if e a n d W o rk s o f Jo h n A d a m s i x 63
’
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-
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,
3
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,
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1
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a
E x ecu t iv e Jo u rn a l
W a s h i n gt o n
L if e
‘
of
,
of
t h e Se n a t e , i 3 2
,
W rit ing s (Fo r d
Tim o t hy P ick eri ng
E x ecu t iv e Jo u r n a l
of
,
33
,
x iv
,
iii 464
,
.
t h e S en a t e ,
i
,
29 2
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,
,
,
81
,
41
,
42
82
,
;
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U p h a m (P i c k e r in g )
,
,
DE W I TT CLI N TON
6O
A N D TH E
S P O I L S S Y S TE M
[ 60
senate act ing l argel y upon the a d v i ce o f S ecr e ta ry o f Wa r
Pi ckeri ng as p romptly decl i n ed t o agree to t h e n o m i na
ti on The senate hav i ng ratified al l the other m i l ita ry no m
inat io n s made by th e p res i dent at that t i me M r Adams was
estoppe d from nom i nat i ng S m i th to the brigad i e r general
shi p fo r wh i ch Wash i ngton ha d des i red h im and the d is
appo i nte d son -in-law w as subsequently fo rced t o ac cept a
l i eutenant colonelc y i n a Ne w Yo rk regi ment
When the
a rm y d i sbanded i n 1 8 00 an d S m ith found h i msel f o u t o f
employment he was agai n b rought fo r w a r d b y A dam s and
nom i nated fo r t h e post o f surve yo r and i nspe cto r o f re
venue fo r the d i s t ri ct o f N ew Yo rk
H i s p revi ous bus i
ness ca reer was o n thi s occas io n the s ubj ect o f somewhat
rigi d i n v e s tigati on b y a s enato ri al c o mm ittee but a fter a
f ew mont hs dela y the no m i nati on w as at l en g th c o nfirm e d
No r were A dams s s i ns o f d omesti c cons i derat i on c o n
fine d to h i s advanc ement o f S mi th T h e d iplomati c eleva
ti on o f h i s son brought d o w n crit i ci sm upon h i s hea d wh i le
the appo i ntment o f h i s w i fe s nephew W i ll i am C ranch as
an a ssi s tant j udge o f t h e D i str i ct o f Columbi a w as amo ng
the last acts o f h i s adm i ni strati on
A s to t h e ot h er c h arge i n the i n d i ctment agai nst hi s sys
tem o f pat ronage the ev i d ence so fa r as i t goes i s also
,
1
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,
,
?
,
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,
3
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,
4
’
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’
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,
’
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5
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l
,
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,
U p h am (P i c k e r i n g )
,
p
o
c it
.
.
iii, 46 5
,
.
466
.
f i nd
E x ec u t iv e Jo u rna l o f t h e S e na t e i 2 9 9 3 03
i 357
U p h am (P i c k e ri n g ) o p c it iii 468 469 ; E x ec u t i ve Jo u r n a l o f t h e
I t is p e r h ap s w o r t h y o f n o t e t h a t M r A d a m s d id
S e n a t e i 3 84 3 8 7
In
n o t in e v e r y i n s t a n c e y i e l d t o S m i t h s r eq u e s t s fo r h is a s s i s t an c e
“
I f y o u d e s ir e t h e c o m m an d o f D e tr o i t y o u m u s t
1 7 9 9 h e w r o t e h im :
s o l i c i t i t o f t h e S e c r e t a r y a t W ar t h e C o m m a n d e r in -c h i e f o f t h e a r m y
I w i l l n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e d is c ip l i n e
o r M aj o r G e n e r a l H a m i l t o n
”
A d am s L if e
a n d o r d e r o f t h e a r m y b e c au s e y o u a re m y s o n in l a w
i x 65 2
a n d W o rk s o f Jo h n A d a m s
No m i n a t e d Fe b r u a r y 2 8 1 80 1 ; E x ec u t iv e Jo u r n a l o f t he S e n a t e i
3 8 7 ; A d a m s L if e a n d W o rk s o f Jo h n A d a m s i x 63 n o t e
3
2
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TR ONA G E U NDER
PA
61 ]
TH E
FEDER A L I S TS
61
clearly agai nst h im A dams d i d make a few removals upon
poli t ical gro unds B ut when the attempt i s made to d i s
cove r in Ad ams s pol i cy subst anti al elements o f a system
o f sp o i ls beyond h i s rigi d exclus ion o f the republ i cans from
o ffice the evi dence i s m uch w eakene d by t h e i solati on o f the
f ew cases reco rded by t h e v iolence o f the rem oved o ffenders
and by the fact that charges w e re usually evoked Callen
da r i ndeed a sserted w i th hi s custo mar y unbri dle d ext ra
vagance that A dam s s s y stem o f persecut i on exten d ed al l
”
over the co nt i nent
E very person hold i ng o ffice he went
on must e i the r qui t i t o r th i nk and v o te exa ctl y with M r
Ad ams A catalogue o f the s e expuls io ns w oul d fill a pam ph
”
l et
I t i s s ign ificant ho w ever th at he ment i ons onl y
t w o such expulsi ons an d Cal len d ar w a s cert ai nly not t h e
man t o hes i t ate rushi ng i nto p ri nt w ith multi pl i ed i nstances
p rov i ded that i nstances w ere to be had
The remo val o f Tench Coxe from h i s post i n the t reasury
i s pe rhaps the earl i e s t case o n re co rd o f d i smi ssal from a
posi ti on unde r the nati o nal gove rnment for poli t i cal pur
pos es solely
Coxe w as d i sm issed i n D ecember 1 7 9 7 from
the pos i ti o n o f commi ss i oner o f revenue to w h i ch h e h ad
been ap p o i nted by Wash i ngton five y ears before It seems
that the republ i can act iv iti es o f Coxe prove d unen d ur
able t o the adm i ni strat i on al though the exact nature o f h i s
part i san o ffenses do es not ap pea r He h i m sel f i n h is co r
respo ndence w ith Je fferson a f ew y ears later see k i ng re i n
“
st atement to o ffi ce ascribe d i t i n general to h i s cou rse o f
fi rm an d cons t a nt exert i on i n beh a l f o f t h e re p u bl i c a n
cause and he c it ed a number o f mi no r i nci dents i n w h i c h h e
had given gro un d fo r complai nt A ccor d i ng to G ibbs s a c
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2
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3
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h
’
C al l e n d a r op cit 3 2
Fi s h Th e Civ i l S er v ic e
,
2
,
3
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,
.
R e p e a t e d in W
a nd
A m erica n H is t o ric a l R ev ie w
ood
t h e P a t ro n ag e ,
,
ii
,
2 60 , 2 6 1
,
,
o
p
19
.
c it
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,
I
62
o
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l et te r
to
J e ff e r s o n q u o t e d
.
DE W I TT CL I N T ON
62
S P O IL S S Y S TE M
A N D TH E
[ 62
co unt the S ecretary o f S tat e M r Wolc o t t had p revi ous to
h i s d i smi ssal i n fo rmed Coxe that the charge p re ferred
agai nst h i m w a s that o f del iberat e m i sco nd uct i n o ffice
“
G eo rge Cabot w rote to Wol cott
I rej o i ce to h ea r that
yo u have finally expel le d a t rai to r from the t reasury who
”2
never dese rved to be tru s ted
And it seems to have been
freely asserted by rep ubl icans w i t hout deni al both i n and
out o f Congress that Coxe had been turned o ut o f o ffice o n
account o f h i s pol i t ical op i n i ons
I f an i nst ance i n a w hole
scheme o f appoi ntments can be sa i d t o est abl i sh a precedent
those who w e re respons ibl e i n l ater years fo r th e int ro d u c
t i on o f a mo re d rasti c sy s tem o f spoi ls i n the nat i o nal gov
e rnm e nt foun d here an autho ri ty i n p ract i ce to whi ch the y
coul d eve r po i nt the finger o f apo l ogy
B ut th i s w as no t the only case o f pol i ti cal remo val by
A d am s Wi ll i am Ga rd ner th e commi ss ioner o f loans for
New H ampsh i re a nd Joshua Wh i pple the col lect o r o f cus
toms fo r Po rtsmout h we re also dep ri ved o f o ffic e because
they w ere too v ehement i n thei r O ppos i ti on to the adm i n
Wh i p ple i t i s t rue w as
is t rat io n o f th e part y i n p o w er
accused o f mak ing unj ust exact i ons but the ch i e f ground
upon w h i ch th ei r removal was asked was nei the r d i shon
esty no r i ne ffici ency but th ei r extreme j ac o b i ni sm and
4
the i r unalt erabl e h osti l i t y to the gove rnment
Yea rs lat er
Adams h imsel f a d mi tte d t h e i nd i screti o n o f these removals
I n an unpubl i she d pamph let w ri tten i n 1 8 0 8 an d foun d
among h i s papers h e w rote
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3
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T h e po w er
y ea r s
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e x ce p t p e rh ap s
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f
,
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of
A
l
n na s o f
G a l la t in ,
‘
i
,
st h
123
ever ab u s e d in t h e fi r s t t w e l ve
t w o i n s ta nc e s a nd t h o s e remova l s
w as n
in
W a s h ing t o n
C o n gr e s s
,
3d
.
,
a nd
A d a ms ,
s e s s io n , 2 9
.
2 56
2 5 4—
.
6
,
7 1 ; A d am s
.
A m e r ica n H is t o ri ca l R ev ie w , ii
ii
,
'
.
I bid
Wfl t ing s
.
,
of
ii, 9
A
.
lbert
PA TR ONA G E UN DER THE FEDER A L I S T S
63 ]
63
ere m a de a t t he e arn e s t a nd re p eate d s o l i c it at i o n s o f all t h e
me mb er s o f t h e h ouse an d o n e o f t h e m emb ers o f t h e s e n at e
f ro m Ne w Hamp s hire m u c h a ga i n s t t he i n c l i nati on o f t h e
R e p re s en t at io ns o f mi s c on d u c t i n o ff ic e w ere ma d e
p re s id en t
t o t h e p re sid ent a n d p ro b ably c re d ite d by t h o s e m e mber s o f
c o n gre s s ; b u t t he re i s no w re a so n t o su s e ct
t h a t t h e y w ere
p
d i c t a te d by t o o m uc h o f a pa rt y s p i ri t
w
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
1
.
.
I f M r A dams ha d ad ded the case o f T ench Coxe h e w ould
p e rhaps have been j ust ified i n asserti ng that these were the
“
”
o nl y i nstances o f the
abuse o f the power o f removal
d u ri ng the s up remacy o f t h e federal is t party I f a few
oth er republ i cans w ere rem oved c aus es o ther than th ei r pol i
ti cal vi ews were perhaps wi th j ust i ce assigne d The num
be r o f removal s fo r any c ause was exceedi ngly small
The i ns ignificant part wh i ch civ i l a ppoi ntments played i n
M r A dams s a dm i n ist rat i on i s rendered even mo re st ri ki ng
by the comparat i vely large number o f m i l i tary appo i nt
ments that were made The th re at e ned w a r wi t h F ra nce
an d the consequent o rgani z a t i o n o f the p rovi s io nal army
acco unt fo r the d i spro p o rt i on Quest i ons o f party d i d n ot
enter i n to th i s l arge r class o f appoi nt ments although the
personal element is some t imes traceabl e i n t h e h i story
I n a l etter to James M c H en ry h is
w h i ch c overs t hem
secre ta ry o f war w ritten M ay 7 I 7 9 9 A d ams clearly out
l i nes the i mpa rti al a t ti tude wh i ch he seems co nsi stentl y to
h ave fol lowed
H e w rit es :
‘
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2
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’
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,
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,
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M erit I c o n s i de r h o w e ver as t h e on ly s ca l e o f gra d u ati o n in
t h e a rm y S e rvice an d ra n k i n t h e l a st w ar o r in a n y ot h er
w a r a re o n ly to b e t a k en int o c o n s id er ation a s p re s um p tive
evid e n c e o f merit an d m ay at any ti m e b e s et a s i d e by c o n
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
l
Wo rk s o f Jo lzn A d a ms
i 539
A d am s , L i f e
and
M r Fi s h
t h a t t h e r e w e r e o n l y n i n e t e e n c as e s d u r i n g A d a m s
Fis h Th e Civ il S erv ice a nd t h e P a t ro n ag e 2 0 2 1
.
ad m in is
,
v
,
.
t t
s a es
tr at io n ;
,
,
,
.
’
s
DE WI T T CL I N T O N
64
S Y S TE M
A ND TH E S P OI LS
[ 64
ro o f S ervic es a nd rank i n c ivi l l i f e a n d i n time o f
p e ace I t h i n k o ugh t no t t o b e f orgo t te n o r neg le c t e d f o r
t h e y a re o f ten o f m o re ut i l i t y an d c ons eq uence to t h e p u bl ic
t h an m i l i t a ry s e rvi ces
t ra ry p
.
,
,
,
,
1
.
That he follo w ed a cou rse o f s i mi lar i ndepe ndence o f
part y i n hi s d iplomat i c appointments i s evi denced by the
w ell kno w n fact t hat he was deterred from sen d i ng J
e ff e r
son o n th e di ffic ult m i ss i o n to F rance only by reason o f h i s
hold i ng th e o ffice o f v i ce -p res i dent that M ad i son w as h i s
second ch o i ce and that Gerry was fi nally chosen much
aga i nst the w i shes o f the Hami lto ni an el eme nt o f h i s
cabi net
I n s umm i ng up t h e pol icy th at t h e fede ral ists adopted
b oth nati onally and locally i n the d i st ribut i o n o f the pat ron
age w h i ch lay i n thei r hands seems to have been e s sent i ally
one o f excl us i on o f the oppos i ti on I t i s probable that the y
w ere actuated i n th i s far mo re by a strong bel i e f that the
publ i c wel fare demanded i t than b y less laudable mot i v es o f
personal i nterest o r pa rty aggrand i zement The exi genci es
o f the n ew government called fo r the settl i ng o f it s a d m in is
t ra t iv e and j ud i ci al o ffices upon men wh o se pol it i cal tenets
w ere i n harmony w i t h the pol i ci es o f th e part y i n power
Wash i ngton i t i s t rue sto od upon a fi rm plat form o f an
imparti al j udgment as between me rits but i t must be re
membered that i n the hour w hen the quest i on o f appo i nt
ments w as most v i tal w i th h i m nat i onall y o rgan i z ed pol i
ti cal parti es sca rcel y ex i sted They w ere i n p ro cess o f fo r
mati o n d u ri ng th e peri o d o f h i s a d m i ni st rat io n and emerged
,
,
2
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,
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.
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,
,
,
,
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‘
A d am s
,
L if e
a nd
IVo r/z s
of
Jo /m A d a m s
Fo r A d a m s s ac c o u n t s e e h is B o s t o n
L if e a n d W o rk s o f Jo h n A d a m s i x 2 8 4
”
“
W r it ing s o f Jefler5 0 7z
s e e h is
A nas ;
’
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,
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Pa
285
i i i 640
t r i t L e t t r xi i i ;
v
,
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Fo r
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e
,
J e ff e r s o n
i
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2 72
G ibbs A d m in is t ra t io n s o f W a s h ing t o n a n d Jo h n A d a m s
,
,
s
.
d
am s
ac c o u n
2 73
.
i
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462
.
,
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See
e t s eq
..
DE W I T T CLI N TON
66
TH E
A ND
S P OI L S
S Y S TE M
[ 66
a backgro und fo r a more v i ol ent a n d abus i ve wa r fare o f
wo rds tha n has ever i n late r t imes characteri zed fact i o nal
pol i ti cs i n Ameri ca w ere amply s u ffi ci ent t o w reck the o r
i
a
n
z
a
i
n
f
t
o
o
the federa l i st party The electi on o f 1 8 00
g
voic e d the un favorable j u d gme nt o f t h e sovereign maj o ri ty
The final act o f the o utgo i ng federal i sts i n regard to
the patronage has receiv ed mo re attent i on at the hands o f
hi stori ans than al l the o ther phases o f th ei r pol i cy comb i ned
The h isto ry o f the j ud i ci ary act o f F ebruar y 1 8 0 1 and o f
A dams s a ppoi nt ments under i t i s t o o wel l k no w n to
requ i re extended comment
I f th i s act w as as th e
republ i cans asserted l ater only a b old a n d unscrupulous
st roke o f the federal i st s i n th ei r dyi ng hou r to retai n cont rol
o f at least o n e d epartment o f the government
it was c er
t a inl y the most rep rehens ibl e ac t at tach i ng i tsel f to an
admi ni st rat i on o f th e government not w holl y above j usti
fiable censure
The a ccusati on w as p l aus ible I t came as
a shock to eve r y fri end o f th e co nsti t uti on w h o gave i t c re
d ence for so shameless a tamperi ng w ith t h e co nservat i ve
el em ent o f the const i t uti on could not be l ooke d u p on w ith
o u t d i sma y
I t i s extremel y doubt ful h o w ever w h ether
th e deprav i ty o f t h e federal i sts w a s anyt h i ng l i ke as d eepl y
l ai d as thei r opponent s cl ai me d M r A d ams ha d ca ll e d the
attenti on o f congress t o the i n d i spensa bl e necess i ty o f revi s
i ng and amen d i ng the j udi ci a ry system i n h i s message t o th e
s i xt h congres s at t h e openi ng o f t h e fi rst sessi on i n D ecem
ber
A b i l l w as i nt ro d uce d i n both ho uses i n t h e
spri ng o f 1 8 0 0 an d th e republ i can members took active part
“
i n t h e d i scuss i on o f i ts provi s ions A fter a w a rm and
”
l ength y d ebate po stponement t o the second sess i on o f t h e
congress w as fi nal l y agreed upon :
Th i s w as ce rt ai nl y
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nna s o
f 6t h
1 07 ,
C o n gr e s s
666
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,
i
I st sess o n , I
8S
,
1 89
.
,
PA
67 ]
TR O NA G E U NDER
TH E
FEDER A L I S TS
67
s ome ti me be fo re the r epubl i cans w ere confident o f vi cto ry
o r the federal i sts s eri ously ant i cipat i ng d e feat i n the e m
s ui ng el e ct i ons I f the latter were schemi ng to secure the
j ud i cial department to themselves they were c erta i nly tak
i ng t ime by the forel ock A n d the r epubli cans were as
s u re d ly not maki ng a very v igo ro us stand agai nst the success
o f thei r sche me
fo r the d ebates meagre though t h ey are
show l ittl e o r no oppos i t i on to the bi ll as a who le I n the
argument agai nst po stponement i t w as even bol d l y stated
and a pparently w i tho ut chal lenge from th e republ i cans
“
tha t th e close o f the present E xecut i ve s autho ri ty was
at hand and from h i s experi ence he was more capable to
”
c h oose su it able pe rsons than another
At the openi ng o f
the next s ess i on o f congress i n Nov ember 1 8 0 0 M r
A dams aga i n reco mmended the j udi ci ary s y stem t o thei r
se ri ous cons i derat i o n and a mo nth l ater a bi l l s imi lar to
th at befo re the h ouse at the prec ed i ng sess io n was repo rte d
from the commi ttee to who m the s ub j ect had been referred
Agai n debate w as had o n its several p rov i s ions but no u m
usual degree o f ac rimo ny w as hurl ed i nt o i t an d the s i n
The b i ll pass e d the
ce rit y o f it s authors w as not assai led
house o n the t w enti eth o f January the senate o n the sevent h
o f F ebrua ry and o n the th i rteenth o f F eb ruary i t became a
l aw
The charge so furi o usly fl ung i n the fi rst sessi on o f
and so o ften repeated i n substance s i nce
t h e next congress
that the federal i st s real i zi ng that thei r overt h ro w was at
ha nd sought t o entrenc h themselves i n the j u d ici al d epart
ment o f th e go vernment i s scarcel y borne o ut b y the h i sto r y
o f th e o rigi n and passage o f the bi ll
The p rop ri ety o f M r A dams s hasti ly fi ll ing u p t h e new
.
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’
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1
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,
,
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9 12 , 9 15
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649
.
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I s t s e s s io n ,
581
.
DE WI T T CLI N T ON A ND TH E SP O I L S S Y S TE M
68
[ 68
pos i ti ons created by th e bi ll — j udges attorneys ma rshals
w i th staunch fe d eral i sts from the number o f h i s o w n im
med i ate fol low ers i s ho w eve r quite another quest i o n N ot
onl y were the new j udi ci al pos i t ions occupi ed b ut every
admi ni st rat ive vacancy i n s ight w as als o s uppl i ed w ith a
goo d federal i st I n th i s unn e cessa ry select i on o f o ffice rs
to se rve under h i s s uccesso r Adams was w i thout doubt act
i ng enti rely w i th i n h i s pre rogat i ve but it seems ha rdly open
to quest i o n th at h e was exalti ng that pre rogat i ve at th e
expense o f decency Th ere i s l i ttle wonder that Je fferson
w a s i ncensed
E ven h i s most adverse cri ti c j ust ifies h i s
d i ssat is fact i on
Thi s last act o f the federal i st adm i ni st rat i o n served only
to th ro w i nto un fo rtunate rel i e f a civ i l servi ce pol icy wh ich
w hi le i t had been i n a l arge meas ure free from l i ttleness had
been neve rtheless cons i ste ntly excl us i ve tow ard the O ppos i
ti o n I t s et al i ve a sp i ri t o f gri evance among the tri umphant
i ncomers an d gave them j ustificat io n f o r i mmed i ate att ack
The same mot i ves wh i ch had p rompted the federal ists to
confi ne thei r appoi ntments t o the only part y wh i ch had eve r
enj oyed the po w er o f governm ent coul d not fai l to urge
th e republ icans to make room f o r men o f thei r o w n pol i ti cal
call i ng The natural co rollar y o f fe d eral i st excl us i on w as
republ i can removal
,
,
,
,
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,
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‘
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,
,
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.
H am i l t o n H is t o ry
,
of
t h e R epu bl ic ,
ii 5 63
fa t h e r
v
r a s be t w e e n t h e s e e n e m ie s o f h is
e fi e rs o n l e s s bu t A d a m s m o r e
n o t h a t in g J
ev e
,
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'
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it
W
ith
w as
H am i l t o n h o w
pr o bably
,
a c as e o f
C HA PT E R I I I
THE
C L I N T O N -JA Y C O N T R OVE RSY
electi on o f 1 8 0 0 gave t h e rep ubl i can party i ts fi rst
oppo rtun i ty to cross from theory i nto practi ce Perhaps
no peri o d i n the h i sto ry o f o u r pol it i cs i s more i nteresti ng
than thi s first change o f pa rt i es I t was epochal i n more
tha n o n e respect but ch i efly i n that i t fi rst blazed the roa d
w ith p recedent fo r future party changes
There were
many d i fficulti es t o be ove rcome and many p robl ems t o be
met and solved i n th i s appl i cat i on o f untri ed party pri n
c ip l es— here a theo ry o f consti tut i onal i nterpretati on— to
th e i ss ues i nherited from those o f a d i fferent school S tri k
i ng as were the i nnovat i ons w rought i n those pri ncipl es b y
thei r appl i cati on t o questi ons o f p racti cal poli ti cs they a re
beyond th e scop e o f o u r i mmediate i nqu i ry I t i s w ith
the fi rst p roblem o f the tri umphant party that w e are con
cerned The vo i ce o f the nat i on had placed the elective
o ffices i n t hei r hands ; w as the w h ol e number o f appoi nt i ve
o ff t es fully occup i ed b y the party o f th e opposi ti o n to re
mai n una ffe cte d by the change o f parti es ? The question
And perhaps i n no state w as
w as both nat i onal and l ocal
i ts l ocal s i gn ificance i llust rated so w ell as i n New Yo rk
I t m ust be r em embered t hat at th i s t ime that unw ri tten
d i c t um o f o u r consti tuti on b y w h i c h t h e pres i dent i s
chosen di rectly by th e voters o f the states had not been
ful ly devel oped The ri se o f parti es ha d i ndee d al ready
d ep ri ved the p resi denti al electors of muc h o f the in d epe n d
ence o f choic e whi ch the consti tuti on ha d probably int end e d
THE
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69 ]
,
,
og
DE WI TT CLI N T ON
70
A ND
THE
S P OI L S
S Y S TE M
[ 70
them to enj oy but i n 1 8 00 the y w ere sti ll chosen by the
legi slatures i n most o f the states
It was poss ible there
fo re to p redi ct approx i matel y th e res ul t o f the pres i den
t i al el ecti on as soo n as the politi cal maj o ri ty o f the elect i ng
legi slatu res w as know n
S eventy electoral votes w e re
necessar y fo r electi on E arl y i n M a y 1 8 0 0 when t h e New
Yo rk electi ons w ere hel d the republ i cans were counti ng
w ith reasonable certa i nty on s ixty —one o f these altho ugh
thei r confidence fell perceptibly as the months d rew o n
At the time however it seemed that i f New Yo rk shoul d
elect a republ i c an legi slature the twelve v o t es o f that state
I t was
w oul d render Je fferso n s electi on h ighly probable
th us that New York became fo r the m oment the p ivo t upon
w h ich t h e hopes o f the contend i ng part i es w ere balance d
an d the state el ecti ons were l i fted i nto nat i onal importance
H o w t h e contest fo r votes i n the New Yo rk electi ons
w as fough t o u t unde r the oppos i ng generalshi ps o f Ham i l
to n an d B urr i s too m uch a matter o f general kno w l edge
to excuse i ts repet iti on B urr ha d w i th co ns ummate ski l l
chosen a t i cket t h at woul d harmoni ze al l j ealous i es o f fac
ti o n among the elements o f h i s pa rty
H e h ad c reated
a campaign o rgan i zati o n not nea rl y as fa r beh i nd metho d s
o f the present d ay as i t was i n advance o f those o f h i s o w n
When the resul t w as k no w n it w as seen that the republ i can
t ri umph w as compl ete fo r w h il e th e fe d eral i sts co unted i n
the republ icans h ad a ma
t h e sen a te a maj o ri t y o f s ix
—
o
f
t
enty
A
n
d
republ
i
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Jo /zn Jay ,
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9 ; A s s e m b y Jo u r n a
l xx i v
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H a m il
71
TH E
]
CLI N T ON -JA
Y
C ON TR O VE R S Y
71
v i cto ry i n New Yo rk i n the sp ri ng o f 1 8 00 p red i cted a
rep ubl i can v i cto ry i n the na t i on i n th e fall
Nobody real i zed th i s mo re ful ly than Alexander Ham i l
ton and nobody des i red mo re keenly than he to p revent i t
H o p i ng even i n the face o f defeat at the polls to save a
maj o ri ty o f the el ecto ra l votes to the federal i sts he w rote
to Governo r Jay strongly urgi ng hi m to call the ex i sti ng
federal i st legi sla ture togethe r fo r the purpose o f choos i ng
electo rs by d i st r i cts I t w as the famo us letter to wh i ch
Jay d i d not reply but upon w hi ch was found endorsed i n
“
h i s ow n handwri t i ng :
P ropos i ng a meas ure for party
”
pu rposes wh i ch I th i nk i t w oul d not become me to adopt
Not the l east s i gn ificant event i n the general upheaval
o f New
Yo rk politi cs i n 1 8 00 w as that w h i ch brought
D e w i tt Cl i nton fo rwa rd as the ch ie f o f the republ i can party
— if i ndeed a party w i th so many fact i ous el e ments can be
sa i d to have had a c h i e f Yo ung ene rget i c dom i nati ng
i t i s not fa r to seek why such a revol ut i o n o f pol i ti cs sho ul d
have s wept hi m t o the front and i t i s even mo re eas i ly u n
d ers t o o d w h y he shoul d h ave l eft upon that revol uti o n
the i mp r i nt o f h i s force ful perso n al i ty B oth i n h is p ub
l i c a nd h i s p riv ate l i fe hi s mo ral s were good b ut he ha d
none o f t h e sent i mental ism that halted befo re the shatter
i ng o f a p recedent whi ch he co nce i ved to be i ll founded
H e sel dom b roke fo rth into explanat i on o f hi s plans o r
theo ri es but he had l ittle to h i de and was never u ns cru p u
l o us H i s m i nd was bi g and h i s h eart w a s big but h i s
s y mpath i es co ul d not be p layed upo n H e w as amb i ti ous
o f l eadersh i p but most o f h i s ambi ti ons were j ustified by
h i s s upe ri o r ab i l it y H e lacked perhaps the theo reti c co n
but
s t ru c t iv en es s o f m i nd necessary to a great statesman
he certai nly was far above the i nt rigue and cunn ing o f the
.
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1
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,
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,
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1
Jay
55 1,
L if e
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no e
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of
Jo lzn Jay , i 41 4; H am il t o n
,
W o rk s ( L o d g e
v
iii,
DE W I TT CLI N T ON
72
THE
A ND
S P OI L S
S Y S TE M
[ 72
mere pol i ti ci an A s ci enti st by predi lect io n and al w ays a
love r o f books i t i s p robable t h at had not oppo rtuni ty and
envi ronment swept hi m earl y i nto the vo rtex o f pol i ti cs he
m ight have atta i ned emi nence and d i sti ncti on i n a more
academi c caree r but h e was far from desp is i ng the game
he had chosen to pla y H e has l e ft us i n h i s papers and
letters no d etai led outl i ne o f h i s bel i efs o n questi ons o f the
d ay O n sci ent ific and h i sto ri cal s ubj ects he i s al w ays ver
bose but he sel d om d i scussed p ol i ti cal quest i ons i n the ab
st ract Pol iti cs was the bus i ness o f h i s l i fe and he seems
to have concerned h i msel f only w i th i ts p racti cal problems
H e had a m i nd fo r the concrete— perhaps i t may be sai d
fo r th e co nst ruct i vely co ncrete w hen i t i s cons i dered that
the E ri e Canal stands as the greatest monument to h i s
geni us
T h e t rai ni ng o f h i s yo ung manhoo d had been s uch as
em i nently to fi t h i m fo r the pos i ti on o f ch i e f o f h i s party at
th e age o f t h irt t w o H i s grand father Charl es Cl i nton
an I ri shma n bo rn o f E ngl i sh stock ha d emigrated to
Ameri ca i n 1 7 2 9 an d had settl ed eventuall y i n Ulster no w
O range Co unty New Yo rk
H e re h i s father James
Cl i nton an d h i s uncl e Geo rge Cl i nton w e re bo rn and here
at the hand s o f a re d empti one r they rece ive d thei r ed u
cati on D e w i tt Cl i nton w a s bo rn at L i t tl e B ri ta i n O range
County i n M arch 1 7 6 9 W i th the Anglo -Celti c blood o f
h i s father i n h i s vei ns fl o w ed the Teutoni c el ement o f h i s
mother M a ry D e w i tt a w oman o f h igh l y respectabl e
D utch d escent
P repa re d fo r college at K i ngsto n Aca
d em y then perhaps th e b est i nsti tut i on o f i ts ki nd i n the
S tate he ente red Co l umbi a C ollege i n 1 7 8 4 as the first
.
,
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1
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2
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Fo r
xx ii i
,
a n ac c o u n
63 1 0
l bid
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t o f t h e C l i n t o n f a m i ly
,
G e o rg e
C l in t o n
.
l
P u b ic P ape rs ,
DE W I TT
74
CLI
N TO N
A ND T H E S P O I L S
S Y S TE M
[ 74
ti nct i on and h i s personal i ty soon began to attract to h im
a substant i al po rti on o f t h ose who had fo rmerl y followed
t h e lead o f Geo rge C l i nton
D e W it t C l i nton watched the New Yo rk elect i o n o f 1 8 00
w i th i ntense i nterest H e was as keenl y al ive to i ts na
t io na l s ignificance as was H am i lto n
and he was no l es s
eager fo r Je ffe rson s el evat i on t o the p res i denc y than
H am i lton was to fo restal l such an i ss ue
Before the com
l
e
t
he w rote
e retu rns from the polls had been rece ived
p
to S olomon S outhw i ck o ne o f the edi to rs o f the A lbany
R egi ster
,
.
.
,
’
.
,
,
'
I t h an k y ou f o r y ou r f avo r o f t h e
i nstant I t cont a i ns
i n fo r m at i on o f so m e o f t h e No r t h e rn C ount i es o f w h i c h I
w as not be f o r e h o p e f u l an d w h i c h com p a r e d w it h t h e r esu lt
o f ou r e l e ct i ons e l se w h e r e p l aces i t bey o n d d ou bt t ha t Je tt e r
so n w i l l
h ave t h e vo i ce o f t his S tate fo r P res i d ent T h e
c onse q ue n ce h a s been d i s m a y
d es p a i r to ou r a d ve r sar i es :
S o m e ot h e r s ta l k o f a ban d on i n g t h e C ount r y and a l l o f t h e m
s ee m t o gi ve u
p t h e i r c aus e as l ost : l i k e m ost ot h e r co m p an i o ns
in m i s f o r tu n e t h e y e nd e avo r to s h i f t t h e b l a m e o ff f ro m t h e m
s e l ve s u p on ot h e r s a n d t h ei r d i s tre ss a n d d i ssat i s f act i on e n
c r ea s e : I t h as gi ven an e l ect ri ca l s h oc k t o t h e Cab i net at
P h i l a d e l p h i a— M r H e n r y h as r es i gne d u pon a b r oa d h i nt
P i nc k n e y w o u l d n o t t a k e it a n d h a s b e e n r e m ove d — T h e a d d i
th
o f next
t io n a l s ta n d i n g a rm v i s to be d i sban d e d on t h e 1 s
T h e s e m e a s u r e s h av e bee n t a k en i t is su p p ose d w i t h
m ont h
a v i e w to so f t e n i n g i f n o t o f conc i l i a t i n g t h e r e p ub l i can p a rt y :
O u r p ros p ect s i n m o s t o f t h e S tat es S out h a re a l m o s t e qua lly
goo d — t h e y b rig h t e n ev e n in Co n n e cticut : a l l t h e ca l cu l at i n g
m e n — t ri mm e r s —w fiic e s e e ke r s — w o r s h i p p e r s o f p o w e r— w h o
e o m o s e n o t a n inc o n s i d e r a b l e
n
ow
m
o
f
m
n
w
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t
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c o me ove r to u s I n a w o r d t h e f ai l u r e o f a r i s to c rac y w h i c h
h a s be e n e r e ct i n g w i t h s o m uc h ca r e a n d w h o s e a r ch i t e cts h ave
be en ex h au s t i n g t h e i r po w e r s u p on f o r n ea r ly t w e l ve y e a r s
m ust tu mb l e i nto r u i n
12
th
.
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M ay
17.
a
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He l l i/l Cl in t o n P a pe rs
’
.
ii
,
175
-1
77
.
.
T H E C LI N TO N -JA Y C O N TR O VE RS Y
75 ]
75
The legi slature wh i ch had been elect ed i n M ay came to
get her fo r the first time o n th e fo u rth o f November Not
s i nce 1 7 9 4 had the s it uat i on o f a governor and legi slature
o f d i fferent pol i ti cs been o ffered i n New Yo rk
S carcely
had the relat ive stren g th o f the two part i es been shown i n
the vote o n the choi ce o f p res i dent i al electors when A dam
C o mstock brought i n a resol ut io n fo r a new counci l o f
appo i ntment The cons i derat i on o f the resol uti on was post
poned fo r o ne day but on the seventh o f November i t was
adopted by a st ri ctly part y vote and D e w i tt Cl i nton
Amb rose S pence r R obert R os eboom a nd Joh n S anders
w ere the senato rs chosen Al l but John S anders were
republ i cans and the reason why he was chosen i nstead o f a
fo urth rep ubl i can i s not d i ffi cult to see The const ituti o n
requ i red that the co unci l o f appointment cons i st o f o n e
senato r from each o f th e fou r s enatori al d i st ri cts and the
easte rn d i stri ct had sent up to the senate a sol i d phal anx o f
federal i sts
Comstock wh o i ntroduced the resol ut i on had a g riev
ance agai nst th e federalist co unc i l wh i ch i n 1 7 9 4 had been
elected be fore i ts ti me to secure the appo i ntment o f
I t w i ll be remem
E gbe rt B enso n to the sup reme bench
b ered that h e had been d ropp ed w i thout ass igned cause
when the counci l made up the new l i st o f magi strates fo r
S aratoga county
H e was determ i ned now to sh ow to
the de feated federal i sts th e same measure o f chari ty that
had bee n meted t o hi m ; and the rep ubl i cans i n the assembly
flushed w i th thei r recent v i cto ry and perhaps eager to get
at the flesh -pots st i ll whol ly i n th e camp o f the enemy d i d
not fal l far beh i nd h i s generous lead I n vai n d i d the fed
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1
A
A d am
ru ary
y Jo u rn a l xx i v I 5
C o m s t o c k B e r i a h P a l m e r J abe z
s sem bl
4
,
1 79 5
,
,
.
,
,
; Civ il
Fil es
of
t lze
Co u n c il
D av i s t o t h e C o u n c i l , Fe b
of
A pp oi n t m en t
.
DE W I TT
76
CL I
N TO N
A ND T H E S P O I L S S YS T E M
[ 76
protest aga i nst th e const it ut ional ity o f th e appo i nt
ment o f a new counci l Thei r p rotest i n the l ight o f thei r
o w n acti on under s im i la r ci rcumstances a few y ears p re
v io u s
only redounded t o thei r s t u l t ificat io n
I t appea rs from h i s co rrespondence t h at D e w i tt Cl i nton
had i n m i nd from the ti me when the resul t o f the spri ng
electio ns was known t h e poss ib i l i ti es wh i ch would l i e i n
t h e hands o f a republ i can counci l I t i s p robable too that
he had h i s e y e o n a seat i n th at co unci l fo r h i msel f I n
the letter to S outhw i ck al ready menti oned a fter gi vi ng
a table o f the M ay electi ons fo r the assembl y he adds :
Gi vi ng th em [ t h e federal i sts ] al l th e doubt ful ones and
those w e have not hea rd from we have an abundance to
spare on a j o i nt bal lot : O u r S enators from th i s [ the
S outhern ] and the M i ddle d i st ri ct have s ucceed ed and
R oseboom from th e Western no doubt wh i ch w ill give us
”
a republ i can Co unci l
There i s no evi dence to show
h owever that D e w i tt C l i nto n had any othe r t h ought than
that th e counci l wou l d be appoi nted as usual i n t h e month
o f Janua r y
Th e des i re o f t h e assembl y to see a republ i can co unci l
i mmed iatel y i nstalled was not however real i z ed Whether
t h e new counc i l d i d not bel i eve i n the l egal i ty o f thei r
supersed i ng t h e ol d co unci l be fo re the exp i rati on o f the i r
y ea r o f servi ce o r wh ether the y made an unsuccess ful at
t empt t o s i t does not appea r T h e m i nutes o f counci l do
not reco rd an y such attempt and the ex i sti ng counci l l i ved
h avi ng hel d i ts fi rst meeti ng February
o u t i ts l e g a l te rm
e ra lis t s
.
,
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1
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2
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,
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,
,
r e p u b l i c a n s e n at o r c h o s e n f r o m t h e W e s t
e rn d i s t r i c t a n d n o n e w e r e c h o s n fr o m t h e e a s t e r n (S e n a t e Jo u rn a l
xx i v 3
S i n c e t h e c o n c i l c n s i s t e d o f o n e s e n at o r f r o m e ac h o f t h e
fo u r d i s t r i c t s i t is c l e a r t h at t h e r e p u bl i c a n m aj o r it y in t h e c o u n c i l d e
p e n d d o u R o s e bo m s l e c t i o n t o t h e e n a t e
D e W il l Cl in t o n P a pe rs i i 1 7 7
‘
R o s e bo o m w a s t h e
o n ly
e
,
o
u
,
,
,
'
e
o
s
e
’
,
,
.
.
TH E CLI N TO N -JA Y C O N TR O VE R S Y
77 ]
77
i ts last January 2 8
The new co unci l
hel d i ts first meet i ng February I I
The next s uc
ce e d ing counci l was not appoi nted unti l the th i rt i eth o f
January I 8 0 2
I t seems therefore that the co unci l ap
po i nted i n th e fal l o f 1 8 0 0 techn i cally at least ex i sted f o r
the unco nsti tut ional peri od o f fo urteen months
I t was i n t h i s pos i t i on as one o f fo ur members o f the
counci l o f appo i ntment that D e w i tt Cl i nton came to be
recogn i z ed as perhaps the dom i nant facto r i n New Yo rk
pol it ics M any h ad hel d the pos i t io n be fo re h i m w i thout
ach i ev i ng e i ther fame o r powe r B ut the moment was cr i
ti cal ; the co unci l was smal l ; a ma j o ri ty o f its members i n
cl ud i ng Cl i nton were o f the tri umphant i ncom i ng party ;
and the pol i t i cal power wh i ch lay potent i all y i n the hands
o f t hat co unci l was eno rmous I t was easy to see that
under such ci rcumstances a ma n o f Cl i nto n s overtoppi n g
personal i ty woul d come i nto the exerci se o f h i s ow n
st rength O f the two o the r republ i can members o f the
counci l Ro seboom was plast i c and Ambrose S pence r was
tho roughly i n sympathy w ith Cl i nton I n fact i t was i n
th i s cou nci l th at there grew up between Cl i nton and S pence r
a stro ng fri endsh i p w h i ch w i th th e exceptio n o f a s i ngl e
b ri ef i nterval o f v i olent pol i t i cal estrangement laste d
th ro ugh l i f e
S pencer s pos it i o n in the co unci l was uni que I n 1 7 9 4
he had been elected to t h e assembl y as a federal i st and as
s uch had wa rmly supporte d H o ffman s mo t i o n fo r the im
med i ate appo i ntment o i a federal i st counci l to serve w i t h
Governo r Geo rge C l i nton
I n I 7 9 7 he was chosen a mem
7
,
1 8 00 a nd
,
,
,
3
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
’
.
.
,
,
.
’
.
,
’
4
.
M S M in u t e s
.
iv , 3 09
‘
A
of
,
p
o
.
.
y Jo u rn a l x v i i 5 ; A
i 7 9 ; B a r n ar d
c it
Sp e n cer 3 3
,
,
.
,
of
A pp o in t m e n t
’
s s em bl
m o nd
t lze Co u n c il
,
A
l ba ny
,
,
,
iv ,
187 ,
Jo u rn a l
G az et t e J an uar y
s s e m bly
D is co u rs e
,
,
on
the
3 06
xxv
9
L if e
,
.
,
38
.
79 4; H am
o f A m brose
I
DE W I T T
78
CL I N TO N A ND T H E
S PO IL S
S YS T E M
[ 78
ber o f a counci l o f app o i ntment wh ich was unani mousl y
federal i st but the next year he abandoned th e federal i st
p a rty and was el ected t o the senate as a republ i can
W h ether h e was moved t o th i s by chagri n at not hav i ng h i s
h opes o f o ffice rewarded and t h e bel i ef that h i s perso nal
advancement coul d be best secured b y al ignment w ith the
republ i cans o r w h ether h e was prompted b y a genui ne and
who l l y honorable change o f p ri nc i pl es was not pos it ivel y
proved at the ti me and p robably never w i ll be Th ere may
have been colo r fo r the accusat i on o f sel f-i nterest but
S penc er v igo rousl y repell ed the i nsi nuat i on
I t may be
sa i d i n extenuat i o n not o nl y that i t was a peri od when
a lte rat i o n o f pol iti cal al legiance was common but t h at
S pencer s apostas y was accompl i shed i n the O pen and two
v ea rs be fo re t h e final overt h r o w o f the party o f h i s o r igi nal
a d opti on H e was subsequent l y appoi nted atto rney gen
e r al o f th e state and i n 1 8 0 4 upon the res ign at i on o f R ad
c l i ff was placed upon t h e bench o f the s upreme cou rt
w h ere h e rendered d i st i ngui s h ed serv i ce fi rst as associ ate
j udge and fi nall y as ch i e f j ust i ce
I n the l i g ht o f modern
l e g a l eth i cs J ud g e S pencer s later act ivi t y i n pol i t i cs
w h i l e occup y i ng an exalted j ud i ci al posit i on i s far mo re
repre h ens ibl e than h i s much censured c h ange o f pol i ti cs
Be fo re we ente r upon the h i sto ry o f th e famous counci l
o f 1 8 0 1 i t i s impo rtant to noti ce t h e extent o f i n fluence
w h i ch l a y i n i ts cont rol o f t h e ent i re s y stem o f patronage
i n New Yo r k
S ome i dea o f t h e vastness o f t h at system
mav be g rasped when i t i s cons i d ered t h at at that t ime
almost none o f t h e count y and c it y offi ces w e re o f l ocal
,
.
1
,
,
.
,
2
.
.
’
.
,
.
3
’
.
.
'
It
i d t h at
the ti me
h e w a s d i s a pp o i n t e d in
w as s a
t r o l le r
no t
be i n g
a
pp o i n t e d
co m
p
t h at fiic c w a s c r a t e d a n d fil l e d by Sa m u e l
J o n e s ; A l ba ny G a z el l e O c t o b r 5 1 8 0 :
i 1 77
A l ba ny R eg is t er J a n u ar y 1 2 1 80 2 ; H a m m o n d op cit
B a r n a r d 0p c il
8 5 : Fi h Th e Civ il S e rv ice a n d { be P a t ro n ag e
at
w hen
e
o
e
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
.
.
s
.
,
.
.
,
.
.
,
TH E C L I N TO N -JA Y C O N T R O VE R S Y
79 ]
79
elect i o n o r appo i ntment
Not o nl y the st ate o ffice rs
s ecreta ry o f state compt rolle r atto rne y general su rveyo r
and c o mm is s ary general — not only t h e who le j ud i c i ary
from the chancello r d ow n to the pett i est j ust i ce o f the
peace ; but every d i stri ct atto rney the ma y o r and reco rder
o f every c i t y
ever y count y cl erk s urrogate and sheri ff
t ogether w i th a whol e a rmy o f aucti oneers corone rs mas
t ers and exam i ners i n chancery i nspecto rs o f t urnp i ke
ro ads va ri ous commerci al and mercant i l e i n s pecto rs com
m i ss i oners fo r s undry purposes and even publ i c notar i es
h el d thei r commi ss i ons from th i s cou n ci l
A nd there was
i n add it i o n the vast number o f o fficers i n the mi l i ti a I n
the consti tuti onal convent i on o f 1 8 2 1 the fact was brought
o ut that 6 6 6 3 c iv i l appo i ntment s were i n the gi ft o f the
Th i s meant i n round numbers
c ounc i l o f appo i ntment
o ne appo i ntment fo r every t w o h und red persons i n the state
Whi le t h e populat ion o f New Y ork i n 1 8 00 was onl y a
l i ttle mo re t han a th i rd as l a rge as i t was i n 1 8 2 0 the p ro
po rti on o f appo i ntments was perhaps even greater
In
the yea r 1 8 0 0 the m i nutes o f the counci l reco rd upwards o f
eight hund red appoi ntments
It i s easy to comp rehend
therefore what pol it i cal i n fluences coul d be s ent rami fyi ng
th rougho ut th e stat e by a clever man ipulat ion o f th e power
o f thi s counci l The federali sts d uri ng the admi ni st rati o n
o f Governo r Ja y h ad show n by the pol i cy o f excl us i on
wh i ch the y adopt ed that the y ful ly recogni z ed t h e poss ibi l i
t i es wh i c h la y i n the d i st ri buti on o f t h e patronage The
evol ut i on o f events i n 1 8 00 had th rust the y ounger element
o f the excl uded party i nto power ; i t was i nev i table that
a fight ove r the spo i l s sh oul d o oc u r
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
1
.
.
2
.
.
,
3
.
,
.
,
.
’
.
.
‘
P ro c eed i ng s
of
t h e N e w Yo rk S t a t e Co n v en t io n
P ro ceed ing s
nu m be
‘
In
r
of
m i l it ar y
p o p u l ati o n
1 8 2 0 i t w as
The
a
a nd
D e ba t es
pp o i n t m e n t s
in
1 8 00
w as
4t h U 5
.
8 2 80
.
.
29 7
.
Th e
.
2a
.
1 8 21 , 86
(C a r t e r a n d S t o n e
’
w as
of
U S
.
Ce n s u s R ep o rt
.
.
Ce n s u s R epo rt , 3 2
.
DE W I T T
80
C LI N T ON A ND T H E S P O I L S S YS T E M
[80
It has been po i nt ed o ut that the newl y chosen republ ican
counci l d i d not meet unt i l the expi rat i o n o f the full term
o f t h e o utgo i ng federal ist counci l B ut when they came
togethe r for the fi rst t ime o n the elevent h o f Februa ry
1 80 1
the y sti l l had be fo re them almost fi ve months o f ser
v i ce under the fede ral i st governo r
The quest i on natur
all y p resented i tsel f w i l l G o v e rno r Jay put i n n o mi nati o n
the names o f republicans agreeable to th e ma j o ri t y o f t h e
co unci l ; o r i f he refuses to do so w i l l the co unc i l advi se
and consent to his federal i st nom i nati ons ?
I t was evi dent from the fi rst meeti ng o f the counci l that
J ay i ntended to di spute every i nch o f encroachment upon
h i s a uthori ty
I n a number o f co unti es th e comm i ssi ons o f
s h e rifi s had exp i red and i n consequence new comm iss i ons
h ad to be i ss ued
The m i nutes o f th i s meeti ng re
co rd that Ph i neas Ca rl l and C o rnel i us Bergen were reap
poi nted sh eri ffs respecti vel y o f S u ffolk and Ki ngs counti es
Both o f them had been chosen to o ffice b y federal i st
counci l s Carl l havi ng been app oi nt ed i n 1 7 9 9 and Bergen
in
A l th ough the m i nutes bea r no ev i dence o f th e
fact i t seems t h at th e governo r almost i mmed iatel y a fte r
these appo i ntment s were made ra i sed the questi on as to h i s
l egal right to have al l o f h i s nomi nati ons entered upo n t h e
m i nute book an d the co unci l a fter some d i scussi on con
ceded th e po i nt so fa r as i t related to nomi nati ons that were
“
acted upon
expressl y declari ng however that no in
ference o f an adm i ss i on o f a right o f nom i nati on i n the
G overno r shoul d be d raw n but i nten d ing only from mo
t iv es o f co urtesy to cons i der h is nomi nati ons i n th e l ight
o f recommendati ons proceed i ng from the ch i e f magi st rate
and the re fo re unl ess under pecul i a r ci rcum
o f the S tate
.
,
,
1
.
,
,
,
.
‘
.
?
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
T li e
go
ve
r no r
M S fl/in u l e s
.
'
s
t e r m e xp i r e d J u l y
0/
t h e Co u n c il
,
iv
.
I
.
3 09
"
.
l bid
.
,
iv
,
122
,
I
89
.
DEW I
’
82
TT
CLI
N TO N
A N D T H E S P O I L S S YS T E M
[8 2
“
gi ven O ne o f h i s supporters w rote : I have understood
t h at o ne o f th e ob j ect i ons to the appo i ntme n t o f M r S tone
was that h e had been hea rd to exp ress h i msel f i n te rm s u n
fri endly to t h e General Government
i t may be True :
and i t i s as T rue t h at at d i fferent t imes I have hea rd h im
”
exp ress h i s attachment t h e reT w o
A lthough H ale s
party a ffil i at i on do es not di rectl y appear h i s appo i ntment
th e yea r p revi o us b y a federal i st co unci l as fi rst sheri ff o f
the newl y c reat ed Greene count y had been made upon the
recommendati on o f C aleb Benton a federal i st assembly
man who voted w ith h i s party aga i nst the appoi ntment o f
Cl i nton S pencer and R oseboom as co uncil lors
As i de
from the i nsignificant appo i ntment o f a few coroners no
other bus i ness was t ransacted at the first sessi o n o f the
republ ican co unci l
Two days later a b ri e f s itti ng was hel d d uri ng wh i ch
eleven coro ners and tw o more she ri ffs were app o i nted
The m i nutes o f the meeti ng do not sh ow that any o f the
gove rno r s nomi nati ons were re j ected
Aga i n on Peb ru
ar y 1 7 a sess i on was hel d whi c h so far as i t appea rs from
th e reco rd was n ot con s pi cuous fo r i ts lack o f ha rmony al
though s ome d i scuss i o n w i thout nomi nat i on t o ok place
ove r the q uesti on o f s ui tabl e candi d ates fo r th e sheri ff s
o ffi ce i n O range and S cho h a ri e counti es and Jay cl a imed
.
.
1
’
.
,
2
,
,
?
,
.
.
4
’
.
,
,
,
’
5
,
'
T h o m a s S m it h t o t h e C o u n c i l , M ar c h
Co u n c il
of
A
ppo in t m e n t
t h e n am e o f A b n e
o ffic e
in
'
s
Civ il Fil es
i g ne d
t /1c
of
s s e m bly
‘
.
,
1 23
,
.
,
,
M ar c h
16.
o f ( be Co u n c il
y Jo u rn a l xx i v
s s e m bl
I bid
l i s t o f r e p u bl i c a n s
t lze
17 , I
.
,
.
A
a
g us t
of
8 0 1 , p l ac e d
w ho m J
ay h ad r e t ai n e d
u
by S t e p h e n D ay an d C al e b B e n t o n
Co u n cil o f A pp o in t me n t
Jo u rn a l xx i v
M S Ill in u t es
’
in
Ci v il Fil es
.
L e tt e r
A
1 8 00 ;
T h e A l ba ny G a z et t e o f A
.
r St o ne
10,
,
1 09
of
.
A ppo in t m e n t
,
iv
,
3
1 1-3 1 3
.
2 7,
1 8 00 ;
TH E C LI N TO N -JA Y C O N TR O VE R S Y
83]
83
s ubsequently that one nomi nat i on was negati ved
Twenty
fo ur cor o ners four sheri ffs a nd o ne vendue maste r o r
a ucti onee r we re agreed upon
At the meeti ng on the twenty -fou rth how eve r Ja y and
D e w itt Cl i nton were b rought face to face w i th the d i fficulty
o f carr y i ng o n the wo rk o f the counci l wi thout the conces
s i on wh i ch neit her o f t hem was w i ll i ng t o yi el d Four
sheri ff s and hal f a d o z en co roners were nomi nated by the
governo r an d co nsented to by the co unci l
B ut wh e n the
governo r pl aced success ivel y befo re the counci l th ree names
fo r t he o ffice o f sheri ff o f S c h ohar i e the y were re j ected
The ma j or i ty o f the co unci l determ i ned also to resci nd the
act i on o f February 1 1 by which the gove rnor s nomi na
t i o ns were to b e entered upon t h e mi nutes The m i nutes
reco rd
1
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
?
?
'
'
’
,
.
4
His Exce l l enc y
t he
G o ve rno r p ro p o se d t h at t h e S e c retary
a ll
o n t h e m i nutes o f t h e i r p ro cee d i n g s
,
be d ir e c te d t o ent er
n om i nat i o n s t o o ffi ce a g reeab ly t o t h e d i rect ion o f t h e 8 t h
S ect i on o f t h e A ct ent i t l e d
an ac t t o o rg an i se t h e G overn
T
h
e
h
1
8
asse
t
h
e
1
M
ar
c
h
m ent o f t h i s S t a te
d
6
t
77
ques
p
t i on be i n g p u t was c a r r i e d i n t he ne gat i ve w i t h t h e e xcept ion
S an d ers w ho a g ree d t o t he same but t h e ot he r m em
of Mr
bers o f t h e C ou n c i l d i ssen t-e d b ecause f ro m t h e fi rst o rgan i z a
t i on o f th e Go ve r n m ent unt i l t h e m eet i n g o f t h e p r esent Coun
c i l t he en tr i es i n t h e m i nut es o f t h e Co unc i l h ave as t h ey be
l i eve inva r i ab ly be en ot h e r w i se a nd b ecaus e t h e Co u nc ii d o
not a d m it but de n y t ha t t he righ t o f n om i n at i on e x i sts in t he
,
.
,
,
:
.
,
,
,
1
,
,
,
1
T h e r e is
m i nu t e
no
o f s uc h
a
ti o n
U nd er
i
n o m na
C o u n c il o f A pp o in t m en t , iv , 3 1 3 —
3 16
o f Fe b r uar y 1 1 a m i nu t e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n
.
,
t i o n b ee n m a
de
.
A
Co u n cil
y Jo u rn a l xx i v
s sem bl
,
,
of
123 ,
M S M in u t es of t lze Co u ncil
G az et te Fe br uar y 2 6 1 80 1
‘
.
,
.
of
t lze
rul e o f t h e co unc i l
e n t e r e d h ad t h e n o m i n a
the
.
M S M i n u t es o f t b e
’
M S M in u t es
.
,
.
A
pp
199
of
o in t m e n t ,
iv
,
3 1 9 , 3 20
.
.
A pp o in t me n t
,
iv , 3 1 8 3 1 9 ; A l ba n y
,
D E W I TT
84
CLI N T ON A ND
G overnor ex c l u s ive ly
,
wh
ic h
TH E
SPO I L S S Y S TE M
H is E x c e ll enc y
c
[ 84
l ai ms an d
in
i st s u p o n
Be c ause s u c h a p ro c e d ure c an h ave n o o t h er t en d ency tha n
u nne ce s s ari ly to s w e l l t h e mi n utes o f t h e C ou n c i l a n d
Be c au s e in t h e Op i n io n o f t h e Cou n c i l t h e St at u te re f err e d
t o by H is E x c e l l e n c y t h e G overnor d oes n o t d i re ct t h e entr y
o f nomi n ation s w h et h er ma d e by t he G overn or o r any o t h er
m e m b er s o f t h e C ou n c i l b ut app l ie s o nl y t o s u ch c as e s w h ere
a pp oi n tme nt s are c on s e q ue n t u p o n n omi n atio n s
s
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Havi ng fai led i n gett i ng the counci l to consent to any
o f h i s nomi nati ons fo r the sheri ff o f S choh ari e
Jay de
c l ine d to put i n nom i nat i on th e name o f Pet er I
Vrooman
w hom the republ i can counc i llors had at a previ ous meeti ng
i nd i cated as t h ei r choi ce
The appo i ntment o f a sheri ff
fo r O range b rought out a second seri es o f nomi nat i ons and
rej ecti ons O n the th i rd nom i nati o n o f th e governor h o w
ever th e name o i Joh n N i cholso n be i ng p resented i t b e
came evi dent to th e republ i can members as they afterward
“
expressed i t
that h i s E xcellenc y ha d resol ve d e i the r not
t o name at al l the persons agreeabl e to the maj o ri ty o f the
Counci l an d i n ever y resp ect unexcepti ona b l e o r to nom i n
ate them a fte r certai n pur poses o f exci tement w ere ah
T h e Counci l un d er these p ecul ia r and e x t rao rd in
s w e re d
a r y c irc u m s t anc s i nter fered and re fused to vote upon th i s
”
I t w as then fo r th e fi rst t i me s i nce thei r
propos i ti on
com i ng togethe r that D e w i tt Cl i nton claimed th e po w er o f
nom i nat i on S eei ng the i mpossi b i l i t y o f forci ng Jay to
nom i n a te th e can d i d a te d esi red b y the re p ubl icans he placed
be fo re the counci l t h e name o f Jo h n Blake j un i o r i n the
form o f a moti on to a p poi nt
The governo r clai mi ng
th e excl us i ve r ig h t o f nom i nat i on w a s un w i ll i ng to put the
ue
t
i
on
I
nste
he
o
b
serve
d
t
h
at
i
t
woul
d
be
proper
ad
s
q
19 9
n l xx i
A s s m bl i Jo
,
.
1
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,
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,
,
,
,
,
,
,
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,
,
2
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,
,
,
3
,
.
,
,
.
'
'
e
r
ur
A l lz a ny G az e lle
a
,
,
v
,
Fe b r ua r y
.
26 ,
i 80 1
.
TH E
85 ]
CLI N TON -JA
“
Y
C ON TR O VE R S Y
85
fo r h i m to cons i der what o ught to be h i s cond uct thereto
and at the same t i me requested that an ent r y thereo f shoul d
be made o n t h e m i nutes w ith a decla rat i on that noth i ng
sho ul d be i ntended thereby to cont ravene the resolut i on o f
”
the counci l adopted prev i o usly at th i s meeti ng
The counci l thereupon adj o urne d and j ay a c ti ng upon
h i s const i tut i o nal p rerogat i ve never reconvened i t The
res ult was t hat the j udges and j ust i ces o f seve ral counti es
th e ma yors o f four c i t i es— N ew Yo rk Albany H udson and
—
S chenectady the sheri ffs o f e ight counti es the auct i oneers
o f the state and a number o f o ther o fficers
rema i ned u n
appoi nted unti l some t ime a fter Jay had completed h i s term
as governo r I t does not appea r i n all cases w hether the
i ncumbents o f these o ffices cont i nued to act a fter th e ex
p irat io n o f the i r commi ss i ons i n th e sp ri ng unti l appo i nt
ments we re made i n the early fal l o r w hether the law
ab i d i ng sp i ri t o f the peopl e w as s u ffici ent to ti de them ove r
the tempora ry absence o f adm i ni strat i ve and j udi ci al o fficers
The s i tuat i on was certa i nly embarrassi ng It i s d iffi
c ult even at th i s late day to fix j ust bl ame e i ther up on Gov
e rn o r Jay o r upon D e w i tt Cli nton and the other republ i can
counci llo rs Jay stoo d upo n th e gro und that bel i ev i ng as
h e d i d that the righ t to nom i nat e w as by the const i tut i o n
vested excl us i vely i n the gove rno r h e o ught no t t o be ex
p e ct e d to vi olate h i s oath to admi ni st e r th e government to
the best o f h i s knowl edge i n confo rmi ty wi th the powers
“
del egated to h i m by the const ituti o n O f cou rse the meces
s it y fo r the exercis e o f the concurrent po w e r coul d h ave
been avo i ded by h i s consent i ng to nomi nate only names
,
1
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,
,
,
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,
,
,
,
2
,
3
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,
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'
,
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,
Co u n cil of A pp o in t me n t iv 3 2 1
A s s em bly Jo u rn a l xx iv 3 2 0
I n t h e c as e o f auc t io n ee r s an ac t w as p as s e d e xt e n d i n g t h e i r c o m m is
s i o n s ; L a w s o f N e w Yo rk 1 801
ch
1 1 6 p 2 68
A s s em bly Jo u rn a l x x iv I 2 3
M S M in u t es
.
of
Me
,
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3
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‘
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,
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DE W I TT
86
CLI N T ON
A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS TE M
[ 86
agreeable to the rep ubl i can maj ori t y o f h is co unc i l It
woul d have necess i tated h i s becomi ng the tempo ra ry tool o f
the pa rt y o f the maj o ri t y fo r th e sa k e o f harmony i n the
execut ive branch o f the government and to prevent an awk
wa rd suspens i o n o f a v ital executi ve functi on H e may
have cons i dered that such a course w oul d be techn ical
t reachery to h i s part y ; he ma y have cons i d e red that i t
woul d mean d e fa c t o s urren d er o f the i ni ti at i ve and i nde
n
e
p d e nc e o f acti o n vested i n h im by t h e spi r it o f the co n
s t it u t io n
Geo rge Cl i nto n i n a si m i lar s i tuat i on i n 1 7 9 4
had under repeated p rotest y i elded to the deman d o f a
concurrent right o f nomi nat i on o n the pa rt o f h i s federal i st
counc i l
H e had had i t i n h i s po w er to fo restall every ap
po i ntment i n the st ate fo r a peri o d o f eighteen months I n
mo re than one respect he s aw h i s po w er overri d den and
those opposed t o h i m i n pol i t ics l i fted over h i s veto i nto
o ffice A nd George Cl i nto n was neve r acc used o f lac ki ng
party sp i ri t
O n th e othe r hand it was not reasonable to s uppose that
D e W it t Cl i nton and h i s republ ican co l l ea gues i n the coun
ci l ra i sed i nto po w e r b y the recent vi cto r y o f thei r party at
th e pol ls an d backed b y the prece d ent w h i ch thei r opponents
ha d success full y esta b li shed seven y e a rs be fo re w oul d be
w i ll i ng supi nel y t o voice th e a pp o i ntment o f the governo r s
nom i nees presumabl y men o f h i s o w n p art y Th e bulk o f
the patronage w as i n t h e han d s o f t h e fe d eral i sts ; coul d i t
be expecte d that t hey w o ul d a c qui esce i n i nc reas i ng that
bulk ?
Und er th e c i rcumstances i t i s not nearl y so remarkable
that a d ea d l ock ensued b et w een t h e governor and the coun
c i l a s th a t the y w e re en abl e d to ha rmoni ze upo n as man y
D uri ng t h e five ses
a pp o i ntments a s the y a ctu a ll y ma d e
.
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1
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’
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'
/ l l ba ny G a z e
lle
.
O c t o be r
23
,
I
79 4
.
CLI N T ON -JA
TH E
87 ]
Y
C ON TR O VE R S Y
87
s i ons o f th e co unci l be fo re Jay finally adj ou rned them
fi fteen sheri ffs forty seven coro ners and o n e auct i oneer
wer e agre e d upon
I n the case o f the m i nor o ffice o f
count y co roner it i s probable that th e pol it i cs o f the cand i
dat e was scarcely cons i dere d
Th e files o f th e coun
ci l show that the appo i ntment was sel d o m so ught w i th any
v i go r
I n fact th ere a re among these papers very f ew l et
ters from appl i cants fo r the pos it i o n o f coroner I n th e
appo i nt ment o f the sher i ffs i t i s wo rthy o f note that con
cess i on i f there was any seems t o have been made to the
governo r A ll o f these w i th t w o except i ons w ere reap
They ha d been ch o sen o rigi nal ly under the
p o int m ent s
federal i st adm i n ist rati on and w ere th ere fo re under rea
sonabl e p resumpt i on o f the pa rty o f the governo r
One
B enj am i n Gi lbert ha d been some y ears
o f them at l east
p revi ously especi ally o ffens i v e to t h e rep ubl i cans
an d
Ph i l ip S ch uyler ha d accused George Cl i nton o f remov i ng
h i m from the sh ri evalt y o f Otsego W i tho ut cause
He
had been resto red t o o ffic e und er the fede ral i sts and was
now recomm i ss i oned by the vote o f the republ i can counci l
R obert W i ll i ams who w as final ly chosen sheri ff o f D utchess
,
-
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1
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2
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3
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"
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,
—
20
v
0
n
n
i
f
t
A
i
m
e
t
C
c
l
o
u
n
i
o
o
M S M i n u t es
3
3
9
pp
P h in e as C ar l l ap
M S M in u t es o f t he Co u n cil o f A pp o in t m en t
p o in t e d s h e r iff o f Su ff o l k in 1 79 9 iv 1 2 2 ; C o r n e l iu s B e rg e n o f Ki n g s
in 1 809 iv 1 8 9 ; G eo r g e H a l e o f G r e e n in 1 8 00 iv 2 4o ; A b n e r S t o n e
2 8 ; W il l ia m B a r k e r o f W e s t c h e s t e r in 1 7 9 9
o f W a s h in gt o n in 1 7 9 8 iv
iv 1 5 0 1 5 1 ; P e t e r S t ev e n s o f R o c k l an d in 1 800 iv 1 9 7 ; C h au n c e y
W o o d r u f f o f H erk im er in 1 79 8 iv 46 ; J o h n N i l s o n o f S t eu be n in 1 8 00
iv 2 1 1 ; U ri T r ac ey o f C h e n a n g o in 1 7 9 8 iv 5 0 ; T h o m as S t o w e r s o f
E s s e x in 1 79 9 iv 1 3 o ; G uy M ax w e ll o f T i o g a in 1 8 00 iv 1 9 5 ; R o g e r
Sp r a g ue o f O n t ar i o in 1 79 8 iv 4
x
of t he
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H am m o n d
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c it
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r ep l y o f Sc h u yl e r S tr o n g an d H i t c h c o c k t o G o v e r no r C l in t o n s
Civ il Files o f t h e Co u n ci l o f A pp o in t m en t O c t o b e r 3 1 79 4
a c c u s at io n
S e e s am e d o c u m e n t in A l ba ny G az e tt e O c t o be r 2 3 1 79 4
'
Se e
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
CLI N T ON
D E I VI TT
88
A ND T H E SP OI LS S YS T E M
[8 8
count y w as a republ i can
H i s appo i ntment w a s there
fore a concessi on to the rep ubl i can counci l lo rs It does
n o t appea r whether th e othe r ne w ly appo i nted she ri ff Ben
j am i n Greaves o f Cl i nton was a federal i st o r a republ i can
O n the w hol e D eW it t Cl i nto n seems to have bo rne h im
sel f w ith reasonabl e moderati on to w ard Jay I t i s s ig n i
ficant that no a t tempt w as made to remove any federal i st
from o ffice The contest fo r pol i ti cal cont rol o f the p a
t ronage was fought only ove r vacanci es l egal ly exi st i ng ;
an d i n almost every case i n wh ich a sheri ff was appo i nt e d
to one o f t hese vacanci es the republ i can members voted fo r
a cand i date w h o w hateve r the color o f h i s pol i ti cs had i n
the first i nstance at least been the choi ce o f Governo r Jay and
a federal i st counci l A cand i d revi ew o f th e reco rds w h i ch
s urv i ve reveals noth i ng to i ndi cate what has been repeatedly
asserted that Cl i nton and S pencer were desi rous o f p ro
d u c ing a b reach wh i ch w oul d p revent the fut ure act i o n o f
t h e counci l un d er Jay
I t i s di ffi cult to see h o w the breach
coul d have been prevented The t ruth i s that the w hol e
h i sto r y o f Cl i nto n s t i l t w i th Jay i n th e spri ng o f 1 8 0 1 i s
n oth i ng more than the ol d sto ry o f a st ruggle between two
i nfl ex ibl e personal i ti es each armed w i th h i s o w n const ru e
t i on o f the law an d ne ith er wi ll i ng to make the sl ightest
comprom i se
d
i
sm
i
ssed
th
e
counc
i
l
o
n
th
e
t
enty
fourth o f
w
When Jay
F eb rua r y there w as probably no i ntent i o n i n h i s m i nd that
t h e y w oul d not aga i n be convened
H i s real purpose was
t o cal l the t w o othe r d epartment s o f gove rnment to h i s ai d
i n i nter p reti ng the t roublesome clause o f the constit ut i on
1
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2
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3
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M S fl/in u l es
'
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p
o
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c it
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i
,
155
H am m o nd
o/
N e w Yo rk
A
s se m b
ly
,
of
Co u n c il
t /1c
of
A ppo in t m e n t , iv , 3 1 7 ; H am m o n d
,
.
p
o
,
i
,
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c it
n o
.
Jo u r n a l
.
,
i
111
,
,
1 56;
le x a nd e r
A
.
xx i
v
,
:
98
.
,
P o l it ic a l H is t o ry
of
th e S t a te
DE W I T T
90
CLI N T ON
A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS TEM
[9 0
republ i can col leagues ha d exp ressl y refused to vote on
Jay s nom i nee
I n al l p robabi l it y Jay d i d not seri o usl y expect the l egi s
lat u re t o vo te ei ther fo r o r aga i nst h i s construc t io n o f the
const i tut i on H e must have real i zed that the quest i o n had
at that t i me become far mo re pol it i cal than legal ; and he
must have kno w n that w ith a federal i st s enate and a re
publ ican assembly l i ttle head w ay co ul d be made i n the d i
recti on o f a settlement H i s pu rpose w as ev i dentl y to ex
haust every means at hand i n th e perfo r mance o f h i s duty
The day a fter th e del i very o f the governor s message
a resolut i o n w a rml y sup p o rted by B ro c kh o l s t Li vi ngston
“
and Jo h n S w a rt w out w as o ffered to th e e ffect that th e
Legi slature have no autho ri t y to i nterpose bet w een the E xe
c u t iv e an d th e M embers o f the Co unci l o f A ppo i ntment
”
The resol ut io n w as
touch i ng the ri ght o f nom i nat i on
adopted b y a part y vote alt hough t h e fede ral i sts i n a
heated de b ate en d eavo red to carry a substi tute i n favo r o f
a d ecla rato ry act
S ix y ea r s befo re the y h a d as a party
a lmost to a man v oi ce d a resol ut ion s imi la r to that w h i ch
the y n o w st rugg l e d to de feat T h e senate t h e eupon e n
d ea v o re d t o secure th e appoi ntment o f a j o i nt commi ttee
o f both h ouses to exam i ne the questi on and repo rt a s to a
but the assem b ly re fuse d
p ro p er mo d e o f d eterm i ni ng it
“
to concur
F i n d i ng t h at h i s e ff o rts t o secu re an express i o n o f op i n
i on f rom t h e l egi slature w ere futi l e G overno r Ja y next a d
d res s e d h imse l f to t h e j u d ic ia rv
O n th e e ig h teenth o f
M a r c h h e w rote to t h e c h ancello r a n d to the ch ie f j ust i ce
’
.
.
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.
’
1
,
2
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,
3
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r
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4
,
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,
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,
'
A l ba zy G a z el le S u pp le m e n t
A s s e m bly Jo u rn a l xx v 1 2 9
'
,
,
'
i
,
’
I bid
‘
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.
C
'
iv
,
1 29
A
,
Fe b
.
28,
1 80 1
.
.
,
lba ny
G a z e lle S upple m e n t , Fe b r u a r y 2 8
1 80 1
,
x x iv 63 64; C l i n t o n S p e n c e r an d R o s e bo o m
p o s e d t h i r s o l t io n l o n g w i t h t h e r e p u bl i c an w in g o f t h e s e na t e
A s s e m bly Jo u n a l xx iv I 62
‘
S c n a t e Jo u r n a l
s
‘
e
,
,
,
,
a
u
r
,
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,
.
Op
.
9
1
TH E C LI N T ON -JA Y
]
C ON TR O VE R S Y
9
1
an d j udges o f the sup reme co urt ask i ng for a n exp ress i on
o f the sent i ments o f the j u d i ci al department upo n the no w
m uch venti lated quest i on
B ut nei ther Chi e f J ust ice Lan
s i ng no r C h ancel l o r Li vi ngston w as w i l l i ng t o haza rd an
O p i ni o n
B oth i t ma y be noted w ere rep ubl i can i n th ei r
sympat hi es but the th ree other members o f the s up reme
court w h o repl i e d to h i m Benson K ent an d R a d cl i ff w ere
federal i sts
L i vi ngsto n grounded h i s refusal upon the
fact that the co nst i tut i on ha d not made the j u d i ci a r y an
adv i sory co unci l H e w rote :
1
.
.
,
,
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,
,
,
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.
I f in c o n tr over s i e s b e t w ee n diff ere n t mem b er s o f t h e e x ecutive
t h e j u d ges a re b ou n d to d e c i d e e x tr aj u d i c i ally t h e y a re
e q u ally b oun d to give t h ei r o p i n io n s o n t h e re q ui sit io n o f t h e
Legi s la ture I t is Ob vi o u s s ir t h at t h i s w o u l d by d egree s l ea d
t h em i n to p o l i ti c a l c on trov e rsi e s i nc o m p ati b l e w it h t h e d utie s
‘
o f t h e i r o ffi c es an d c on vert t h e m i nt o m an t el et s t o re c eive t he
s ho t
w h i l e t h e l e a d er s o f p a rtie s fo ug h t secur e ly un d er t h ei r
,
,
.
,
,
,
l
,
,
p rote c t ion
2
.
By the mi d d le o f M arch i t became evi dent to the repub
l i can members o f th e adj ourned co unci l that Governor Ja y
had then no i ntent i on o f reassembl i ng them F eel i ng that
thei r s i de o f the d i sp ute had been gi ven no o ffi c i al exp ress i o n
the y d re w up and s ubm itted to the as sembly a length y
expos i t i o n o f the h i sto ry o f the controversy the legal
grounds upon wh i ch the i r stan d had been made and th e
p recedents b y w h i ch they had i n a measure been gui ded I n
the reci tal o f facts t h ei r com muni c ati on d i ffere d from that
o f the governo r o nly i n a d di t ional and perhaps u n es s en
t i al po i nts
They endeavo red to show ho w eve r that
thei r i dea o f the po i nt at i ss ue was some w hat at vari ance
.
3
,
,
.
,
,
.
lba ny
I biri
G az e tt e , M a r c h 3 0 , 1 80 1
3
O n M ar c h 2 0 1 8 0 1 t h e A l ba ny
A s s em bly Jo u rn a l , xx iv 1 9 8 - 2 0 1
R eg is t er p u b l is h e d an e x tr a e d it o n c o n t a n n g t h e c o m m u n c a t io n
‘
A
"
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i
i i
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i
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9
D E W I TT
2
CLI N TON
A N D T H E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[9 2
ith that o f the governo r They w ent to the ext ent o f
clai mi ng fo r the co unci l no t only a concu rrent but an ex
elus ive po w e r o f nom i nati on
w
.
.
T h e q ue s tio n b et w ee n h im [ t h e gover n or ] and t h e C ou n ci l
w a s w h e t h er t h e rig h t o f exc l u sive nomi n ation is veste d in
h im
T h e c l aim o f c o n curre n t n om i n ati o n w a s neve r sug
ge s te d by his E x c e l le nc y no r co n s i d e re d by t h e C oun c i l as
t h e re a l p oi n t in t h e c onte s t Al t h ou g h t h ey d o n o t b el ieve
t h at any righ t o f no m i n ati o n in s tric t ne s s e x i s t s in t h e G ov
t h e y h ave in every
e rn o r at a l l y et f or t h e s a k e o f c oncord
in st an c e e x c e pt in t h e c as e o f M r N i c h o l son a d mitt e d i t t o
b e c oncu rr e n t in h im in it s f u ll est e x tent ; a n d al t h ough t h e y
a re p ersu a de d t ha t i t is e x c l u s ive ly e nt ru s te d to t h e C oun c i l
y e t t h e y h ave n ot e x c e p t in t h at s o l i t ary inst an c e exerci s e d it
T h e l i k e m o d eratio n an d t h e s am e s p i ri t o f c on ci l i ati o n o n
t h e p a rt o f h i s E x ce ll en cy w ou l d h av e su p p re ss e d eve ry source
‘
o f d i ffi cu l t y an d every m ot ive o f d i sagreeme n t
.
,
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,
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'
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,
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,
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,
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,
.
A lthough the language i s not very clear th e i mputati on
at best i s that the governo r i n stat i ng t hat i t ha d not been
a matte r o f su r p ri se to h i m t h at the counci l sho ul d cla im
a concurrent right o f nom i nati on w i th hi m had i mpl i ed
that th e po i nt at i ssue w as w het h er a concurrent right o f
nom i nat i on d i d o r d i d not belong to the counci l They
w i shed to emphas i ze th e fact t h at t h e quest i on o f concur
rent nom i nat i on h a d not been r a i s e d They bel i eve d that
t h e righ t unde r the const it ut i on l a y excl usi vely i n th em
an d not concu rrently i n the governor and the counc i l Gov
e rno r Ja y had b y t h ei r su fferance b een perm itte d t o e x e r
c i se a r ight w h i c h i n rea l ity he d i d not en j oy even i n c o n
c urrence w i th t h e counc i l T h e po i nt o f d i ffe rence w as
i s perhaps wo rthy o f reco rd
s ome w hat ove rst ra i ne d an d
,
,
.
.
.
.
'
A
ly
s s em b
Jo u r n a l
,
xx i
v
,
19 9
.
TH E
93]
CLI N T ON -JA
C ON TR O VE R S Y
Y
93
nly becaus e i t shows t hat Cli nton and S pencer were try
i ng to read i nt o the governo r s message a sp i ri t o f unfai r
ness wh i ch was certai nl y beneath h im The governo r d i s
t in ct ly c la imed th e excl usi ve right o f nom i nati o n ; w hethe r
the republ i can co unci l bel i eved that the y possessed the same
right concurrently o r excl us i vely mattered ver y l ittle s o
fa r as the poss ib i l it y o f practi cal ad j ustment w a s concerned
The communi cat i o n breathed a sp i ri t o f gri evance w h ic h
w a s perhaps more i ntemperate than that o f the governor
but there i s l i ttl e reaso n to bel i eve that i ts framers were
no t as ho nest as th e governo r when t h ey rep u d iat e d t h e ac
They concl ude :
c u s at io n o f perso nal i nte rest
o
’
.
.
,
.
t h e o p in io n s no w e xp r es se d h ave b een f orme d l o ng b e fore
w e w ere m emb ers o f t h e C ou n c i l w e can n o t be s u pp o s e d to b e
a c tu ate d by a n a m b i t iou s c om p etiti on f or p o w er or by an u n
w a rran ta bl e s p i ri t o f p a rt y
O u r o bl ig a ti on s are as s ac re d a s
h i s E xce l l e n cy s : o u r c o n v ic tio n s o f d ut y a s c l e a r an d im
p res s i v e : a nd o u r l i n e o f co nd uc t a s p l a i n a n d p er s p i c u o u s
We h ave b een h o n o re d by o u r c ou n t ry w it h an imp ort ant tru s t
an d w e s h a l l n o t b etray t h at t rust i nt o t h e h an ds o f an y m an
A
s
,
,
I
.
’
'
.
'
,
1
.
Governo r Ja y was not to be frightened i nto acqui escence
by the p rospect o f scenes p roduct i ve o f the most ser i ous
”
H e had
consequences t o the wel fare o f th e commun ity
exhausted the legi timate means at hand fo r securi ng a set
H e d i d not propose to y i eld
t l em e nt o uts i de o f the counci l
th e co nt ent ion and he saw noth i ng to be ga i ne d but in
creased b itterness by rene w i ng the fi ght w i th i n the coun
cil
H e theref o re determi ned n ot to reco nvene them
unless ass ured that a m aj or ity woul d be w il li ng to let the
busi ness o f the co unci l agai n p roceed i n i ts accustomed
2
.
.
,
.
‘
'
,
,
A
ly
s s em b
Jo u rn a l ,
x xiv
,
201
.
A l bany G az e t t e S upp l eme n t , M a r c h
19
,
1 80 1
.
D E I VI T T
94
C L I N T ON
A N D T H E S P O I L S S YS T E M
[9 4
course u n t il thei r clai m to change t h at course shal l be de
”
c i d e d i n t h ei r favo r
One l ast attempt Ja y d i d i ndeed make O n th e t w enty
eig h t h o f M arc h he t urne d ove r to the legi slat ure cop i es o f the
l etters he ha d recei ved from t h e chancello r an d the j udges
“
o f t h e s upreme court and s uggeste d
that an act be passed
to aut h o ri z e an d d i rect th e S upreme Co urt to tr y and deter
m i ne the q uest i on o n a p roper i ssue to be d ev i sed by
”
them
A f ew da y s later M r E l i s h a W i ll i ams a fe d er
al i st assembl y man w h o had earl i er i n the sess ion w a rmly
contende d for a d ecla rato r y act i nt roduce d such a bi ll but
the assembl y p rom p tly quashed th e measure
The last da y s o f the legi slat ure found the appo i ntment
cont rovers y sti ll be fo re them O n t h e s ixt h o f Ap ri l the
senate made a final i ll -concei ved attempt to secure t h e con
currence o f the assembly i n some act i o n lead i ng to a settle
ment o f t h e d i ffi culty But the resol ut i on w h i c h passed the
senate d ecla re d as t h e Opi nio n o f th e l egi slature that i t
w ould b e p ro p e r fo r the counci l to w ai ve the q uesti on at
i ssue w it h t h e governor and proceed to busi ness T h e pro
posi ti on had evi d entl y been sprung upo n the republ i can
w i ng o f t h e senate an d D e w i tt Cl i nton th re w h i msel f
agai nst i t w i th fierce op p osi t i on He o ffered as a s ubs t i
t ute a resol ut i on d ecla ri ng :
,
1
.
.
,
,
,
2
.
.
,
,
3
,
4
.
.
.
5
.
.
T h at f or t h e S e na t e a n d A s s embly to p re j u d i c e in t h ei r l egi s
l ativ e c ap a c it y t h e p r e s e n t c o n trov e r s y by d e c l a ri n g an o p i n ion
o n e i t h er s i d e
w i ll a s i t m ay c ome b e f ore t h e m in a j ud i c ia l
s h ap e [ in t h e f orm o f a n i m p e ac h me n t ] b e a sacri fi c e o f p r in
w i ll b e f ruit l e s s a nd u n av a i l i ng
c ip l e a n d a vio l at io n o f d ut y
,
,
,
,
,
,
'
'
xx i v 2 49
A lba ny G a z e lle Fe br ua r y 2 8
2 84
A s s e m bly Jo r n a l x x i
1 44
S e n a le Jo u n a l xx i
A
s sem b
ly
Jo u rn a l
,
,
°
u
r
v
,
,
v
,
’
.
,
‘
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
1 80 1
285
.
.
I bid
.
,
xx iv
—
,
2 47 2 49
.
9 5]
d etra
ct
Y
C ON TR O VE R S Y
95
f ro m t he d ign it y res p e ct a b i l it y an d impa rtia l i ty
o f t h e Legi s l ature a n d w il l h ave n o o t h er e ffe c t t h an t o d e
C l a re to t h ei r c o n st itu e nt s t h at t he y a re c ap a bl e o f t h e gros s
imp ro p ri et y o f w a n ton ly d e c iding q ue s t ion s o f t h e h i gh est im
n
t
o
o
n
i
c
c
t y in an u n co n sti t utio n a l w a y w i t h
orta
e
t
h
e
mmu
p
o u t d ue i n vest ig a tion a n d c o n s i d er ation
w it h out h e a ring t h e
p a rt ie s o f t h e co n trove r s y an d w i t h out an y p o s sibl e a d vantage
t o t h e c omm u n it y
w
ill
CL I N T ON —
JA
TH E
,
,
,
,
,
1
.
The resol ut i o n was o f c ours e ext ravag ant i n its denunci a
t i on o f the federal i st senato rs attempt to coerce the coun
c ill o rs i nt o s ubmi ss i on
It was lost i n the vote as was a
s eco nd m ore t emp erate s ubsti tute o ffered by Cl i nton and
th e o ri gi nal resol uti on was sent to the assembly fo r con
c urrence The rep ubl i can assembly dete rm i ne d to have o n e
last fl i ng at the senate and the unyi el d i ng governo r A re
sol ut i on was i nt roduced by E rastus R oot w h i ch bri efl y
s ummed up the h i sto ry o f the e ffo rts to secure a l egi slat ive
deci s i on upon the quest i on a nd wh i ch conclu d ed w i th an
e xpressi on o f the determ i nat i o n o n the part o f the a ssembly
to pers i st i n thei r former resol ut i o n t o the e ffect that they
had no autho r ity to i nterfere
I t reflect e d upon the o h
s t in a cy o f t h e senate ; i t re flecte d upon the conduct o f the
governo r ; and i t suggested the poss ib i l i ty o f i mpeachment
i n the fall The ho use w as th ro w n i nto v i olent debate
over i t but the resol ut i o n passe d a ft e r some expurga
t i ons and when the senate demande d a cop y o f i t the de
man d w as re fused them
I n retal i ati on t h e y passe d a re
sol uti on severely c ri t ic i z i ng the acti on O f t h e assembl y an d
’
.
2
,
.
.
3
.
.
‘
,
5
,
6
.
7
~
,
xx iv 1 44 1 45
xx iv 1 45
A l ba ny G az e t t e A pr i l 9
A s s em bly Jo u rn a l x x iv 3 1 7
“A s se m bl Jo u rn a l xx iv
— 20
1
3 7 3
y
“ e n a t Jo u r n a l xx iv
xxi 3 2 1 ;
1 5 6 ; A s s em bly Jo u r n a l
S
e
G az e t t e A pr il 9 1 80 1
S en a t e Jo u rn a l xx iv 1 5 6
‘
S e n a t e Jo u rn a l
,
,
,
.
,
a
‘
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
’
,
,
1 801
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
v
,
A
lba ny
DEW I TT
96
CLI N TON A ND
TH E S P OI LS
S Y S TE M
[9 6
the sess i on o f the l egi sl ature came to a cl ose i n the m i dst o f
c rim i nati ons an d recri m i nat i ons The federali st press took
up t h e q uarrel and mo re than usual acrimon y and v i tuper
ati on w ere h urled i nto the approach i ng campai gn fo r the
electi o n o f governo r E speci all y w as Amb rose S pencer
”
“
“
the pol i ti cal cameleon t h e d i scarded fag-end o f the
”
federal i st i nterest made to bear the burden o f abuse
D e w i tt Cl i nton had been success fully fo restalled b y Ja y
i n whatever plans he ma y have had fo r th e d i stributi on o f
th e O pen patronage i n New Yo rk i n the spri ng o f 1 8 0 1
H i s com i ng i nto h i s o w n as leader o f the republ i can party
i n h i s state had not been accompl i s hed wi thout commot i on
but h i s con d uct i n th e controversy wh i ch developed served
to exh ibi t at o nce h i s w eakness and h i s st re ngth as a pol i
H e neve r sho w ed any great po w er i n the handl i ng
t ic ia n
o f men and h i s i nabi li t y to h it upon a wo rk i ng bas i s w ith
an
i
ll
ustrat
i
on
o
f
h
i
s
tactles
ness
but
i
n
every
great
w
a
s
s
;
Ja y
movement o f hi s l i fe he mani feste d an overmasteri ng be
l ie f i n h imsel f w h i ch carri e d co nv i cti on to those abo ut h i m
an d th e l oyalty w i th w h ich h i s pa rt y suppo rted h i m i n
1 80 1
w as a n ev i d ence o f h i s ab i l it y to command a foll o w
i ng that w as not w holly perso nal
.
,
.
,
,
1
.
,
.
,
i
.
,
,
2
.
‘
’
A
lba ny
Jay
,
G az e lle
L if e
of
,
A
pr i l
Jo lm Jay
,
I
3,
1 80 1 .
i 42 6
,
.
DE WI TT CLI N T ON
98
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS TE M
[9 8
h igh The l i e w as passed and repassed ; cand i dates and
pa rti es al i ke were abused and calumni ated The fe d eral i st
p ress hel d up Cl i nto n s past career i n a l i ght o f the i r o w n
maki ng
Th e republ i cans accused the pat roo n o f th reat
en ing h i s tho usands o f del i nquent t enants w i th p rosecut i on
i f they fa i led to vote fo r h im
F ew o f th e accusati ons so
freely fl ung had an y bas i s i n fact
Va n R ensselaer s elec
ti on woul d h ave meant i n al l p robabi l ity a p rol ongat i on o f
t h e struggl e bet w een the governor and t h e co unci l o f ap
po i ntment B ut the el ecti on i n M a y termi nated w ith a
s ubstanti al maj o ri ty fo r th e republ i cans an d o n J uly fi rst
Geo rge Cl i nton entered upon h i s seventh term as governo r
o f New Yo rk
Al though i t was George Cl i nton who was ra ised to the
o ffice o f ch i ef magi strate o f the stat e i t was i n real i ty
D e w i tt Cl i nton wh o began t o be l ooked upon as the l eader
A n d h i s pos it i on i n the counci l o f appoi nt
o f th e party
ment gave h i m the oppo rtun ity not only to strengthen h i s
control upo n the party but to expand hi s i deas o f party o r
g a n iz a t io n i ndependently o f th e gove rno r
A n exam i nat i on o f t h e fil es o f th e counci l f o r the yea r
reveals th e fact that the number o f appl i cat i ons fo r
180 1
o ffi ce w as eno rmousl y i n a d vance o f th at o f any prev i ous
y ea r I n fact th e fi l es for that s ingle y ea r al m ost equal i n
vol ume those o f the th ree yea rs i mm e d i atel y p rece d ing
Wh il e Governor J a y conti nue d i n o ffice th e pet iti ons and ap
p l i cat i ons a d d ressed to h i m and th e counc i l d i d not gener
al ly urge the pol it i cs o f the can d i d ate as a reaso n fo r co n
s i d erat i on l n letters ad d resse d t o th e i n d i vi d ual republ i
.
.
’
1
.
2
.
’
.
.
3
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
.
.
lba ny G az e lle A pr i l 1 6 ; A p r i l 2 7 ; M ay 7 1 80 1
A lba ny R eg zs l er A pr i l 3 ; A p r i l I O 1 80 1
Cli n t o n s m aj o r i t y w a s n e a r l y fo ur t h o u s an d ; Civ il L is t
N e w Yo r k 1 888 1 66 ; A l ba n v G a z e lle J u n e 4 1 8 0 1
'
A
,
,
'
’
,
"
1
.
,
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'
,
.
.
,
.
,
St at e
o
f
R E P UB LI CA N S P OI L S I N
99]
I
8 0I
99
can co unc i llo rs pol i t i cal arguments were probably used but
these sel dom fo und thei r way i nto the files A letter to
D e w i tt Cl i nto n from Gera rd S m i th S loan o f Pough
k eep s ie may i nd i cate a metho d w h i ch was not uni que
He
w rote :
,
.
,
,
.
T hi s m o m e n t M
S o l omon Fo w l er by re q ue s t o f some o f
t h e in ha b itan t s o f t h e t o w n o f M a r l boroug h in Ul s ter C o u n t y
h an d e d me a p et ition w h ic h I e nc l o s e R e c o mme n d ing M
P ete r M c Co un a re s p e c t ab l e M erc h an t R esi d ing in t h e To w n
o f M a r l boro ug h
as a p r
o p er p er so n t o b e a J u s ti ce o f t h e
I w i l l vou c h f or w h at is
p e ac e a s s et fo rt h in t h e p eti t ion
s tate d in t h e p eti tion to b e true
M M c c ou n is w h at w e c a ll e d
a f e w ye ars s inc e a fi rm C l in t o n ian
I :be g l eave to remi n d
y ou t o h ave i f p o s s i bl e b ot h M Le w i s Ki n e and M El i s h a
L es ter a p p oin t e d J u s t ice s o f p eac e in t h e To w n o f N e w P a l tz
U l st er c ount y I a l s o enc l o se :a le tter to h is E xc e ll en c y J o hn J a y
“
”
r
E s q G ove rn a recomm en d i n g M M c C-ou n af ter y ou h ave
re a d i t p l ease to S ea l i t an d d e l iver t h e S ame to M Jay
r
.
,
r
.
.
,
"
.
,
,
.
r
.
.
.
r
r
.
.
,
,
n
.
,
,
.
r
.
.
.
The letter to Go vernor Jay was the usual formal reco m
m en d at io n conta i ni ng no ment i o n o f pol iti cs
A fter Geo rge Cl i nt-o n came i nto o ffice the commun i cati ons
take o n a mo re deci dedly parti san characte r although i t i s
re markabl e th at a great many o f them st i ll make no allus i on
to pol i t ics P robably i n a maj o ri ty o f cases the counci l had
i nfo rmati on beyo nd what th e files exh ibit There i s not
m uch ev i dence o f any per fected system by w h i c h the m i no r
co unty o ffices w ere to be filled t o the best advantage from
Only i n i solated
t h e poi nt o f v i e w o f party o rgani zat i on
1
.
,
.
.
?
‘
G e r ar d S m it h S l o an t o D e w it t
M ar c h 5
the
s am e
to
J o h n Jay
,
Co u ncil
“
Re
T h e r e are a n u m be r o f p ap e r s c o n t ain in g c o u n t y l i s t s e nd o r s e d
”
bu t it d o e s n o t app e a r by w h o m t h e re c o m
c o m m e n d e d fo r o ffic e
T h e s e m ay h av e be e n o n ly m e m o r a n d a m ad e
m e n d at io n s w e r e m ad e
u p w it h in t h e c o u n c il
,
1 80 1
;
Civ il
C l in t o n ;
Fil es
’
,
.
.
of
the
.
1 00
D E W I TT
CLI N T ON
A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 00
i nstances does there seem t o have been concerted l ocal
acti on o n t h e s ubj ect One l i st o f nam e s sent to the co un
“
c i l w as chosen At a respectable meet i ng o f the lead i ng
R epubl i cans o f the Co unty o f One i da hel d at the house o f
M J Ives
agreeably to noti ce given fo r the purpo se
o f recommend i ng proper Characters i n the s ai d co unty to
”
be p romote d and appo i nted to o ffi ce
The most stri ki ng th i ng about the appl i cat ions i n 1 8 0 1 i s
the number o f peti t i oners seeki ng appo i ntment to the o ffice
o f vendue maste r o r auct i onee r i n New Yo rk C i ty
In
1 8 00 there were twenty -fiv e men act i ng under comm i ss i ons
as auct i oneers i n th e ci t y and thei r commi ss i ons ex p ire d o n
the fi fteenth o f M a rch
J udgi ng from the zeal and energ y
w i th wh i ch both reappoi ntments and n ew appo intments
w ere sought these comm issi o ns appea r t o have been from
the financi al po i nt o f v i e w the most val uable w i th i n the gi ft
o f the counci l Although the fact seems to h ave been
largely overlooked by w riters w h o touch upon the soci al
and economi c h i sto r y o f New Y o rk C i ty i t i s ev i dent that
the aucti oneer i n ea rl y t imes pla y ed a l arge part i n the com
H i s funct i o n
m e rc ia l an d pri vate econom i c l i fe o f the c i ty
S al es b y publ i c
w as ch i efl y the sal e o f i mpo rte d goods
auct i on w ere the subj ect o f stri ct regu l at i on b y a l aw passed
i n I 784
Th i s law w as amende d i n
an d i n 1 8 0 1 a
n e w act w as p assed b y wh i ch th e state recei ve d a d uty o f
th ree per cent on al l sal es by publ i c aucti o n i n New Yo rk
Ci t y and t w o p e r cent o n al l s uch sales i n any other county
o r c i t y i n the state T h e fees o f th e aucti oneer were l i mited
to t w o an d a hal f pe r cent exce p t i n case o f a w ri tten agree
.
r
.
.
1
.
,
.
,
'
2
.
,
.
,
.
.
3
.
.
‘
S i g n e d by
Co u n ci l
’
'
‘
J am e s
Sh e l d o n
,
c
h a ir m a n J u l y
.
1 80 1
.
Civ il
;
.
L aw s
of
N e w Yo rk
L aws
of
Laws
of
,
v
N e w Yo rk
,
i
/Ve w Yo rk
.
,
,
1 80 1
1 7 8 4,
,
ch
ch
G r e e n l e af
.
1 16.
.
iv
.
i
.
,
p
.
2 68
—
59 4
ch
l xxx
590
1 78 5
.
.
.
.
,
I
8O
.
Fil es
oi
l /1e
1 02
DEWI TT
New
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 02
“
Yo rk but under the l aw o f 1 8 1 7 w h i ch creat ed a
”
n ew e ra i n the h i sto ry o f aucti ons
the revenue had be
come so valuable to the state that the legisl ature stoutly o p
pose d an y change
The s ubsequent abno rmal develop
ment o f the aucti on monopoly a ffo rds some i nd i cati on o f
t h e financi al des i rabi li ty o f the appo i ntment at the begi n
ni ng o f the centur y Its i mpo rtance i s i nd i cated no t o nly
b y the numbe r o f appl i cants but b y the fact that such men
as M el anc t h o n S m i th and S ch uyler Li vi ngston w ere among
them
I t i s as d i fficult to characteri ze i n general terms the ap
pl i cat i ons fo r these and other o ffices as i t i s t o select typ i cal
i nstances from among them E veryth i ng from revol ut io n
ary serv i ces to an i nnumerable an d helpless fami ly w as
brought fo rwar d i n s uppo rt o f cl ai ms to cons i derati on
S ome urged pol i ti cs and e x cl us mn un d e r the p recedi ng a d
mi ni strati o n ; many d i d not S ome backed up thei r appl i ca
t ions by a peti ti on conta i n i ng respectabl e an d i nfluent ial
names ; o the rs d i d not S ome were d ignified i n thei r s im
p lic it y ; others b reathed th e c ri ngi ng spi ri t o f the sycophant
When the counci l came together on th e e ighth o f August
1 80 1
i t w a s w i t h no uncertai nty o f m i n d as to the course
to be pursued S i nce thei r adj ournment by Jay i n the ea rl y
spri ng t h ere ha d been ample ti me fo r th e fo rmulat io n o f a
defin ite pol i cy an d th e events o f th e i nte rveni ng months
had not been s u ch as to shape that pol icy w i th moderati o n
to w a r d the federal i st o f fic e-h olde rs A s has been po i nted
1
,
,
?
.
?
.
.
.
.
.
4
.
,
.
M e rclza n l s M ag a z in e
2 89 -2 9 1 ;
2 75
2 5 7 2 5 8 2 73 —
'
‘
,
,
,
,
C o n gr e s s
to
in t h e
fo r m
of
x 154
xxx i v
,
,
,
m em o r
155
;
N il es R eg is t e r
2 58 , 2 59
i ls
a
.
,
xx i
T h e fig h t w as
,
1 03
ev en
I n t he
c o ns
,
,
.
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I bid
.
,
iv , 3 2 3
.
.
w as s e t
.
8
,
,
.
ti t u t i o n o f 1 82 1 t h e r e v e n u e f r o m au c t i o n s al e s
a s i d e fo r t h e p ay m e n t o f t h e s t a t e d e b t ; A rt i c l e v ii s ec
10
A pp o i n t e d A u g u s t 2 6 1 80 1 ; M S fll in n l es o i l/1e Co u n c il v i
2
xx v ii
c a rr i e d
;
,
,
32
.
R E P UB LI CA N S P OI L S I N
]
1 03
1 8 01
1 03
out the federal i sts unde r Jay i n New Yo rk as under A dam s
i n the nati onal government ha d p ers istently p ursued a
pol i cy o f confini ng th e i r appo i ntments excl usi vely to those
o f thei r o w n party A ltho ugh some pol i t i cal removals had
been made by both noth i ng l i ke a general pol i cy o f removal
ha d been establ i shed B ut D e w i tt Cl i nton w as too eager
to see h i s party tho roughly i nstalled i n the admi ni st rati o n
o f the government and i n th e enj oyment o f the fruits o f
v i cto ry to awa i t the slo w er p rocess o f fil l i ng vacanci es as
they m ight o ccur
Th e pl an o f acti on wh i ch he seems to have l ai d do w n fo r
h i msel f was that the larger o ffices o f the state shoul d be
filled i mm e d i ately w i th rep ubl i cans and that the small er
o ffices shoul d be d i v i ded bet w een the parti es i n p roport io n
to thei r respecti ve numbers
I f w e may t rust the account
o f the secretary o f the counci l h i msel f a federal i st removed
from o ffi ce Cl i nto n frankly stated h i s V i ew at the fi rst meet
i ng o f the co unci l befo re a s i ngl e removal was made
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
1
.
,
,
.
M r D ew itt C l i nt on exp re s se d a w i s h t o m ak e s ome o b serva
t i o ns to t h e c oun c i l o n t he s u bj ect [ of re m ovi n g J o h n V
Henry state c omp tro ll er ] — H e o b s erve d t h at f or some y e a rs
:h a d b een in h an d s w h ic h
a
n
st
t
h
e
a
d
mi
i
strati
n
o
f
t
h
i
s
s
ate
o
t
p
h ad m a d e a ll t h e a pp oi n tments in o n e w ay to t h e e n ti re ex
c lus i o n o f a l a rge p ro p o rtion o f it s C iti z en s — t h at t h e p e o p l e
o f thi s state a s w e ll as o f the Unit e d S t ates h a d ex p re s se d
o f t h e p ri n
t h ei r d isa pp ro b ation o f t h at a d mi n i stratio n
.
.
‘
,
,
,
,
,
,
l
R e n w ic k , L if e
of
D e Wi t t
Clin t o n
-
,
5 3 54
.
R en w
i k
c
sa
ys :
“
It
ap
p e ar s by w r i t t e n m e m o r and a in h is o w n h an d t h a t h is v i e w s o f t h e
p r o p e r m o d e o f ac t io n u n d e r t h e n e w c o n s tr u c t i o n o f t h e c o n s t i t u t io n
w as t h a t t h e o ffic e s o f t h e s t a t e s h o u l d b e d iv id e d be t w e e n t h e t w o
”
Th e m em o
o pp o s in g p a r t i e s in t h e r a t io o f t h e i r r e s p e c t iv e n u m be r s
r and a r e f e rr ed t o h av e p r o babl y be e n l o s t f r o m h is p ap e r s bu t i t s ee m s
s w as h is
n
n
c
e
e
d
s
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e
c
t
r
t
t
h
t
l
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r
o
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s
h
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ss
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q
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,
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,
Vi e w
.
DE W I TT
1 04
A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
CLI N T ON
gove rne d in t h e la t e e l ectio n-s f o r P re s i
d ent o f th e U nite d S t ate s an d t h e Ch ie f M agi s tr ate an d Re p
r e s e nt atives f or t h i s s t ate— t h at p u rs u ant t o t h e p u bl i c o p inion
s o e x p re s s e d h e s h ou l d f ee l it h is d ut y to r e m ove all t h e o ffi
cer s a p p oint e d un d er t h at a dm i n i stration—t h at he s h o u l d c o n
c u r in t h e remova l o f M r
He n r y an d t h e ot h er He ad s o f
D ep a rt m e n ts in t h e s t ate but d id no t s u pp ose it w ou l d b e
p ro p er t o do m ore t h an e q u al ize t h e o ffi c ers in t h e re s p ective
cou nti es
c ip l e s
by w h i c h it w as
[ 1 04
,
l
,
a
,
.
,
[
,
1
.
Th i s was s ubstant i al l y i n acco rd w ith the v i e w s expressed
o n th e part o f t h e whole co unci l i n an acco unt publ i s h e d a
f ew days later w hi ch i f not actual ly w ri tten by D e w i tt
Cl i nton w as c e rt a inl v outl i ned b y h i m
I t w as clear that
h i s p rogram w as the co unci l s p rogram
No t ime w as lost i n gi vi ng express i o n to th i s sch eme
fo r t h e red i stribut i o n o f the patronage
The fi rst act
was th e appo i ntment o f Peter Vrooman and John Blake
j uni o r as sheri ffs respect ively o f S chohari e a nd O range
counti es
I t w a s upon the nomi nat i on o f these names i t
w il l be remembered that the co ntrove rsy w i th gove rno r
had
a
ri
sen
i
n
the
sp
ri
ng
T
o days late r several re
w
Jay
w
ubl
ican
sh
eri
fs
e
re
appo
i
nted
fo
r
co
unt
i
es
i
n
h i ch s uch
f
w
p
comm i ss i ons h ad exp i red
The co unci l then t urned i ts
attenti on to the appo i ntments fo r th e several ci ti es o f th e
state
F rom th e bi rth o f pol i ti cal parti es to the y ear 1 8 0 0 New
Yo rk C i t y ha d been the c i tadel o f federal i st i nfluence i n
t h e state B urr s sh re w dly l a i d and cl eve rly executed cam
,
?
,
’
.
.
,
,
3
,
.
,
.
4
.
.
’
.
‘
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w
A
A
lba ny
lba ny
g us t 1 3 1 80 1
Cli nto n
R eg is t e r A u g u s t 1 8 1 8 0 1
t h e a rt i c l e (A l ba ny G a z e lle A u g u s t 2 4
lba ny R eg is t e r A u g u s t 2 5 2 8
I ll in u l es o f t /1e Co u n c il o f A pp o in t m e n t
ri t ten
i
n ed
‘
,
A
u
,
.
.
,
iv , 3 2 5
.
w as
.
.
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l bid
.
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ac c u s e d
bu t
,
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(A
MS
G az e lle
,
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iv
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3 23
.
of
t h is
h av i n g
w as
de
DEW I TT
1 05
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E
S PO IL S
S YS TE M
[ 1 06
m i ss i on h a d ever si nce been annually rene w ed B ut Var i ck
w a s a fe d eral i st
as w ere the other o ffic ers o f the c i ty
Instea d o f recommi ss i on i ng h im E d w ard L i v i ngston a re
pu b l i can membe r o f congress and a b rother o f the chan
c e ll o r w a s ap p o i nte d to the o ffice o f mayo r
Joh n S tagg
anot h er rep ubl i can w as at the same t i m e appoi nted sheri ff
At the p recedi ng meet i ng o f the co unci l D av i d Gelston a
republ i can and a fri end o f B ur r hav i ng res igned the o ffice
o f surrogate o f the city w h i ch he had hel d un i nterruptedly
s i nce I 7 8 7 Sy lva nus M i ller a fri end o f D e w itt Cl i nton
“
w a s appo i nte d i n h i s place
Three other changes w ere
ma d e i n the personnel o f the Ne w Yo rk Ci ty o ffi cers at sub
sequent meeti ngs and the counci l reached the l i mi t o f i ts
po w er to purge the co rpo rat i on o f the i ni mi cal element
I n th e case o f the othe r ci t y co rpo rat i ons no s u ch d rast i c
wo r k w as necessary Thomas Jenki ns w h o had been ap
po i nte d to the mayo ralty o f th e ci ty o f H udson by Geo rge
Cl i nto n i n 1 7 9 3 an d had been retai ned i n o ffice b y J ay
was recomm i ssi one d as w ere Thomas F roth i ngham th e
c l erk an d Laban Pa d d ock the ch i e f marshal b ut E l i s h a
Pi tki n w a s comm i ss i oned reco rder i n place o f Cotto n Gel s
.
1
,
.
,
,
,
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,
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,
,
,
,
3
,
,
,
5
,
.
.
,
0
,
"
7
,
,
8
9
,
,
,
p u bl i c d i n n e r w as g i v e n h im by t h e f e d e r al i s t l aw y e r s o f Ne w Yo r k
o n h is r e ti r e m e n t f r o m o f c e ; A l ba ny G a z e lle
Se p t e m be r 1 4 1 8 0 1
1 bid
ii 1 00
M S fl/in u l e s o f l / e Co u n c il iv 3 2 5 3 2 6
iv 3 2 3
l bid
M i l l e r s e e m s n o t e v e n t o h av e m ad e a w r i tt e n ap p li
c at i o n t o t h e c o u n c i l
al t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e s e e r a l o t h e r s app ly i n g fo r
H is n am e
t h e p l ac e ( Ci v il Files o f M e Co u n c il o f A pp o in t m e n t
a n d c l a i m s w r e pr o ba b ly p r e s e n t e d by D e w i t t C l in t o n
T h e s e w e r e c as e s o f ac t u a l r e m o v a l an d are t h e r e f o r e n o t o n t h e
s a m e p l a n e w i t h t h e o t h e r a pp o i n t m e n t s m e n t io n e d h e r e
M S M in u t es o f l /ze Co u n c il i i i 2 8
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A
fi
2
3
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.
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,
,
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.
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.
,
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,
3 26
.
,
.
Fr o t h i n g h a m
p p o i n t e d c l e r k o f H u d so n
C l in t o n a n d h is f e d e r a l i s t c o u n c i l in 1 79 4; 1 bid iii 8 4
“
iv I 43
A p p i n t e d fir s t by Jay M ar c h 1 6 1 79 9 ; l bid
h ad
bee n
a
.
o
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
by
G e o rg e
107
R E P UB L I CA N S P OI LS I N
]
1 8 01
1 07
1
I n S c henectady Joseph C Yates who seems to have
b een one o f Jay s few republ ican appoi ntments ? w as re
t a ine d as mayo r
A s an o ffset to Ja y s clemenc y i n the
S ch enectad y appo i ntment federal ists were retai ned i n o ffice
i n A lbany P h i l ip S Van R ensselaer a federal i st who
had been app o i nted to the mayo ralt y by Ja y i n I 7 9 8 w as
recomm i ssione d ; wh i le Joh n I C uyle r the sh eri ff w h o be
longed to the O ppos i ng party and had been among the last
appoi ntees o f the o utgo i ng federal i st council w a s at th e
“
request o f the republ i ca n c i t i zens o f Albany allo w ed to
cont i nue i n o ffice and a year late r w as reappo i nte d ?
I t i s worth y o f note mo reover that none o f the changes
o f muni c ipal o fficers made d uri ng the first two s i tt i ngs o f
the co unci l consti tute d a techn ical removal I n ever y case
the appoi ntment was made to a vacancy caused by the ex
p irat io n o f a commi ss i on w h i ch by law had to be rene w ed
annually
I t w as only w hen t h e counci l began to make
changes i n o ffi ces hel d at the pl easu re o f the co unci l that
actual removal s were made Joh n V H enry the state
co mpt roller w as the fi rs t to feel the axe
H enry had been
especi ally acti v e i n the assembly i n the e ffort to further Gov
c ruo r Jay s des i re fo r a l egi slat ive settlement o f the appo i nt
”
ment controversy
I t was stated that Ambrose S pencer i n
ton
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’
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’
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,
3
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,
,
4
,
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,
,
5
,
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,
.
?
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,
.
9
.
,
’
.
Co u n cil iv 1 8 7 3 2 6
iv 60 ; A lba ny G az e ll e A u g u s t 1 7 1 80 1
I n t h e A l ba ny G az et t e o f M a r c h 2 9 1 7 9 9 w e fin d t h a t P h i l i p Van
R e n s s e l ae r pr es id e d o v e r a m e e t i n g o f f ed e r a l i s t s c a l l ed t o n o m i n a t e
m e m b e r s o f t h e l e g is l a t u r e
M S M in u t es o f t lze Cou nc i l iv 9 0
5
J anua r y 28 1 80 1 : I bid iv 3 06
A lba ny G az et t e A u g u s t 1 7 1 8 01
M S M in u t es o f t lze Cou n c il v i 63
L a w s o f N e w Yo rk G r ee n l e a f i 1 7 9 7 e h i pp 3 5 5 3 5 6
M S M in u t es o f l /ze Co u n cil iv 3 2 6
A s sem bly Jo u r n a l xx iv 1 2 9 ; A l ba ny G az e lle Fe br uar y 2 8 1 80 1
1
M S M in u t es
,
of
t il e
,
,
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,
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,
,
,
3
,
,
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,
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,
,
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,
,
°
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,
,
'
.
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,
,
8
,
,
,
,
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,
,
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’
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,
,
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1°
,
,
,
,
.
DEWI TT
1 08
A N D T H E S P OI L S S YS T E M
CLI N TON
[ 1 08
p ropos i ng H enry s removal ass igne d as the bas i s fo r i t h i s
conduct i n the ass embly
B ut t h is was deni ed and H en ry s
removal w a s pl aced i n the category o f al l other removals
the y were ma k i ng solely on the general gro unds stated at
the fi rst sess i on o f the counci l
H e ha d been appo i nted
compt rol ler i n 1 8 0 0 w hen S amuel Jones had decl i ned re
appo i ntment
H e was no w superseded b y E l i sha J enki ns
w h o se apostasy from the fe d eral i st party s y nch ro ni zed
w i th that o f S pence r
At the same ti me t h at H en r y w as
removed D ani el H ale the secretar y o f state w as also de
T h e c i rcumstances o f H al e s d i sm i ssal w ere pa r
p ose d
t ic u l a rly d ramat i c i n i nterest
By vi rtue of h i s o ffice he
w as secreta r y o f the counci l ; h e w as there fo re p resent at
the t ime W h en h i s d ecapi t at ion w as p roposed and d i scusse d
and he was cal led upon to reco rd upon the mi nutes h i s o w n
w arrant o f d i smi ssal
I n an a rti cl e p ubl i shed a f ew days
late r i n th e A lban y Gazette h e descr ibes h o w a fte r M r
H en r y s removal w a s accompl i she d
’
?
’
,
,
?
3
4
.
,
5
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,
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,
8
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’
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'
,
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7
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’
,
A
h ort p au s e t h e n too k p l ac e d uri n g w h i c h M r S p en c er
w a l k e d to M r C l i n to n w h i s p ere d f or a fe w m ome n t s a n d re
t u rne d to h is p l ac e : a f ter w h i c h M r C l i n to n p ro p os e d to t he
C ou nc i l t h a t t h e same re s o l ution b e e n tere d as to t h e S ecre
t a ry — T h e q ue s tio n w a s p u t by t h e Gover no r an d c a rrie d u n
s
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
a n im o u s ly
8
.
T h e S ec r e t a ry t h e n a s k e d l e av e to p ut s o me q ue s tion s t o
t h e C ou n c i l in r e s p e c t to h im s e l f w h i c h w as p ermi tte d an d
a f t e r s o m e e v a s io n s o n t h e p a rt o f M r
D e witt C l i nt on w h o
,
,
l
A l ba ny G az e lle A
g u s t 1 3 1 80 1
A lba ny R eg is t e r A u g u s t 1 8 1 80 1
M S M in u t es o i l/1e Co u n c il iv
,
2
u
,
.
"
,
H a m m o nd
,
p
o
c il
of
M r S an d e r s
the
.
t he
.
M S [ Min u t es
.
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.
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iv , 3 2 5
.
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.
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iv
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3 26
.
1 74
.
Co u nc il iv
f d e r al i s t Co u n c i l l o r
l lze
,
.
,
,
,
3 2 6.
7
A
t
w as ab s e n ;
u
gu s t
13
,
1 80 1 .
M S M in u t es
.
0/
1 10
DE W I TT
CLI N T ON
A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 10
R i c h ard R i ker and Thomas R Go ld by Nathan W i ll i a ms
Con rad E E lmendo r f was also removed and when S m i th
Thompson the new a ppoi nt ee d ecl i ned to serve Lucas
?
E lmen d o r f was given the appoi ntment
Thus fou r o f the
?
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
s ix atto rneys were there fore o f new appoi ntment O f t hose
reta i ned i n o ffice i t i s perhaps w o rth y o f note that one
Nathani el W H owells had been appoi nted i n I 7 9 9 to s u e
c e ed W i ll i am S t uart
remove d w ithout ass igned cause
A
lette r i n the fi les o f the co unci l from the c i t i zens o f M ont
gomery co unty th ro w s some l ight perhaps upon the reten
t i on i n o ffice O f th e other d i stri ct atto rney George M et eal f e
,
.
,
,
.
,
3
,
.
°
,
T h e un de rs igne d h ave be en given t o u n de rst an d t h at a t temp ts
w i ll b e m a d e t o remo ve G eorge M et c a l f e Es q u ire t h e d i s tri c t
a ttor n e y o f t ha t p o rti o n o f t h e S ta te o f w h i c h t h i s C ou n t y
fo rm s a re sp ec t abl e p a rt : an d a s w e p re s um e u p o n p o l iti c a l
groun d s w e a s a po rt ion o f t h e citi z en s w h ose righ t s h e h a s
imme d i at e ly in c h a rge : beg t h e p rivi l ege o f st atin g to yo u our
s e n tim e nt s O n t h at s u bj e c t
W e c o n s i d er t h at t h e r emov al o f i n c um b e n t s f rom O flic e
n
s
e
s
s
io n o f t h ei r
w h o h ave f or a c o n s i d era bl e t ime b een i p os
“
s l igh t
a n d t nan s ie nt
p l a c e s s h ou l d n ever t ak e p l ace fo r
c au s e s a nd t h at m e n w h o h ave i n v a ria bly d i sc h a rge d t h e
d uti e s o f t h ei r o ffi c e s w it h fid e l it y vigi l a n c e a n d a b i l it y o ugh t
s e ld om i f ever to b e remove d f rom mere p a rt y con s i d erati o n s
A n d w e t ake t h e f ree d om o f d e c l a ri ng to y ou t h at in
calf e s c h ara cter
o u r O p i n io n t h e r emova l o f a m a n o f M r M e t w ou l d i n d e p e n d e n t O f t h e m or al im p ro p riet y o f t h e me as ure
b e a tte n d e d w i t h au s p i c i ou s p o l iti c a l co n s e q uence s
,
:
,
,
,
,
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’
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,
,
?
The
fice o f Atto rne y G ene ral
Of
held by J os i ah Ogden
Co u n c il v i 1 4 1 5
1 02
H o w el l s s o o n a ft er r e s i g n e d
l bid
i
a n d W ill i a m S t ua r t w a s r e s t o r e d ; ibid
v i 76
C iv il Files 0 / M e Co u n ci l ( n o d a t e ) 1 80 1
‘
M S fl/in u l es o i l/1e
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1 80 2
,
I I I
R E P UB L I CA N S P OI L S I N
]
I
8 OI
1 1 1
H o ffman a lead i ng federal i st and o n e w h o i t w i l l be t e
called had been acti ve i n i nstall i ng the federali st counci l i n
1 79 4
H i s was the o nly state o ffice o f first rank not d i s
t u rbe d by the counci l and the suspi ci on O f some ulteri o r mo
t i ve naturally ari ses I t i s p robable that there was an un
d e rs t an d ing between Ho ffman and Ambrose S pencer w h o
had fo rmerl y been fri ends i n pol i t i cs at l east that as soon
as the term o f th e ex i st i ng counci l shoul d expi re Ho ffman
wo uld res ign h i s o ffic e i n fa v o r o f S pencer although S pencer
s e ems t o h ave den i ed a fter w ard that any s uch agreement had
b een reached
M any th i ngs how ever su p po rt the con
e l us i on that s uch an arrangement ex i sted
I n A ugust 1 8 0 1
at the first meet i ng O f th e counci l S pencer res igned h i s c o m
m is s i on as atto rney fo r th e d i stri ct composed o f Co l umbi a
R ensselaer and Greene counti es Almost immed i ately upon
the assembl i ng o f the succeedi ng counc i l i n F ebruary 1 8 0 2
Ho ffman res igned the atto rney —generalsh ip and S pencer w as
appo i nted
S ome so rt o f understand i ng i s sti ll further
h i nted at by the fact that E benezer F oot w h o i t has been
n oted w a s appo i n ted one o f the d i stri ct attorne y s was e n
t h us ias t ically s uppo rted fo r the o ffice o f atto rney general i n
a pet it i on s igned by twenty republ i can members o f the legi s
l at u re
I f S pencer w as too care ful O f propri eti es to coun
t e n a nc e h i s o w n appo i ntment to o ffice by a counci l o f w h i ch
he h i msel f w as a member he certai nly d i spla y ed a mo re
p unct i l i o us regard fo r t rifles than d i d R euben Hopki ns
O n e o f Geo rge Cl i nton s federal i st counc i llo rs i n 1 7 9 4 w h o
ev i dently felt that full decency h ad been met when he re
f ra in e d from voti ng o n the resol uti on w h i ch removed
Thom as M o ff at from the clerksh i p o f O range county a nd
,
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v i,
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62
pp
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o in t m e n t
(no
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,
1 80 1
.
DE W I TT
1 12
CLI N T ON
S Y S TE M
A N D T H E S P OI L S
[ 1 12
placed h i m i n th e vacancy
S uch howeve r seems to have
been the case
S even cl erks O f count i es several masters i n C hancery a
f ew county s urrogates
a comm i ss i oner and a deputy o f
mi l itary sto res a commi ss i oner o f health and perhaps a
f e w other scattered o fficers w ere al so remove d d uri ng the
seve ral sessi ons o f the republ i can counci l
I n a number o f count i es the t i me had arr i ved fo r the tr i
e nn ial comm i ss i on o f j udi ci al Offi cers requi red by the con
s t it u t io n
Th ese pos i t i ons w e re o f l ess i m p ortance than
many others i n the gi ft o f the co unci l but they con
st i tuted by far the la rger porti on o f i ts appo i ntments I t
w as these that D eW it t Cl i nton p robably had i n m i nd w hen
h e sai d that i t w as h i s purpose only to equal i ze the smalle r
‘
o flices between the parti es
I n l ooki ng over the l i st o f thes e
smal l men i t i s obvi ously i mposs ible to ascertai n at thi s late
d ay the pol it i cal call i ng O f e ach H o w many o f those re
t a in e d i n o ffice were pronounced federal i sts o f local i nfluence
i t i s imposs ibl e to sa y B ut a compari so n o f the co unty
ro l l s O f 1 79 8 w i th those o f 1 8 0 1 sho w s that the number o f
c h anges made i n the l atter yea r var i es w i th the co unt y I n
some i nstances the alterati on i n the pe rsonnel o f the c i vi l
l i st w as sca rcely more p rono unce d than that ma d e i n prev i
o u s y ears w hen an enti rely n ew seri es o f commi ss i ons w as
i ssue d ; i n others a large maj ori ty O f those hold i ng o ffice
A f e w changes O f cou rse are acco unted
w e re superseded
?
,
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2
3
,
,
4
,
5
6
,
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7
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Co u n c il M a r c h 2 7 1 7 9 4 iii 1 03 H am m o nd
s u gg e s t s t h a t S p e n c e r w a s i n fl u e n c e d by a n a g i t a t io n w h i c h ar o s e in
1 7 9 7 w h i l e h e w as a m e m be r o f t h e f e d e r al i s t c o u n c i l w i t h a v ie w t o a s
c it
i 1 82
s e r t i n g t h e i m pr o p r i e t y o f a c o n c i l l o r s a c c e p t i n g O f c e ; op
vi 2
M S I P/in u l es 0/ l /ze Co u n c il iv
9 I I 47 48 5 9
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rti c l e xx i i i
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.
CLI N T ON A N D
DE W I TT
1 14
S Y S TE M
T H E S P OI LS
[ 1 14
“
”
s i ons shoul d be i ss ued o nce at least i n th ree years
There was noth i ng t o prevent the co unci l from o rderi ng at
pleasure a new l i st at an y t i me befo re the exp i rat i o n o f
th i s o uts i de margi n although th i s pol i cy had not previ ously
been p urs ued
I n some o f thes e counti es as i n Queens
O no ndaga S aratoga Cl i nto n Herki mer Cayuga and
A lbany no removal s were mad e but addi t i onal comm i s
s i ons varyi ng i n n umber from fou r to e ighteen we re i s
s ued I n others as in M ontgomery and Greene a f ew
removal s were made and a number o f names w ere added t o
t h e l i st I n st i l l oth ers as i n Otsego
s w eeping c h anges
were made I n th i s count y Jeded i ah Peck had been re
and had
moved from o ffi ce by J ay fo r pol i t ic al reasons
even been re fus ed any i nformati on as to the complai nts
M
aga i nst h im
H e w as n o w resto red to h i s j u d g e s h ip The
w h il e o nly
o ther j udge and th e ass i s tant j udges w ere new
eleven o f t h e forty fou r j usti ces w ere reappo i nte d
These t y p i cal i nstances are s u ffici ent to show the way i n
w h i ch Cl i nton and h is colleagues han d le d the gene ral county
appo i ntments
I f the proposed pol i cy o f equal i z i ng the
o ffices as between the parti es i n p roporti o n to thei r res pe c
1
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t i m e t h at t h e
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n
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g
b e e n s p ec i al ly app o i n t e d be t w e e n t h e m ak in g o u t o f t h e l i s t s and h is
c o m m i s s i o n h ad n o t in c o n s e q u e n c e ru n fo r t h e f u l l t h r e e y e ar s
Co u nc il iv 3 2 9 3 3 0
M S Ill in u l cs o f
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R E P UB LI CA N S P OI L S
5]
IN
1 8 01
1 15
t i ve numbe rs w as cons i stently carri ed o ut the counti es wh i ch
s howed a large republ i can maj ori ty at the polls sho ul d have
enj oyed t h e greater number o f changes w h i le the federal i st
count i es s h oul d have been subj ecte d to fe w e r Wh i l e noth
i ng li ke de fi n ite p ropo rti ons are t o be ha d an exam i nat i on
o f the relat i ve stren g ths o f the part i es as shown i n the elec
ti on returns o f M a y I 8 0 1 reveals the fact t h at thi s pol i cy
w a s at least app rox i matel y adopted
I n Ontari o an d Chen
a ngo fo r example w here the figure s given above show
c ompa rat ivel y f e w changes
the federal i sts were d eci dedly
i n the maj o ri ty ; w h i l e i n R oc k land and O range w here as
w e have seen th e number o f changes was far greater the
rep ubli cans were overwhelmi ngly i n t h e maj o ri t y
In
A lban y the federal i st poll w as th ree t im es that o f the re
p ubl i cans ; no removal s w ere made and o nl y twelve add i
t io n a l comm iss i ons were i ss ued
I n Cayuga the rat i o o f
rep ubl i cans to federal i sts w as mo re than fo ur to one ; no
removals w ere made but e ighteen add i t i onal names were
a ffix ed t o the l i st
a l arge p ropo rtion for the pop ulati on o f
the county There w ere o f course some apparent ex cep
t i ons to th i s general sch eme o f appo rt i onment but i n the
mai n i t seems to have been fol lo w e d w it h reasona b le con
s i stency an d as l ate as 1 8 0 3 Geo rge Cl i nton w rote t h at a
goo d d eal yet rema i ned t o be done to equal i ze the appoi nt
ments between th e t w o part i es
,
.
,
1
,
,
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,
,
,
2
,
,
,
,
3
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‘
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5
,
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,
,
6
,
,
7
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‘
A l bcmy G az e t t e
,
Ju ne
4,
1 80 1
.
t e s t o o d in O n t ar io r e p ub l i c an 7 7 o f ed e r a l i s t 1 0 1 1 ; in C h e
n an g o
r e p u b l ic an 7 1 1 f ed e r a l is t 1 3 43
I n R o c k l an d r e p u b l ic a n 5 02 f e d e r al is t 2 5 ; in O r a n g e r e p u b l i c an
1 5 9 0 f e d e r a l is t 3 69
i 26
M S M in u t es o f t bc Co u n ci l v i 2 8
A s in O t s e g o
T h e s w e e p in g c h a n g e s in t h a t c o u n t y s e e m t o h av e
l it t l e r a t io t o t h e n ear l y e q u al s tr e n gt h o f t h e p art i es T h e v o t e s t o o d
f e d e r al is t 1 062
r e p u b l ic an 1 1 86
G e o rg e C l in t o n P u blic P ap e rs x x v ii 7 08 4
1'
Th e
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3
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7
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,
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DE W I TT
1 16
CLI N T ON A N D
S PO IL S S Y S TE M
TH E
[
1 1 6.
Th e d i stributi on o f th e m i no r county o ffices i n 1 8 0 1 has
been elabo rate d at some l ength but the de tai led exam i nati on
revea ls two facts o f i mpo rtance D e w i tt Cl i nton actually
trans fo rme d i nto p racti ce h i s theo ry o f d iv i d i ng these o ffice s
propo rti onally bet w e en the parti es A nd i n doi ng so he re
vealed i n a degree the honesty o f the mot ives w h i c h
prompte d h i m an d the s i nceri ty o f hi s bel i ef that the pa rt y
wh i ch ha d been h i therto excl uded from o ffice-ho ld i ng d e
H ad h i s des ign been o nly to
s erved i ts share o f the o ffices
strengthen h i s party w i th a v i ew to the advancement o f h is
o w n ambi ti ous purposes
the plan purs ued woul d certa i nl y
not have accompl i shed i t Where the part y most called fo r
strengtheni ng was i n the federal i st sect i ons o f the state ; but
i t w as j ust i n these se cti ons that the republ i can appo i ntments
A much more d rasti c s y stem o f
w ere smalle s t i n number
p urgati o n w as lou d ly d emande d by some o f th e fri ends o f
th e adm i ni strati on When the co unci l ad j o urned on A u
gust 2 6 to meet aga i n in October the A lbany R egi ste r sa i d
.
,
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,
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,
.
.
.
We d ne s d ay
h o n ora bl e t h e Cou n cil o f A pp ointme n t a d
—
r
I t is s a i d t h at t h e y w i ll m eet agai n in O c to b er
n
o
u
e
d
j
w h en i t i s h o p e d t h e y w i l l fi n i s h t h e l au d a bl e w or k t h e y h ave
b eg an — t h at o f e q u al iz ing t h e o ffi c e s o f gover nme n t b et w ee n
th e f nien d s o f A d mini s trati o n a n d t h e Opp o s it io n T h oug h
t h i s s y stem is t h ough t by s ome r e p u bl ic an s to b e more l i b era l
t h an a n o pp o s it io n so vi o l e nt vi n d i ct ive an d i n imica l to re
u
bl
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gover
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t
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w
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as
a
a
n
p
t ra t io n h ave to e n c ou n ter h ad a rig h t to e x p e c t ; y et a l itt l e
refle c tio n w i l l c o n v i nc e t h em t h at so un d po l i cy a s w e ll as
t h e w i s h o f t h e C ou nc i l to d i s reg ar d t h e in t o l era nt an d per
e x am pl e o f t h ei r p re d ec e s s or s in t h e time o f M r
re c u l ing
Jo y e q ua lly e n j oin t h e a d o p tio n o f it
On
t he
,
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Bes i d e s
the
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‘
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lba ny
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1 80 1
.
'
DE WI T T CLI N T ON
1 18
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 18
republ i cans M ost o f thei r appl i ca t i ons fo r reappo i nt
ment do not ment io n pol it ics
I t is presumable at l east
that s ome o f t h em w ere federal i sts I n S u ffolk co unty
w h ere there seem to have been three a uct i oneers o ne w as
remove d two w ere reappoi nted and the number was in
c reased to s i x
I n the oth e r counti es the appoi ntment d oes
not seem to have been o f great i mpo rtance Vari ous com
m e rc ial i nspectors al so fell i n the class o f appoi ntments
w h ere t h e perqui s i tes consti tuted the sole i mportance o f the
o ffice the emo l uments resulti ng from fees fo r i nspecti on
I n man y cases the hol ders o f s uch comm i ss i ons were s upe r
or
.
1
.
.
,
,
,
,
2
.
.
3
,
s ed ed
.
.
The pol i c y actuall y p ursue d b y the counci l i n 1 8 0 1 may
reasonably be taken as th e obj ect i ve express i on o f D e w i tt
Cl i nto n s i deas u p on the d i st ribut i on o f the state patro nage
H i s scheme was well defin ed and co ns i stentl y deve loped
Th e mo re i mportant o ffices o f the state and the mun i ci pal
o ffices especi ally those o f New Yo rk C i ty were fo r t h e
most pa rt filled w i th republ i cans Th d i stri ct atto rne y sh i ps
the m i no r adm i ni st rat i ve an d j ud i ci al o ffices o f the count i es
and the commerci al appoi ntments were approx i mately
d iv i ded between the parti es ; and i n th e e ffo rt t o reach th i s
d i vi s i on w i th as l i ttl e fri cti on as poss ibl e no i ncons i derabl e
’
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
t h o n y B a rt o w J u n e 1 0 1 80 1 ; M o rd ac a i
M y e r s J u n e 2 4 1 80 1 ; G e o rg e H u n t e r J u ly 1 5 1 8 0 1 ; C h ar l e s M c Ev e rs
J u l y 1 8 1 80 1 ; M a r t in H o ff m a n J u ly 2 2 1 8 0 1 ; A L B l e e c k e r J u l y 1 3
J o h n S H e n r y d o e s s p ea k o f h im s e l f
1 80 1 : Civ i l Fi le s o f t /
1e Co u nc il
it w i l l be s ee n l a t e r
July
a nd B ar t o w
a n o ld r e p u b l i c a n
as
w as a l s o a r e p u b l i c a n
M S M in u t e s o f t /1e Co u nc i l iv 7 2 1 49 1 5 0 2 3 0 2 5 2 3 2 8 3 2 9
I n s p e c t o r o f l u m be r L a w s o f N e w Yo rk G r e e n l e a f ii 1 79 0 c h
xx iii ; o f be e f a n d p r k ioid G r e e n l e af ii 1 788 c h 1; A n d r e w s 1 08 ;
o f fl o u r a n d m e a l
G re e n l ca f ii 1 7 8 8 c h l v ii i ; A n d r e w s 1 9 6 8 2 1
M S [ Win n /es o f t h e Co u n c il v i 6 1 6 2 6 2 7 2 9 ; J o h n L aw r e n c e
t o G e o rg e C l i n t o n G e o rg e C l i n t o n P u bl ic P apers xx v i 688 2 b
'
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of
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SPO I L S I N
R E P UB LI CA N
]
1 19
1 8 01
I 19
number o f mi no r o ffices w ere create d That D e w i tt Cl i n
ton along w i th Ambrose S pencer was i n real ity th e in it iat
i ng geni us o f thi s system i s sho w n b y the fact t hat h i s
uncl e the governo r re fuse d in man y i nstances to a ffix hi s
na me to th e m i nutes o f the co unci l
I n other cases he
s i gned only a part o f the m i nutes o r caused h i s prot est to
be reco rded aga i nst certai n removals
I t i s pro babl e that
h e also conceded to t h e co unc i l l ors the right o f nomi nat i o n
as he had done seven years be fo re to hi s federal ist counci l
It i s i mposs ible t o state the exact number o f re moval s
that we re made b y the counci l o f I 8 0 I
O f the changes
i n the l i sts o f j udges and j usti ces o f peace i n the count i es
i t i s almost i mpos s ibl e to ascertai n whi ch commi ssi ons ha d
exp i red and w h i ch had not although i n some cases i t i s
patent that the removal w as made befo re the termi nat i o n o f
th e c omm i ss i on I f these be fo r the moment le ft o ut o f con
s i derati on th e m i nutes show only th i rt y one i nstances i n
w h i ch a w r i t o f s upersedeas w as i ssued to the hol der o f a
commi ssi on B ut th i s does not comprehend the whole l i st o f
removal s even o uts i de o f the count y ro lls fo r i n the case
a g e ne nal statement was eu
o f i ns p ecto rs and auct i oneers
t e re d upon th e m i nutes that a s upersedeas shoul d issue to
al l o fficers o f a given class w h o ha d not rece ived commi s
s i ons unde r th e ex i st i ng co unci l It i s d i fficult to find o u t
how ma n y o ffic ers were by such e nt ri es i nd i cated as bei ng
s uperseded b ut the whol e number coul d not have amo unted
to very many I f a ri gi d l i ne o f d i st i ncti on be made be
tw een thos e w hose commi ssi ons w ere actually w ithd ra w n
and those fo r w hom n ew commi ss i ons w ere not i ssued at
.
,
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2
3
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,
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-
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,
5
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M S M in u t e s
.
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I bid
.
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Ge o r g e
i,
2
t lze
Co u n cil
,
iv
,
338 ;
v i,
’
.
C l in t o n
M S M in u t es
.
of
,
of
P ap ers ,
th e
x xv i
Co u n cil
,
,
6 8 70
v i, 2
1 0,
I bid
.
.
7, 33 , 3 7
.
,
1 5 , 2 7 , 29
iv , 3 3 2
.
,
3 2 , 47 , 48 , 5 9
.
DEW I TT
120
A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS TE M
CLI N T ON
[120
the legal exp i rat i on o f thei r terms o f o ffice th e enti re num
ber o f tech ni cal removals even i ncl ud i ng th ose i n the m i no r
c ount y o ffi ces
p r o bably d i d not much exceed a h und re d
B ut as has been po i nted o u t be fore the rene w al o f the an
nual and tri enni al comm i ss i ons had come to be much a
matter o f fo rm and th e fa il ure to rene w w as v i rtuall y equi
val ent to a removal A n y estimate o f the total number o f
changes w oul d be l i ttle short o f conj ecture
B y far the largest part o f the removal s we re ma d e d ur
i ng the A ugust sess i on o f the co unci l The O ctober ses
s i on
probably ow i ng to the fact that D eW it t Cl i nton was
not present laste d only two d ays and only one removal
D ur i ng the fi nal s essi on w h i ch lasted from
w a s reco rded
D ecember 3 0 1 8 0 1 to J anuary 2 9 1 8 0 2 only fo ur pol it i cal
removals w ere ma d e and only two new county l i sts w ere
o rdered
A s mi ght have been expected th i s summary metho d o f
despo i l i ng the conquere d o f the fru i ts o f o ffice w h i ch th e
w i l l o f t h e peopl e exp ressed at th e p olls co ul d not di rectly
take from them was veh emently d enounce d b y the fede ral i st
p ress S ome o f the removal s w ere characteri zed as t h e
most i n famous atroci ous a n d o ut rageous acts o f i nj ust i ce
t y ranny an d opp ressi on that eve r d i sgraced th e p roceed
”
D e w i tt
i ngs o f a M ara t a D an t o n o r a R o bes p ierre
Cl i nton and S pencer w e re stigmat i zed as unpri ncipled t y
an d w ere accused o f i nten d i ng to pl ace themselves
rant s
E ven th e governo r
o n t h e supreme bench o f the state
,
,
1
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v
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1,
l e x a n d e r t h a t s ix o r s e v e n t h o u s a nd ap
t h e c o n c i l is w h o l ly i n c o rr ec t ; P o lit ic a l
m a d e by A
m ad e
N e w Yo rk
M S fl/in u t es
‘
t
of
52
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by
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1 19
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g us t
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.
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Se p t e m b e r 3
,
DE W I TT
122
A ND T H E S P OI L S S YS TE M
C L I N TON
[122
T h e conventi on met i n A lbany October 1 3 1 8 0 1 and as
B urr exp resse d i t p ro ceeded to consume fi fteen days fo r the
w o rk o f s ix hours
D e w i tt Cl i nton w as el ecte d a mem
b er o f th e convent ion but h e d i d not attend i ts sess i ons
Hammond says that h e was chosen from K i ngs and that
he p roposed t h e plan w hi ch was adopted
A s a matte r
o f fact he w as chosen from
n
ueens
h
i
s
name
d
oes
a
d
n
ot
Q
appea r on an y page o f the p rocee d i ngs o f the convent i o n
and i s unr eco r d e d in any vo te
T h e plan a d opt e d was
p r o pose d b y Lucas E lmen d or f
I n the l ight o f the
communi cat i on w h ich the republ i can counci llo rs s ubm itte d
to the assem bl y i n the sp ri ng i t seems far mo re prob
abl e that D e \Vit t Cl i nton w oul d have advocated the
plan o ffered b y Thomas T red w el l
Th is constructi on o f
th e d oubt ful a rti cle gave the excl us i ve po w er o f nomi nat ion
to th e mem b ers o f the counc i l but i t w as enthus i ast i cally
negati ved by the conventi on
A s further proo f o f the fact
that D e w i tt Cl i nto n took no part i n the co nventi o n w e find
that h e d i d not attend the fal l meet i ng o f the Counci l o f
,
,
,
,
1
"
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.
?
3
,
.
?
5
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,
6
.
'
r e c o m m e n d e d a c o nv e n t i o n fo r re d u c
in g t h e
a b i l l fo r t h a t p u rp o s e h ad b ee n i n tr o
d u c e d i n t o t h e s e n a t e by a s p ec i a l c o m m i t t e e (Jo u rn a l xx i v 48 ) l o n g
b e f o r e t h e c o u n c i l c o n tr o v e r s y h ad be e n b r o u g h t t o l e g i s l a t iv e a t t e n t io n
T h a t c o n tr o v e r s y h ad r i s e n h o w e v e r be f o r e t h e bi l l p as s e d t h e s e n a t e
(Jo u rn a l xx i v 7 6 ) y e t n o m e n t i o n w as m ad e o f t h e 2 3 d a r t i c l e o f t h e
c o ns t i t u t i o n
I t r e m a i n ed fo r t h a t t o be add e d as a n am e nd m e n t in t h e
a s s e m b ly (Jo u r n a l xx iv
T h e h is t o r y o f t h e p as s a g e o f t h e ac t
w o u l d al m o s t i n d i c a t e t h e r e v e r s e o f J ud g e L i n c o l n s v i e w ; n am e ly t h a t
t h e c n v e n t i o n w o u l d n o t h a e b ee n c al l e d a t t h a t t i m e fo r a m e n d i n g
t h e c l a u s e c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e c o u n c i l bu t fo r t h e f ac t t h a t t h e m o v e m e n t
f o r a c o n v e n t i o n h ad a l r e ad y be e n s t ar t e d fo r a n e n t i r e l y d i ff e r e n t p u r
p o se
e
r ro r
in
this
G o v e r n o r Jay h ad
n u m be r o f l e g is l a t o r s a n d
.
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n al o f
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93 to 6
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123
RE P UB LI CA N
]
SP OI L S
IN
1 8 01
123
Appo i nt ment wh i ch came tog ether fo r it s second sess io n
o n October
the day a ft e r th e clo se o f the co nventi o n
A n d the Albany Gazette o f October 2 6 reveal s the reaso n
“
fo r h i s absence
The Counci l o f Appo i ntment are to
”
meet i n th i s c i ty to mo rrow i t sa y s
agreeable to a d
j o u rnm ent We understand that M r D e w i tt Cl i nton o n
”
acco unt o f i ll health w i ll not be able to atte nd
None o f
the other counci llo rs had been chosen to the co nvent i on
The Cl i nto n fam i ly howeve r was not unrep resented
James Cl i nton the father o f D e w itt an d Geo rge Cl i nto n
j un i o r h i s cous i n w e re both members Aaron B urr who
had been sent up fro m O range was chosen p res i d ent H i s
clo se fri end Va n Ness w as also a membe r S mi th T h o m p
so n a fter w ard a j ust i ce o f the Un i ted S tates supreme court
was o ne o f th e members from D utchess D ani el Tomp
ki ns was maki ng h i s firs t appearance i n pol i ti cs i t is s ig n i
fic ant too that i n the final i ssue he voted w i th the m i no rit y
John V H enry the deposed compt rolle r and D an i el H ale
the deposed secretary o f state were also members Jos i ah
Ogden Ho ffman who i t w i ll be recalled had led h i s party
at the t ime o f the appointment o f a federal i st counci l w i th
Governo r Geo rge Cl i nto n i n I 7 9 4 was o ne o f the members
from A lbany The rep ubl i cans counted a l arge maj ori ty i n
the convent i on b ut the debates were not fought o ut along
party l i nes as a glance at the vot es w i ll show
Both parti es
had w ith i n a peri o d o f seven y ears stood for the right o f
co ncu rrent nomi nati on in the governo r and counci llors and
1
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3
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4
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'
,
r o t e t o t h e g o v e r n o r say in g t h a t h is ill n e s s r e nd e r ed h is a t t e n d
a n c e w h o l l y im p o s s i b l e an d s u gg e s t e d a n u m be r o f app o in t m e n t s t o be
mad e ; O c t o b e r 2 4 1 80 1 ; G eo rg e C l i n t o n P u blic P ap ers xx v i 68 9 1
M S M in u t es o f t /1e Co u n cil v i 3 4 3 6
Jo u rn a l o f Me Co n v en t io n o f 1 801 3 4
H e n r y a nd H a l e fo r i n s t an c e v o t ed o n o pp o s i t e s i d e s ; ibid 3 4
1
He
w
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124
D E IVI T T
A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
CLI N T ON
[124
both w ere w i ll i ng to see that i nterp retat i o n fix ed beyond
further cavi l as a part o f the fundamental law o f the s tate
The resul t o f the labo rs o f the conventi on so fa r as the
method o f appoi ntment was concerned was a promulgati on
.
t h at by t h e true c onstru c tio n o f t h e t w ent y -t h i r d a rtic l e o f t h e
C o n stitutio n o f t h i s s t ate t h e righ t to n omi n ate a l l o ffi c ers
o t h er t h an t h ose w h o by t h e C o n s titutio n a re d i re c te d to be
ot h er w i s e a pp oi n te d is veste d c o n curren t ly in t h e p er so n ad
mi n i s teri ng t h e governme n t o f t h i s s t ate f or t h e time b ei n g
a n d in ea c h o f t h e M em b er s o f t h e C ounci l o f A pp oi n tme n t
,
,
'
,
,
1
.
The wh eels and cogs o f the pol i ti cal mach i ne w h i ch had
been i n t h e maki ng s i nce the federal i st v i cto ry o f 1 7 9 3 w ere
at last adj uste d w i th a n i cety w h i ch coul d gi ve no further
cause fo r compla i nt to the future pol i t i cal engi neer H i s
w ork w oul d be sl ight
A n ephemeral c ounci l o f fo ur
c h osen by a pa rt i san low er ho use from it s parti sans i n
the upper ho use was given col lect i vel y the po w er to ignore
the governo r A s the autho ri tat ive maj o ri ty sh i fted from
pa rt y to part y i n the assembly such a counci l coul d not
fa i l to e ffect w hatever ch anges w ere d emanded i n th e ap
o
i
n
i
o
fices
o
f
the
s
tate
t
v
f
e
p
Whether o r not D e W it t Cl i nto n had a ny i n d i rect share i n
the w o r k o f the co nventi on he coul d scarcely have d i s
approve d o f i t H i s i mmed i ate pol i c y w as gi ven moral
s upport but h e m ust have seen that the change meant no
i ncrease d powe r o r i n fl uence fo r h i m i n the future H e
neve r served aga i n as co unci l lo r ; but he d i d se rve many
y ea r s as gove rno r ; an d from the po i nt o f v i e w o f the ch i e f
execut i ve robbed o f almost a l l po w er in th e matte r o f ap
o in t m e n t s i t i s not unl i k el y that h e came to rega r d h i s earl ier
p
.
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,
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'
Jo u r n a l
l u t io n s ,
ii
,
of
t h e C o n v e n t io n
1 3 40
.
0/
1 8 01
,
5 2 ; Po o
r e Ch a rt ers
,
an d
Con s t i
C HA PT E R V
R EP U B L I C A
W
N
FA
D I ST R I B U T I O N
C T I ON s I N T H E
the t urn o f o lit ical event s at the open i ng o f the
P
n i neteenth cent ur y s w ung the republ i cans i nt o po w er there
w ere t h ree d i st i nct elements o f t h e party cont endi ng for the
—
N
lea d ers h i p i n ew Yo rk t h e Cl i nton s the L i vi ngstons and
t h e followers o f Aaron B urr
E ach o f these w ings d rew i ts
st rength from a d i fferent s o urce The popula ri ty o f Geo rge
C l i nt o n w i t h t h e l a rgest po rt i on o f the pa rty had per d ured
d u r ing t h e peri od o f hi s ret i rement an d h is nephew no w came
fo r w a r d i n all the v igo r and zeal o f h i s yo ung manhood as
the o rgan i ze r o f the forces w h i ch th e governo r controlled
T h e Li vi ngstons rel i e d mo re upon the collect i ve st rength
o f thei r large fam i l y than upon th e i nfluence o f any in
A aron B urr s po w e r seems t o have lai n
d i vi dual membe r
almost enti rely i n the fasci nati on o f h i s ow n personal i ty
w h i ch a t t rac t e d t o h i m a substanti al though l imi ted number
o f d evoted fol lo w ers
I t has al ready been remarked that the republ i ca n v ic
to r y i n New Yo rk w a s d u e i n large measure to the
s k i l ful manner i n w h i ch B urr combi ne d i n the electoral
B ut t h e
t ic k et these t h ree f act i ons w i t h i n the part y
vi c to r y h o w eve r secu red gave a l l t h e p owe r an d in
flu e nc e o f the government i nto th e han d s o f th e Cl i ntons
an d b oth the Li vi ngstons and th e B u rrit es so fa r as pol i
t ical recogn it i on i n t h e state w as concerned w e re place d
at
t h e me rcy o f D e w i tt Cl i nton
The oppo rt uni ty to
H EN
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1 26
[ 12 6
R E P UB LI CA N FA
7]
12
C TI ON S
I N T H E D I S TR I B UTI ON
127
rush hi s rival s fo r leadersh ip was as broa d as the t em pt a
t i on must have been strong
I n I 7 8 8 Chancell o r Li vi ngston had been H am i l ton s ch i e f
s upport i n the New Yo rk convent i on w h ich rat ified the
const i tut i on F o r some reason h i s serv i ces and h i s talents
had been s i ngularl y ignored b y Wash i ngton and the H am il
t o n ia n party
H e had expecte d to be ch i e f j ust ice o f the
Un ited S tates but J o h n Ja y ha d recei ve d t h e appoi ntment
H e had exp ressed longi ngs also fo r the t reasur y depart
m ent but th i s w ent to H ami lton H e appears to have
been th ought o f fo r postmaste r general but he was not ap
po i nte d
The Liv i ngstons felt further sl ighte d b y the fact
that wh i l e o n e o f th e U nited S tates senato rsh i ps went to
H am i lto n s fat he r-in l aw Ph i l ip S chu y ler the other in
stead o f comi ng to them w as gi ven to R u fus ISing a re
cent arr ival from M assach usetts
I t i s not remarkable
that th i s apparentl y studi ed excl us i on o f a fam ily wh i ch
w i elded no i ncons i derable i nfl uence i n New York should
have estranged them from H am i lto n and hi s follo w ers
The Li v i ngstons went ove r to the Cli nton i nterests i n a
“
and Wash i ngto n s bel ated o ffe r to the chancell or
bo d y
o f the a pp o i nt ment to F rance w as not su ffici ent to atone
fo r the neglect the y had rece ived I n the l ight o f the pol i
t i cal si tuat i on i n New Yo rk i n 1 8 0 1 i t i s curi ous to note
that th e fi rst result o f the coal i ti o n between the L iv i ngstons
c
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H am i l t o n H is t o ry
of
,
t h e R ep u bl ic , iv
5 03 ; H a m m o n d ,
,
o
p
.
c it
.
,
i,
1 07 .
1
Ch a n cel lo r L iv ing s t o n
n o t s u ccee d
M a d is o n
’
‘
v
,
”
M ad i s o n
.
,
H am il t o n
,
p
o
L o d g e L if e
,
t
no e
371 ,
.
of
c it
.
,
to
J e ff e r s o n
,
iv , 5 03
27,
I
W rit ing s
7 89 ;
but w
ol
ill
Ja me :
5 04
.
,
H ani il t o n 8 2 ; H am i l t o n
,
H am m o nd r e l a t e s o n h ear s ay t h a t
i 1 07
a f a m il y m e e t i n g ; op c it
‘
W as h in gt o n W rit ing s (Fo r d
.
,
M ay
,
.
1
at
[ tr e asu r y ]
w is h e s t h is d epa rt m e n t
.
,
,
this
,
o
p
.
r
c it
co u se
.
iv , 5 04
.
,
w as d e
.
xi i
,
42 3 ,
t
no e
.
t e r m i ne d u p o n
D E W I TT
12 8
CL I NTON
A ND TH E
S PO I L S
S YS TE M
[128
an d t h e Cl i ntons i n the early n i neti es w as t h e electi on o f
A aron B urr to the Uni ted S tates S enate
The i n fant fed
e ra l is t part y w as then o n th e ri s i ng road to th e v i ctory
w h i ch place d Ja y i n the Gove rno r s cha i r i n 1 7 9 5 but the
fe d e ral ists were ult i matel y w eakened i n p ropo rti on as th e
republ i cans were st rengthened b y the Li vi ngsto ns change
o f party al legi ance
Th e y ear 1 8 0 1 gave the republ i can party i ts fi rst real o p
i
r
o
t
u
n
t y to recogni ze the Li vi ngstons and D e w i tt Cl i nton
p
real i zed the extent o f re w ar d w h i ch thei r serv ices meri ted
S o fa r as out w a rd appea rances were concerned the al l i ance
between the Cl i nton and the Liv i ngsto n el ements seems
t o h ave been compl e te at that t i me although some y ears later
the v i olence o f fact i onal st ri fe w i th i n the party agai n sepa r
ated them B ro ckh o l s t Li v i ngsto n had been placed upon
th e New Yo rk combi nat io n t i cket and had been elected to
the assembl y ? S carcel y had the l egi slat ure convened i n
November 1 800 w hen Joh n A rmstrong a brothe r -in-l aw
o f the ch ancel lo r w a s chosen U ni ted S tates senato r fo r
t h e f ew months remai n i ng o n the unexp i red term o f Joh n
La w rence w h o had res igned
I t n o w rema i ne d fo r the
counci l o f ap p oi ntment to furthe r the d i stributi on o f o ffi ces
among th e ot h er members o f
a m ily and certa i nly the
co unci l ca rve d thei r share w i
tl e parsi mony To E d
w ar d Li vi ngston brot h er o f the chancello r w ent as we
have seen th e ma y oralt y o f Ne w Yo r k Thomas T i l lot
?
’
,
’
.
,
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,
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,
,
,
?
,
,
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,
,
.
,
1
“
M r B u rr
.
S c h u yl e r
,
by
,
a
w as
l a rg e
this
m aj o r
l t
by bo t h
e ec ed
d ay
ity
in t h e S e n at e
,
h o us e s
a nd o f
t o s uc c e e d
Ge ne r al
fiv e in t h e H o u s e
o
f
p r e s e n t a ti v e s [ A s s e m bl y ] T h i s is t h e f r u i t o f t h e C h a n c e l l o r s
T il la y t o A l e x a n d e r H a m i l t o n J a n u
co a l i t i o n w it h t h e G o v e r n o r
iv 5 04
ary 1 9
1 7 9 1 ; q uo t e d in H a m i l t o n op c it
A s s em bly Jo u r n a l xx i v 3
A s s e m bly Jo u rn a l xx i v I I
H e w a s a g a in a pp o i n t e d a t t h e e xp i r a
t i o n o f t h e t e r m ; ibid 2 4
'
Re
.
"
r
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,
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'
,
,
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,
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'
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,
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,
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,
,
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I
D E W I TT
30
CLI N T ON
A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 30
att i tude o f hosti l ity toward B urr are d i fficult o f analysi s I t
seems generally conceded that h i s basal mot ive w as h i s fear
o f a dangerous r ival although only hi s acts o f host i l ity
and the over w helm i ng p robab i l i t i es o f the case a re ci ted
i n suppo rt o f s uch a v i ew
The accusat i on o f B urr s t reachery to Je fferson i n the
p resi dent i al elect i o n carri ed to the house o f rep res entati ves
i n 1 8 0 1 w as not openly fl ung unt i l the publi cati on o f Cheet
h am s Vi e w o f the Po li ti cal Co nduct o f A aron B urr i n
the s ummer o f 1 8 0 2 I t i s i mposs ible t 0 s ay w h ether
”
C l i nton w as the em i nent character re ferred t o i n that
s curr i lo us pamphl et as possess i ng t he damn i ng evi dence o f
B urr s p e rfid y to prove wh i ch he w as w i ll i ng to appear i n
a court o f j usti ce but was un w i ll i ng to s ubscribe h i s name
i n th e p ubl i cat i on ; i ndeed i t i s i m p ossibl e to say w h ether
“
”
that em i nent cha racte r had an y ex i stence beyond the
confines o f C h eet h am s ri oto us i magi nat i on A nd i f Cl i n
to n d i d possess s uch i nformat i o n it i s e q ual ly i mposs ible
to fix the date at wh i ch i t came to h i s kno w l edge A f ew
years l ater Cheetham asserted that M r B urr s de fect i on
was scarcely kno wn certai nly not su ffici entl y to fo rm i n
A ugust and S eptember o f 1 8 0 1 a ver y fo rmi dabl e obj ect i o n
”
B ut l i ttl e rel i ance
to the appo i ntment o f h i s part i zans
can be placed upon any asserti on comi ng from Cheetham
F i cti on and facts w ere as one to h i m w h en h e ha d a thesi s
to sustai n ; and j ust at th i s po i nt h is thes i s exh ib i ted the
paradox o f sho w i ng th at i n h i s att i tude t o w a rd the a d h er
e nts o f B urr Cl i nton had not been g u i lty o f a d i scr im i nat i on
whi ch i n another connecti on h e very frankly admi tted that
h e h ad shown
A s i de from the poss ibi l i ty that Cl i nto n
.
,
.
’
’
'
.
’
,
1
’
.
.
’
.
,
,
,
1
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A
Vie w
of
C h e e t h am
I bid
.
,
12 1
,
.
l
t h e P o it ic a l
A
l
R ep y t o A
Co nd u c t
ris t id e s
of
A
a ro n
( I 8 04)
,
B u rr 5 0 , 5 7
12 5
.
.
,
58
.
I
3
1
R E P UB LI CA N FA
]
C T I ON S
I N TH E D I S TRI B UTI ON
131
’
—
v i ce p resi dent s
ma y have h arbo red a strong susp i ci o n o f the
treache r y t o h i s part y there i s no cause fo r surpr ise that
he sho ul d have di s trusted h i m H am i lto n from an i nt i
”
mate and accurate knowledge o f character was wi ll i ng to
stand aga i nst the maj o r po rt i on o f h i s own party and urge
the el ect i o n o f hi s arch enemy Je fferson i n pre ference t o
B urr ;
a nd there i s no reason w h y Cl i nton s h oul d have
been mo re i n the dark as to B urr s charact er than w as
H am i lton
A t any rate w hen t h e counci l met i n A ugust follow i ng
the p res i denti al electi on i n F eb rua ry Cl i nton ha d probably
d eterm i ned that the fri ends o f B urr were not to be too
o
r
gene rously re w arded N di d B urr pres s an over —v igo r
o us s ui t fo r them H e w as sh rewd enough to real i ze that
even a pol i t i cal fri endsh i p bet w een h im and a man o f
D e w i tt Cl i nton s temperament w ould al w ays re s t upon a
fo undati on o f sand H i s servi ces t o the party gave hi m
th e right to be cons i dered ; but there was prudence i n mai n
ta i n i ng a di st ance Three w eeks be fo re the meet i ng o f the
counci l he i nd icted a stu d i edly caut i ous letter to Governo r
Cl i nton upon the subj ect :
-
.
-
1
’
.
,
.
.
’
.
.
I h a ve
t a ke n t h e l i b ert y t o re com m end to yo u a ny p erso n
f o r an y o ffic e ; u n l e ss i n d e e d y ou s ho u l d c o n s id er a s su c h t h e
w is h w hic h I e x p res s e d t h a t D o c tor Bro w n e m igh t b e tr ans
f erre d f rom t h e p l ac e t o w hic h h e w as d e st ine d by t h e u n ani
mou s re c om me n d at ion o f t h e C it y M emb ers t o o n e w h e re I
t ho ugh t h i s t al e nt s mo re re q ui s it e ; an d I am n o t n o w ab ou t to
d e p a rt f ro m t h e ru l e w h i c h I h ave p re s c ribe d to m y se l f o n t h i s
n ot
,
-
,
p ea k w i t h a n in t im a t e an d ac c u r a t e k no w l e d g e o f c h ar ac t e r
H is e l e v at io n c an o n ly p r o m o t e t h e p u rp o s e s o f t h e d e s p e r a t e a nd t h e
e ff er
t
r
m
a n in t h e w o r l d I o u g h t t o h a t e it is J
e
a
h
I
f
e
e
b
i
r
fl
a
t
e
o
g
p
B u t t h e p u bl i c
so n
W it h B u rr I h av e a l w ay s be e n p e r so n a l ly w e l l
”
H am i l t o n t o
g o o d m u s t be p a r am o u n t t o e v e r y pr iv a t e c o n s id e r a ti o n
G o u v e r n eu r M o rr is ; H am il t o n W o rk s v iii ; 5 7 3
1
“
I
s
.
,
.
.
.
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,
,
.
1
32
DEW I TT
CLI N T ON
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 32
u bj e c t ; y et a f e w h i n t s by w ay o f i n f ormat i on m ay n o t be
u n ac c e p t abl e a n d cann o t a d d t o y ou r p erp l e x i t i e s
T h e f ami ly o f B art o w is n umerou s a n d re s p e c t able re s i d i n g
—
n
i
c
a
n
n
o
f
ri
i
lly
t
h
e
C
ou
t
y
We
t
C
h
ster
S ever al o f t h em
s
e
p
p
h ave a t all times b ee n w it h u s —mo s t i f n o t a ll w ere s o a t th e
l a s t e l ectio n— A n t h o ny an d R o b t S B a rto w V e n d ue M as ter s
in t h i s C i t y a re y oun g m en o f in d u s tr y an d f a i r c h a rac ter s
T h e Wi d o w
c h i ld ren o f D octor Wrig h t
w h o serve d f a it h
f u lly in our a rm y d e rive t h ei r p ri n c i p al s u pp ort f ro m t h e s e
You ng M e n— A t t h e l ate el ectio n t h e y w e re ver y a ct ive in
t h e su p p ort o f ou r ti c k et
B ever ly R o b i n so n is G ran d s o n o f C o l R ob i n s on w e ll k n o w n
t o yo u — He h a s sett l e d in t h i s C it y as a L a w ye r— is sai d t o
h ave re sp e c t abl e t al en t s a n d is u n d ou bt e dly o f go o d p riv ate
in w h a t w ay I k n o w n o t c o n
c h ar ac ter— H e i s s om e h o w
n e c t e d w i t h J o h n W atts w h o e x p re sse d t o m e so me S o l icitu de
t h at h e migh t b e m a d e a not a ry— I h ave no p er s on al a c q u a i n t
”
t an c e w i t h M B R
C a p t Jo h n S t an f or d w a s l ast Win ter r ec o mme n d e d by t h e
“
C it y D e l egatio n f or He al t h C om
Jo h n S t agg f or S h e ri f f
a re
T h ey w ere b ot h ver y v al u abl e o ffi c er s in M al c o m s R eg t
—
I
ffi
e
s
e
s
o
c
e
i
o
i
io
e
l
l
q
u
l
i
fi
e
d
f
or
t
h
r
r
ective
a
in m y
n
n
w
p
p
me n ti o n t h ei r n ame s l e s t in t h e mu l ti p l i c it y o f b u sin e s s t h e y
migh t e s c ap e y our re c o lle c tion
I c a nn ot re co ll e c t t h at J u d g e V an Ne s s o r a n y o n e o f h is
m
—
f ami ly h a s eve n h ad a ny o ffi c e o f p ro fit H is S o n s J o h n W
—
H o w f a r an y
n
n
M
e
a c tive 81 u s e f u l You g
a re i nt e ll ig en t
e d to
i
l
s
s
st
c
r
ti
fi
tion
to
t
h
e
ig
h
b
e
j
u
o
iti
u
b
mi
tt
m
m
t
a
a
c
p
g
y ou r C o n s i d er a tio n
s
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
‘
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.
n
’
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,
,
1
To th i s letter w as appende d a postscri pt
M y near Con
Prevost renders i t i mp rope r t h at I shou l d
n ec t io n w i th M
”
sa y an y th i ng respecti ng h i m
O f these appl i cants w hose names Burr put fo rward w i th
,
r
.
,
.
'
A
r
a on
P ap e rs
,
B u rr t o Ge o rg e
xx i
v
,
68 5 8
.
Cl i n t o n J u l y
,
22
,
1 80 1
;
G eo rg e
C l in t o n
,
P u bl ic
DE W I TT
1 34
CLI N T ON
S Y S TE M
A ND T H E S P OI L S
[ 1 34
appl i cant fo r the o ffice o f s urrogate o f New Yo rk i s a
case in i ll ustrat i o n W ri t i ng to th e counci l i n J ul y 1 8 0 1
he sa i d :
,
.
,
,
C o l : R ut gers C o l : Burr a n d s ev e r a l ot h er res p ect abl e Gen
t le me n w h o se a c q u a i n t anc e an d f rie n d s h i p I h ave t h e h onor
to p os sess a ct ua te d by motive s o f Be n evo le nc e to w a r d me
t h o ug h t p ro p er at t h e l a st S e s s io n o f t h e Legi sl at ure to p ro
p o s e me to t h e h on ora bl e t h e C ou n c i l as a p rop er C h a r a c te r
t o fill t h e S t atio n o f a M aste r i n C h ancer y f o r t h e S tate o f
Ne w Yo r k ; b ut t h e d i s agree me nt in O pin io n Wh i c h imm e d i
a te ly t h ere a f ter p rev a i le d b e t w een t h e G o verno r an d t h e C ou n
c il o p e r a te d i n j uriou s ly t o m
i
nterest
an
d
e nt i re ly f ru s tr a te d
y
t h e i r ex pe ct a tio n
C o n c ei v ing t h e ab o ve m entio n e d imp e d iment to b e e ff e ct ua lly
remove d by t h e restora tio n o f H armo n y p ro c ee ding f rom
Unio n o f S e n time n t an d P ri n c i p l e I c an n o w w it h Co n fid e n ce
s te p f or w a r d a s an A pp l i c an t f or t h e s a i d Offi c e un d e r t h e
p atr o n age o f t h e ab o v e n ame d G en t l em en an d w it h t h e A p
p ro b a ti on o f man y ot h er s w h ose recomme n d a tio n in w ri ti n g
I mig h t w i t h f ac i l it y h ave o b tai n e d h ad I s u p p o s e d i t n ec e s
s a ry
I m u s t o b s erve h o w ever t ha t i f t h e C o mm i s sio n o f S urro
gate o f t h e Cit y an d C o u nt y o f Ne w Yor k ( at p rese n t va c an t
by t h e p re fe rme n t o f D avi d G el s to n E s q ui re to b e C o l l ec to r
o f t h e C u s toms for t h i s P ort ) h as not a l read y b ee n dis po s ed
o f i t w ou l d b e a s i ngu l a r gr ati fi cati o n to m e t o b e ap poin t e d
h is s u c ce s s or i n ste a d o f a M a s te r in C h ancery a s I am w e l l
h avi n g a c te d
ac q u ainte d w it h t h e d u t i e s o f t h e s a i d Offi c e
in t he count y o f
in t h at C ap aci t y f or s e ver a l y e a r s
R i c h mo n d
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
"
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
[
,
,
,
1
Bancke r not onl y fa i led i n h i s request fo r the o ffi ce o f sur
rogate but even th e l es s e r a p po intment o f master i n chan
c ery w a s d en i e d h im
J ly 2 0 1 8 0 1 ; Civ il Files o f th e
n il
A br h m B n k r t t h C
.
‘
a
Co u n c il
.
a
a
c
e
o
e
ou
c
,
u
,
135
R E P UB LI CA N FA
]
C TI ON S
I N TH E D I S TRI B UTI ON
135
I n add i t io n t o the Bartow b ro thers other fri ends o f B urr
sought ap po i ntments to the l ucrat i ve o ffice o f auct i oneer o f
wh i ch as has been noted there were t w ent y —fo ur i n New
Yo rk City M oses Lopez w rote t o Governo r Cl i nto n :
,
,
,
.
B y t h e a d vi c e o f m y p arti c u la r f ri en d s h as em b o l d ene d me
t o a dd re s s y our E xc el l en c y S o l i c itin g y our R ec o mm en d a tio n
o f me to t h e H on ora ble C oun c i l o f A
pp oi n tme n t as an Auc
t io ne e r o f t h i s C i ty
I mu st ap o l ogi z e a dd re s s ing yo u r E x c e l le n cy no t b ei n g p a r
t icu l arly k n o w n to y ou
I be g l e ave to Re fe r y o ur E x c e ll en c y t o my p a rti c u l a r f ri e n d
C o l Burr f or a n a cc ou n t o f m y c h a r ac te r w h ic h y ou w il l
R ece ive f rom h im —w i t h E s teem I R emai n et c
.
t
[
.
,
1
.
Lopez was not a p po i nted b ut D av i d D unham w h o w as
s uppo rte d b y D avi d Gelston and John S w artwout w as more
fo rtunate
Gelston w rote that D unham w as i ndustr i ous
and zealous i n the cause o f rep ubl i cani sm i mm i nently so
”
at o u r late el ect i ons
A n d John S wartwout commende d
h i m as an A cti ve and Z ealous fri end to the R epubl i can
”
“
Caus e and he added
I am conv i nced that h i s I nfl uence
”
I f the uncertai n ev i
and exert i ons w i ll always be felt
dence o f C h eet h am s assert i on i s t o be cred i ted an d here
the p robabi l i ti es are i n favo r o f i ts parti al t ruth at l east
there were numero us other fri ends o f B urr w h o sought fo r
a share i n the d i str ibuti on o f t h e patronage I n endeavo r
2
,
,
,
3
.
,
4
.
,
,
5
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.
’
,
,
.
June
’
29
1 801
,
M S M in u t es
2
.
"
z
;
Civ il
of
Fi les
th e
I hia
v i,
,
Co u n c il
32
.
.
.
i
Se e
.
ibid
5
Co u n cil
th e
'
C o u n c il J u ly 1 7
l e tt e r f r o m E l ias Nix s e n
D av d G e l s t o n t o t h e
ci l
of
l
a so
,
,
Civ il Fi les o f t h e Co u n
t h e C o u n c i l J u ly 1 7 1 80 1 ;
1 80 1
to
;
,
,
.
Jo h n
S w ar t w o u t t o Go v e r n o r
t h e C o u n ci l
.
C l i n t o n J u ly
,
22
,
1 80 1
;
Civ il
Fi les
of
DE WI TT CLI N T ON
1 36
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS TE M
[ 1 36
i ng t o sho w that the ani mos i t y o f B urr s fri ends to w ar d
Cl i nton resulte d from sel f -i nterest he w rote :
’
T h o m as S mit h C l er k in C ha nc ery w h o s o l i c i te d t h e offi c e o f
R e c ord er o f t h i s c it y ; J oh n P Van Ness w h o as p i re d to t h e
o ffi c e o f S e c ret a ry o f t h e S t ate ; J am e s Sc ott S mi t h w h o
w i s h e d to b e a pp oi n te d M a s ter in C h a n c er y ; D r J am e s S mi t h
w h o app l i e d fo r t h e o ffi c e o f R e s i d e nt Ph y sic i an ; Ti m o t hy
G ree n e f or t h at o f S urrogate ; D r B r o w n fo r t h a t o f H e al t h
P hy s i c i an ; E z e kie l R o bbin s w ho w i s h e d f o r s ev eral o ffic e s
a n d o t h e rs
all s t au n c h
f rien d s o f M r Burr w ere d isap
p oi n te d
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
1
.
B urr as w e have seen had personally recommended at
l east t w o o f these B ut over agai nst the assert i o n that
the Cl i ntons had d i scr i m i na t ed aga i nst Tho mas S m i th w h o
sought to be made recorder stands the appo i ntment to that
o ffi ce o f John B P revost B urr s step -son
M o reover
w hen S m i th fea ri ng that he w o ul d be dep rived o f h i s
cl erksh i p i n C hancery sought the i nfl uence o f George Cl i n
ton w i th the chancello r who controlled the appoi ntment the
governo r made a speci al vi s i t to Lans i ng i n h i s behal f and
i mmed i ately w rote S m i th an assurance o f h i s bei ng reta i ned
The strength o f B urr s i nfl uence l a y i n New Yo rk C i ty
E ven hi s most v i olent t rad ucer rel uctantly a d mi tted that
he h ad ex erte d h i msel f i n favo r o f the republ i can cause i n
w hen i t mi g h t almost be sa i d that t h e
t h e el ecti on o f 1 8 0 0
repu b l i can t ri umph i n that ci t y assu re d t h e v i ctory o f th e
pa rt y i n th e cho i ce o f p res i dent A nd w hen th e counci l
,
,
.
’
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
2
.
3
’
.
t
”
,
.
C h e e t h a m A R ep ly t o A r is t id es 1 2 1
T S m i t h t o G C l i n t o n No v e m be r 2 7 1 8 0 1 ; G C l in t o n t o T
No e m be r 3 0 1 8 0 1 ; G e o rg e C l i n t o n P u bl ic P a pers xx v i 69 1 8 3
'
.
,
,
S m it h ,
2
.
.
v
3
‘
,
p
o
.
c it
.
,
i
,
1 72
W a rr e n (C h e e t h am ) A
.
B
u rr ,
38
.
,
,
,
H am m o nd
.
,
,
.
,
,
69 1 8 b
.
.
View
of
l
t h e P o it ic a
l Co nd u c t
of
A
a ro n
1
D E W I TT
38
Th e
CLI N T ON
A N D TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 38
r d er o f t h i n gs s h o w s t h e D emocrats o f j us t er
i de as an d more c a u tion i n t h e d i stri b ut i o n o f po w e r and p ro
fi t T h e s e l i b ert y an d equalit y ge ntr y h av e p l a c e d a ll t h e
p o w er h o n or s a n d p ro fi ts o f th e s t a te in t h e h an d s o f T W O
fa mil ie s t o k e ep t h em out o f t he r e ac h o f t h e a ri s t o cr ats T h e
fo ll o w i ng s pe c ifi c a ti on w i l l s h o w t h e j u s t ne s s o f t h e rem a r k
N EW
o
,
.
,
.
.
And a l i st o f o ffi ces hel d by the Cl i ntons and Li vi ngstons
i s appen d ed : Geo rge Cl i nton governo r ; James Cl i nton h i s
brother a delegate to the const i tuti onal con vent i on ; D e w i tt
Cl i nt on h i s nephe w a senato r and a co unci ll o r ; Cha rles
Cl i nto n another nephew a member o f the assembl y ; George
Cl i nt o n j uni o r a th i rd nephe w a del egate to th e con
“
”
These the communi cati on adds
i ncl ude the
v e n t io n
D ow n
w hole fam i l y e xce p t a yo ung man yet a clerk
”
I t i s si gnificant
w it h t h e w ell-bo rn <7 h u z z a f o r e qu a l it y
that ever y o ffice menti one d w as electiv e not appo i nt ive
That Cl i nton s fri en d s and s uppo rters w ere generously f av
o re d i n the apporti onment i s unquesti onable but the charge
o f nepotis m appears to have as l i ttl e foundat i on as the as
se rti o n that h e adopted a pol i cy o f tot al exclus i on to w a rd
the adherents o f Aaron B urr
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
0
.
.
,
’
,
.
C HA PT E R VI
J E FFE R SO N
NE W
A ND T H E
Y OR K P A T R O N A G E
IN
the d i str ibut io n o f the federal patronage i n New York
Je ffe rson seems to have been gui d ed b y muc h t h e same
p ol i cy o f fri endl i ness t ow a rd the Liv i ngstons as that w h i ch
Cl i nton adopted A lmos t i mme d i ately a fter h i s elect i on h e
w rote to R obert R Li v i ngston o fferi ng h i m the m iss i on to
F rance and the o ffer was accepte d altho ugh t w o month s
be fo re the chancel lo r had appa rentl y d ecl i ned a tentati ve
o ffer o f t h e department o f the navy
S oon a fter Jeff e r
so n s entrance upon o ffice Colonel B ur r i n conj uncti on w i th
th e republ ican members o f the senate and the house o f rep
”
“
re s e n t at iv es from N ew
Yo rk made o ut a slate o f t h e
changes des i red i n that state and t urned i t over to Je ff e r
son
D av i d Gelston w a s recommended for the o ffi ce o f
.
.
1
2
,
,
,
3
.
’
4
.
J e ff e r s o n t o
v ii
(Fo r d
J e ff e r so n Writ ing s
s due t o t h e
a
h
i
s
o
f
e
w
t
h
i
k
t
t
t
h
f
r
n
s
a
m
m
n
d
H
a
o
49 9
bu t h e o ff e r s n o t h i n g t o s u b
a id a n d in flu e n c e o f G o v e r n o r C l in t o n
i 1 8 0 J e f f e r s o n k n e w t h e c h an c e l l o r
s t an t iat e t h e in f e r e n c e ; op c it
w e l l a n d h a d be e n in m o r e o r l e s s a c t iv e c o rr e s p o n d e n c e w i t h h im s i n c e
L ib r a r y o f C o n gr e s s Se r i e s 1 i 1 01
1 78 2 ; Co r resp o n d e n ce o f Jefl er s o n
6
2
r
i
x
l
ix
e
s
e
ii
2
1
8
v
8
1 09
1 1 0 ; iv
1
88
1 07
5
;
;
3
5
3
3
9
99
45 3
S
1
R
.
R
.
L iv in g s t o n , Fe b
.
1 80 1
2 4,
;
,
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
1 02
2
77
,
R
1 03
.
1 o 3 a , 1 04;
,
R
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
l ii, 7 6 , 9 9
L iv in g s t o n t o
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
J e ff e r s o n
,
M ar c h
12
,
1 80 1
; ibid
.
,
Se r ie s
2
,
hi
,
.
J e ff e r s o n t o R R L i v i n g s t o n D ec e m be r 1 4 1 8 00 ; J e ff e r s o n Writ
v ii 462 -466
ing s ( Fo r d
T h e o r ig in al p ap e r in t h e h an d w r it i n g o f B u rr a n d e n d o r s e d by J e ff
e rs o n is a m o n g t h e p ap e r s in t h e a r c h i v e s o f t h e D e p a rt m e n t o f S t a t e
q u o t e d in A me rica n H is t o rica l R e v iew iii 2 9 0
3
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
4
,
1 39
]
,
.
I
39
,
I
D E ll / I T T
4O
A N D T H E S P OI LS S YS T E M
CL I N T ON
[ 1 40
col l ecto r o f the port Joh n S w art w o ut fo r that o f M arshal l
Theo d o rus Bai le y fo r superv i so r an d i nspecto r M athew
L D av i s fo r naval o ffi cer an d E d w ar d Li vi ngston fo r
d i stri ct att orne y
A ll o f these perhaps i ncl u d i ng L iv
ing s t o n were o f B ur r s i mme d i at e suppo rters
E d w ar d
Li vi ngsto n was appo i nted and so w as J ohn S w artwout
Then J e fferso n w rote to Geo rge Cl i nton
,
,
,
.
1
.
,
’
,
.
2
3
.
D i s p o s ed my s e l f
m ak e as fe w c h ange s in o ffi c e as p ossi bl e
to e n d ea v or to re s tore h a rmon y by av o id i ng eve ryt h i ng h a rs h
an d to remo ve o n ly f o r m alI h ave n eve rt h e l e s s b een
c on d u c t
p u rs u a d e d t h a t c i rcum s t an c e s in y our s t at e and s ti ll m ore in
t he n eig hb o ri n g s t a te s o n b o t h sid e s re q u i re s om e t h i n g more
I t i s re p re s e n te d t h at t h e Co l l ector N ava l o ffi ce r
S u p er
vi so r ough t a ll t o b e r em oved f or t h e vio le n c e o f t he i r c h ar
a c t e rs
c o nd uct
T h e f o ll o w i n g a rr an geme nt w as a gre e d o n
by C o l o Bu rr
re p re s e n t atives
s o m e o f y our S e n ato r s
Da vi d G e l ston c o ll ec tor Th e o d oru s Ba il e y N av a l o ffi cer
M L D avis S u p erv is o r Yet al l d id n o t agre e in all t he
n
a
rti
u
l
r
s
I
h
ve
i
n
e
re
eive
d
l
etter
s
e
x
re
s
s
ly
s
t
a
ti
g
c
a
8
1
a
s
c
c
p
p
t h at M r B a i l e y h as n o t re a d i n ess and h abit en ough o f b u s i
n e s s f or t h e o ffi c e o f N ava l o ffi c er
s ome s ugge s tio n s th a t
M r D avi s s s t an din g in s o c i et y
o t h er c i rc um s t an c e s w i ll
re n d er his n ot a re s p ec ta bl e a p p oi ntmen t t o t he i m p ortan t
the
o ffi c e o f S u p ervi s or
n
a
U c qu aint e d m y s e l f w i t h th e s e
o t h er c h a r a cte r s in t h e state w h i c h m ig h t b e p ro p er f or t h e s e
o ffi c e s
f orc e d to d e c i d e on t h e o pin io n s o f o t he rs t h ere is
no o n e w h o s e o p i nio n w ou l d c omm an d w i t h me gre at er re
i f y ou w o u l d b e s o goo d as to ad vi se m e
s p e c t t h an y our s
w h a t ot h er s w ou l d b e fi t t est f or
w h i c h o f t h e s e c h a r ac te rs
t h e s e o ffic es
A m i n H is t o ic l R e v i w ii i 2 9 0
to
,
,
,
v
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
'
,
.
,
’
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
4
.
‘
er ca
r
H u n t L if e
,
“E x
‘
J
ec u t ive
'
e fl e rs o n
( Fo r d
a nd
D av
of
.
e
E d w a rd
Jo u rn a l
of
,
.
,
L i v ing s t o n , 9 0
t h e S e na t e
.
i
,
.
403
.
C l in t o n M ay 1 7 1 80 1 ; J e ff e r s o n
J e ff e r so n r e e r s ed t h e o ffic e s s o u g h t
v iii
52 53
T h e l a t t e r w as an a p pl ic a n t fo r t h e n av al o ffic e
G e o rg e
to
,
is
a
,
.
,
,
,
v
.
H/rit ing s
by B ail e y
D E W I TT
1 42
CLI N T ON
TH E
A ND
S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 42
po stmastersh i p O f N ew Yo rk a po s i ti o n to wh i ch he was
s ubse q uently appo i nte d
I f th i s i s the case i t i s probable
that the Cl i ntons h a d noth i ng to d o w i th i t fo r early i n
1 8 0 4 B ai ley w rote to George Cl i nto n tel l i ng h im o f h i s a
p
poi ntment and expl ai ni ng h i s reasons fo r bei ng w i ll i ng to
resign hi s seat i n the senate to a c cept a h umbler be rth
S ho rtl y a fter h i s w i thd ra w al h o w ever Bai l e y d i d desert
t h e ranks o f the v i ce p res i dent an d j oi n the Cl i ntons
B urr soon came to real i ze that J e fferson h ad called a
sudden halt u p on exten d i ng h i s pat ronage to at l east o n e
o f h i s can d i d ates
Thi s was M at h e w L D avi s ; and i t
w as D av i s w h o fo ught to the bi tter en d fo r the appoi nt
ment h e had b een led to expect w oul d be gi ven h i m
Gal
l at i n J e fferson s secretary o f the t reasu r y suppo rted h im
w arml y
alth ough he d i sapproved i n t h e mai n o f anyth i ng
l i ke an extens i ve pol i cy o f removal
B ut Gallat i n w a s
mo re than l i kel y i nfl uence d to a great degree by h i s father
in l aw Commo d ore N i cholson who w as fri endly to the
B urr i nterests
N i chol son h o w eve r havi ng appeal ed to
th e Cl i ntons for thei r support w i th Je fferson i n h i s appl i
cat i on t o be comm i ssi oner o f loans i n New Yo rk and hav
1
,
.
,
2
.
,
,
3
-
.
.
.
4
.
’
,
,
5
,
6
.
-
,
,
7
.
.
.
,
‘
A d am s H is t o ry
,
of
Un it ed
th e
S t a t es ,
i
,
23 1
.
C l i n t o n P u blic P ap ers xx iii 7 2 65
T B ai l e y t o G C lin t o n Fe b 3 1 802 ; t h e s a m e t o sam e Fe b 2 8 1 802 ;
xx v i 69 5 2 69 69
ibid
T h e r e a s o n h e gi v e s fo r h is [ D av i s s ] a n x i e t y is t h a t i m m ed ia t e l y
a ft e r t h e a d j o u r n m e n t o f C o n gr e s s E L i v i n g s t o n an d o t h e r s m e n t io n e d
t o h im t h a t a p o s i t i v e a rr a n g e m e n t w a s m ad e by t h e A d m i n i s t r a t io n by
”
G al l a t i n t o J e ff e r s o n Se p
w h i c h h e w as t o b e a p p o in t e d t o t h a t o ffi c e ;
t e m be r 1 2 1 8 0 1 ; Gal l a t i n ll ril ing s i 47
0
i
8
1
1
2
I
8
0
1
i
bid
l
l
t
J
ff
r
pt
r
n
e
e
m
b
S
G a a in t o e e s o
53
;
47 4 ; 5
4
“G al l a t i n t o J e ff e r s o n J ly 2
i 28 29 ;
5 1 8 0 1 A u g u t 1 0 1 80 1 ; ibid
’
G e o rg e
v
,
,
.
,
i‘
.
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
’
,
.
,
,
/
,
,
"
,
,
5
e
,
u
.
.
.
.
.
,
s
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
32 . 33
'
2 82
Ni c h o l s o n
.
to
G a ll a ti n
,
A
u
gus t
10,
1 80 1 ;
A
d am
s
,
L if e
of
G a l l a t in
,
J
EFFERS
ON
3]
A ND T H E N E W
14
YO RK P A T R O NA G E
I
43
i ng sec ured bo th t h e suppo rt and the appo i ntme nt ? cease d
to exert h i msel f i n behal f o f B urr s fri en d D av i s sought
also to enl i st D e w i tt Cl i nton i n behal f o f h i s appl icati on
fo r Je fferson s favo r but o n S eptember 4 1 8 0 1 Cl i nton
w rote from N e w to w n :
1
’
.
’
,
,
l ogy f or no t w riti n g to y ou b e f ore a greea bly
t o p r o mis e : I t e n ti re ly e s cap e d m y reco l l ecti o n u n ti l y e s te r d ay
Ho w ever w i ll i n g I m ig h t be to a d v an c e y our vie w s i n g e n
e ral
y et in t h e ca se o f re c om me n d ation t o t h e E xe c utive f or
o ffi c e I t h i n k it th e d ut y o f ever
y f rie n d o f t h e a d mi n i s tr ation
t o ac t w i t h a s m uc h ca uti o n as i f h e w e re u n d e r t h e m o s t
s ac re d o bl ig a tio n s
Time m ay p o s s i bly remove t h e imp e d i
m e n t s w h i c h u p o n more m ature re fl e c tio n h ave p re s e n te d t h e m
s e l ve s to m y mi n d in a d d i tio n to t h e o n e I s ugge s te d : I f t h i s
s h ou l d
ever p rove t h e c a s e i t w i ll a ff or d me t h e h igh e s t
s a ti s f ac t ion to see y our w i s h e s g rat ifie d
I
o
w e yo u
a n ap o
.
,
,
.
3
.
Cl i nton s refusal to recommend d i d not dampen the ardo r
o f B urr for D avi s no r o f D av i s fo r h i msel f B urr had al
read y complai ned t o Gallat i n o f
secret mach i nati ons
”
b ut he c ont i nued t o ad d ress the p res i dent
agai nst D av i s
i n h i s behal f J e fferson w o uld have none o f i t He ha d
i n all p robab i l i ty deci ded not to make the appo i ntment be
’
.
4
,
.
.
C l i n t o n t o J e ff e r s o n O c t o be r 1 3 1 80 1 ; G eo rg e Cl i n t o n P u b
T h e l e t t e r is a r o u g h fir s t d r a f t a n d a l i n e is
l ic P ap er s x x v i 688 3
M r D e w i t t C l i n t o n h as l a t e ly ad d r e s s e d a
d r aw n t h r o u g h t h e w o r d s
“
”
l e t t e r t o y o u in h is Fav o r
T h e l e t t e r r e ad s in p ar t :
J am e s Ni c h o l
s o n E s q u ir e o f t h e C it y o f N e w Yo r k i n f o r m s m e t h a t G e n C l a r k s o n in
t e n d s t o r e s ig n t h e P l ac e o f L o an O ffic e r and t h a t u n d e r t h i s I m pr e s s i o n
h e h a s o ff e r e d h i m s e lf a s a c an d i d a t e fo r i t an d h as s o l i c i t e d m e t o c o m
m u n ic at e t o y o u t h e O p i n i o n (o f ) I e n t e r t ai n o f h im
E x ecn t z w Jo u r n a l o f t h e S e n a t e i 40 1
D e W it t C l in t o n t o M at h e w L D av is S e p t e m be r 4 I 80 1 ; D e Wit t
1
G e o rg e
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
.
'
.
z
'
,
,
.
3
.
C l in t o n P a pers , ii, 66
‘
B u rr t o G a l l a t in ,
,
,
.
J un e
2 8 , 1 8 01
; A
d am s L if e
,
of
G a lla t i n ,
2 83
.
CLI N T ON A ND
DE W I TT
1 44
S Y S TEM
T H E S P OI L S
[ 1 44
fo re D av i s sought h i m o ut to press hi s clai m at the pres i
d ent s Vi rgi ni a h ome and he w as not even move d to relent
“
b y Gallati n s asserti on that th ere i s hardl y a man w h o
me d dles w i th pol it i cs i n New Yo rk w h o does not bel i eve
t h at D avi s s rej ecti o n i s o w n i ng to B urr s reco m m en d a
”
t i on
To B urr he w rote o n November ei ghteenth
’
,
’
’
’
1
°
.
Your f avou r o f t he I Ot h h as be en re c eive d as h ave b ee n t ho s e
o f S e p tem b er 4t h an d 2 3 d in d ue t ime T h e s e l etter s all rel a t
ing t o o ffi c e f al l w i t h i n t h e ge n e ra l ru l e w h i c h even t h e ver y
fi r s t w ee k o f m y b ei n g e ngage d in t h e a d mi n i s tr ati o n o bl ige d
me to est abl i s h t o w it t h at o f no t an s w e ri n g l etter s o n o ffi c e
sp e c i fi c a l l y b ut l e avi n g t h e an s w er t o be f ou nd in w h a t is d o n e
or n o t d o n e o n t h em Yo u w i l l re a d ily con c eive i n to w h at
s c r a p e s o n e w ou l d get by s ay i n g n o
ei t h er w it h or w it h out
re a so n s ; by u s i ng a s o f ter l an gu age w h i ch m ig h t e xc ite f al s e
h o p e s o r by s ay i n g y es p rem atu re ly ; and to t a k e a w ay al l
o ff e n c e f rom t h i s s i l e n t an s w er i t is n e c e s s a ry to a dh ere to i t
in every c a s e rigi dl y as w e l l w it h bo s om f ri e n d s as w it h
s tr an ger s
‘
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
2
.
D avi s
not appo i nted ; nei ther w as Comptroller J enki ns
w hom D e w i tt Cl i nton seems to have p u t fo r w ar d for the
o ffice later o n
R ogers the reputed revol ut i onary tor y
rema i ne d at the post o f naval o fficer
I t h as been state d b y M r H en r y A d ams largel y o n the
basi s o f t h e D avi s ep i so d e t h at a col l us i on ex i sted i n 1 8 0 1
bet w een Je fferson and D e \v i tt Cl i nto n to d ri ve B urr from
”
the republ i can pa rt y an d h e asse rt s th at i t was the remon
”
slate w h i ch
st rance o f D e w itt Cl i nto n agai nst the B urr
w as
.
4
3
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
'
Ga l l a t
in
.
W rit ing s
,
i
,
53
.
J e ff e r s o n t o B u rr No e m b r 1 8
W rit ing s (Fo r d
1 5 9 ; J e ff e r s o n
1 58
“G al l a t i n W rz l z n s i 1 0
4
g
'
e
v
.
8 0 1 ; D av i s fl/em o z r c
’
.
I
,
v
,
,
’
“A d a m s H is t o r
y
,
.
1 02
.
i
'
.
,
’
iii
of
,
the
.
Un i/ed S t a t es
.
i
,
2 3 1- 2 3 6
.
.
48
.
of
B u rr
.
ii
,
I
DE WI TT C LI NTON
46
A ND TH E S P OI L S S YS T E M
[ 1 46
M y Nep h e w M r D ewit t C l i n to n w ill h ave t h e h o n or o f de
l iveri n g yo u t h i s l et t e r P erm i t me to r e c ommend h im t o
y our f ri en d ly n ot ice He w as t h i s d ay a pp oin te d a s e n ator
f rom t h i s s t ate in t h e Con gre s s o f t h e U n i t e d S tate s in t h e
r oo m o f M r Arm s tro n g w h o h ad recen t ly re s ign e d h is s e a t in
t h a t b o dy an d w i l l imm e diate ly s t a rt fo r t h e se at o f G ov
I t is r eas o n able to c o n c l ud e t h at I f ee l p a rtia l i t y fo r
e rn m e n t
h im a s w e l l f ro m t h e c o n s an gui nit y t h at e x i s t s b et w e en us
a s f rom h is h avi n g
a t an e a r ly p eri o d o f l i f e
b een o f my
f amily in t h e c on fi d enti al c ap acit y o f my p riv ate s e c ret a ry
But I c an w ith gr eat t rut h as s ure yo u t h at t h e s e c o n s i d er a
tion s h ave no i n fl uence u p o n m e in giving y ou h is c h a racter
His p re se nt a pp oin t m e n t ( w hic h w as f ro m a l a rge m aj o ri t y )
as w e l l as d i ff erent e l ec tive a d v a ntages h e h a d p reviou s ly fill e d
a ff or d go o d eviden c e o f h is p o s s essin g t h e c on fid enc e o f h is
fe ll o w c i ti z en s Hi s po l itic al p ri n c i p l es a re p u r e a n d h e h as
too mu c h d ign i t y e ver to d evia t e f rom t h em ; n o r w i l l y ou fi n d
h im d e stitute o f t al en t s an d i n f ormatio n
,
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1
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F i ve cand i dates were recommen d e d to Je fferson by the
v i ce -pres i dent One o f them a Li v i ngston reckoned am ong
the fri ends o f Burr was appoi nted : t w o o f th e rema i ni ng
fou r w ere placed i n th e o ffi ces the y sought ; a fourth de
f ect e d from B urr and rel i nqui she d hi s candi dacy ; w h i le o ne
Onl y one o f these o ffices
w as at least negat i vel y re fused
When t h ese facts a re j o i ned
w as fille d by a C l int o n ia n
to that o f D e w i tt s Cl i nton s h avi ng no personal acquai nt
a nce w i th the pres i d ent an d to th e probabi l i t y that no l i ne
o f co rrespo ndence passed bet w een th em o n the subj ect the
charge o f a d i re cons p i rac y bet w een t h em to accompl i sh the
rui n o f th e vi ce presi dent i s robbe d o f m uch o f i ts co lo r
J e fferson s general p ol i c y i n d i st ri but ing the nati onal p a
G o rg e C l i n t o n t o J ff r o n F b r uar y 9 1 8 0 2 ; Co esp n d n ce o f
T/ m s Jefle rs o n L i b r r o f C o n gr e s S e r i e 2 x ii 6 1
G rg C l in t o n P bl ic P pe s xx i i 7 05 2 ; C h ee t h am A R ep ly t o
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,
2
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’
’
,
-
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’
‘
e
e
e s
e
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o
rr
,
'
zo
a
eo
A
ris t id es
e
,
,
1 2 4,
125
s
a y
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u
a
r
,
s
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v
,
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v
,
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,
e
1 47
J
EFFERS
O
N
]
YO RK PA TR ONA G E
A ND T H E N E W
I
47
t ronage has been the s ubj ect o f i nvestigati on by mo re than
o n e h i sto ri an
We are concerned w ith i t here o nly as i t
th ro w s l ight upon the movement o f events i n New York
d uri ng the summer o f 1 8 0 1 un d er the t h e gui d ance o f
D e w i tt Cl i nton
How fa r Cl i nton ma y have been in
fl uenced in l ayi ng h i s plans by the pol icy w hi ch Je fferso n
w as p ursui ng at that ti me i t i s d i fficult to sa y
Je fferson
had come to the p res i d ency w h i l e the cont roversy between
J ay and Cl i nton w as bei ng fought out i n the New Yor k
l egi slature H i s atti tude to w a rd the fe d eral i st o ffi ce hol d
e rs ha d begun to recei ve express i on there fo re befo re an y
removal s h ad taken place i n Ne w Yo r k P rompted by a
des i re to w in over to h imsel f and hi s party a large element
o f the defeated federal i sts he w as mov i ng w i t h caut i on
d ur i ng the fi rst f ew months o f h i s a d m i ni st rati on I n a
letter to M onroe w ri tten soon a fte r h i s i naugurati on he sai d
.
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,
,
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.
D ep riv a tio n s o f o ffi c e if m a de o n t h e ground o f p o l itic al p ri n
c ip l e s a l on e
w o u l d revo l t o u r ne w c o n vert s an d give a b o dy
to l e ad e rs wh o n o w s t an d al o n e S ome I k no w mu s t b e
m a d e T h e y mus t be as f e w a s p o s s ib l e d o n e gra d u al ly an d
b o ttome d o n s om e m alv e rs io n o r in h er e n t d i s q u al i fi c a tio n
Wh ere w e s h al l d r a w t h e l i n e b et w een retai n ing all n o n e is
n o t y et s ett l e d and w i ll n o t b e t i ll w e get o u r a d m i nis tr a tio n
to get h er
,
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,
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1
.
A n d i n the follo w i ng summer he
w
rote to Gal l at i n :
W h i l e w e p u s h t h e p atienc e o f o u r f ri e n d s to t h e utmo s t i t
w ill b e a r in or d er t h a t w e m ay g at h er i n to t h e s ame f o l d a l l
t h e R e p u bl ica n F e d er al i s t s p os s i bl e w e mu s t n o t e ve n f or t h i
I t w ou l d b e a p oor
o bj ect a b so l ut e ly revo l t o u r tri e d f rie n d s
ma n o e uv re to exch ange t h em f or n e w convert s
.
,
s
,
,
.
,
2
.
1
2
M ar c h 7
A
u
gu s t
,
J e ff e r s o n
1 8 0 1 ; G al l a t in
1 801
1 4,
;
W ri t ing s (Fo r d
,
,
I Vr it ing s
,
i 37
,
.
v
iii
,
IO
.
DE W I T T CLI N T ON
1 48
A ND
THE
S Y S TE M
S P OI L S
[ 1 48
As a matte r o f f a c t no cons i derabl e number o f removals
had been made b y Je fferson be fore the A ugust meet i ng o f
the counci l o f appo i ntment
T h e p roscri pt i on had h o w
ever sta rted and a mo re general proscri pti o n ha d been pub
l icly h i nted at by Je fferson
I t i s a l most certai n that Cl i n
ton ha d recei ved no d i rect communi cati o n from h i m o n th e
s ubj ect b ut Je fferson s wel l known reply to the remon
strance o f the New H aven federal i sts at one o f h is re
m o v als ha d been p ubl i shed th rougho ut the co untry by th e
press o f both parti es I t had been p ri nted in the Albany
papers towar d the end o f J uly Cl i nton had therefore
rea d
1
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3
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,
W h e n i t is c o n s i d ere d t h at d uri ng t h e l at e a d mi n i s tration t h o s e
wh o w ere n o t o f a p a rti c u l a r s ect o f p o l itic s w ere ex c l u d e d
f rom a l l o ffic e : w h e n by a s te a dy p ursu i t o f t h is mea s ure
near ly t h e w h o l e o ffi c es o f t h e U n it e d S t ate s w ere m o n o po l ize d
by t h at sect ; w h e n t h e p u b l i c s e n tim en t at le n gt h d ec l ar e d
itse l f an d b u r s t op e n t h e d o ors o f h on o r an d c o n fid e n c e to
t h o s e w h ose Op i n ion s t he y more a pp rove d ; w as i t t o b e
imagi n e d t h a t t h i s mon op o ly o f o ffi ce w a s sti ll to b e conti n ue d
in th e h a n d s o f t h e mi n ori ty ? D o es it v i o l ate t h ei r e qu al
l
h
rig h t s t o a s s ert s ome rig ht s in t e m aj ori t y al s o ?
I s i t p o lit i
c al in t o l eran c e to c l a im a p ro po rt io n ate s h ar e in t h e d i rectio n
o f t h e p u bl i c a ff ai r s ?
I f a d ue p a rti c i p a t io n o f o ffi c e
is a m atter O f rig h t h o w a re v ac an c i e s t o b e o b t a i n e d ? T h o s e
,
,
f
l
,
A l ba ny G az et t e
,
A
u
gus t
2 7 , 1 80 1
.
v iii
J u ly 1 2 1 8 0 1 ; J e ff e r s o n Writ ing s (Fo r d
69 70
E l i z u r G o o d r i c h h ad b e e n a p p o i n t e d by A d a m s t o t h e c o ll e c t o r
s h i p o f N e w H a v e n a fe w d ay s b e f o r e t h e e xp i r a t i o n o f h is p r e s i d e n c y
J e ff e r s o n c h o s e n o t t o h an d l e t h e s e l a t e
(E x ec u t iv e Jo u rn a l i
W rit ing s (W as h i n g
a pp o i n t m e n t s w i t h m uc h c o n s i d e r a t i o n (J e ff e r s o n
S a m ue l B i s h o p w a s
v iii
iv 3 8 1 3 8 3 ; ( Fo r d
to n
44
t h e r e f o r e ap p o i n t e d in G o o d r i c h s p l ac e ( Ex ec u t iv e Jo u rn a l i 402 )and
t h e Ne w H a v e n f e d e r al i s t s m a d e a f o r m a l p r o t e s t (A lba ny R eg is t e r
J u ly 3 1 1 8 0 ; A m e ic a n H is t o rica l R e v iew iii
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1
DE W I TT CL I N T ON
50
TH E
A ND
S P OI L S
S Y S TE M
[ 1 50
the M embers had made up thei r M i nds upon the S ubj ect
and th i s w i ll Account fo r t h e fai l ure o f recent Appl i cat i ons
”
at least
O n the t w ent y -ni nth o f Janua r y 1 8 0 2 t h e famous counc i l
h avi ng reached the l i mi t o f i ts constituti onal l i fe bro ught
it s labo rs to a close
S carcel y h a d i ts d i ssol uti on taken
place w h en Joh n A rmst rong resi gned h i s seat i n the U nited
S tates senate ass igni ng as the reason fo r h i s reti rement the
2
i l l ness o f h imsel f an d h i s w i fe
S o nearl y even w as th e
d i vi s i on o f parti es i n the senate that A rmst rong s absence
d u ri ng the debate on th e repeal o f A dams s j ud i ci ary bi ll
h ad seri o usl y j eopar d i z ed the f ate o f the meas ure O n the
fi rst rumo r o f A rmstrong s res ignat i on D r S amuel M it ch ill
then a membe r o f con gress w rote to Governo r Cl i nton urg
i ng p rompt act i on i n the appoi ntment o f h i s s uccesso r M r
\ V C N i cholas o f V i rgi n i a he sai d had exp ressed anx i ety
o n the occas i on The republ i cans w ere des i rous o f co llect
8
i ng the i r ful l strength
I t w as i n th i s e xt rem it y that
D e w i tt Cl i nton was elected to the vacanc y i n the senate
and w as started o ff fo r Was h i ngton i n some haste for
t h ose d a y s S i x d a y s be fo re h i s el ecti on b y the l egi slature
t h e favo ri te sc h eme o f the a d m i n i st rat i on at \V as h i ngton
“
h ad passe d th e senate by a ma j o ri ty o f o n e
I n the Uni te d S tates senate Cl i nton w as the colleague o f
G ouve rneu r M o rri s the federal i st senato r fo r New Yo rk
w h o b y reason o f t h e long senato ri al te rm ha d l ike many
1
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rg e C l i n t o n P u blic P apers xx v i 68 70
A lba ny R eg is t e r Fe b r u a r y 1 2 1 802
Sa m u e l M it c h ill t o G e o rg e C l i n t o n J an u a r y 2 4 1 8 02 ; G e o r g e C l i n
t o n P u bl ic P ap ers x x v i 69 44
xx i
T h eo d o r u s B a i l e y t o G e o rg e Cl i n t o n Fe b r u a r y 3 1 80 2 ; ibid
T h e n e w s o f t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e b i l l w as p u b l i s h e d in t h e A lb ny
69 5 2
G az et t e Fe b r u a r y 1 5 A lba ny R eg is t er Fe b r u a r y 1 6 1 802
1
A
u
gus t
3 0 , 1 80 1
; Geo
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1
J
EFFERS
O
N
5 ]
YO RK
A ND T H E N E W
1
P A TR ONA GE
1
51
thers s urv ived the trans i ti o n o f parti es The contrast be
t w een th e veteran statesman o f the revol ut i on an d the as
p iran t o f a ne w er generati on w as as stri k i ng as i t must
have been tryi ng
Yet Cl i nton s sho rt -l ived caree r i n
the upper hous e o f the legi slature w as not w i tho ut promi se
H i s share i n the debate over t h e Lo ui s i ana s i tuati on seems
to have been th e most consp i cuous o f hi s ach i evements
S enato r R oss o f Pennsylvani a ha d i nt ro d uce d resol ut i ons
fo r t h e fo rce ful sei zure o f an open i ng to the mouth o f the
M i ss iss i ppi Cl i nto n oppose d h i m One o f t h e senators
p resent des cr ibe d h im on thi s occas i o n :
o
.
’
.
.
.
.
C l i n to n
.
i out t h at fl ue nc y o f s p eec h so c o m mo n as to b e al
m o s t an i n d ige n ou s Am e ri c an f ac i l it y and p ro b ably f or t h at
re as on i n s te a d o f o n e o f t h o s e u n p re p are d an d al mo s t u np re
m e d it ate d e j ac u l atio n s o f te n uttere d by m e m b er s o f Co ngr e s s
w it h out e f f ort a n d w it h a s l i tt l e e f f e c t met h o d i c ally too k h is
rt
t
h
i
e
b
te
by
e
l
n
ab orate or a tio n l e avi n g a s h e d is
a
i
n
s
d
a
a
p
d a in f u lly p re m i s e d M r R oss and M r W h ite in u n d i s tur b e d
n fl amm ator y a p p e a l s an d
o
e
io
h
t
h
e
ll
e
d
t
h
ei
r
i
a
n
o
f
a
c
w
s
s
s
s
p
d e c l am ator y e f f u s io n s
,
w th
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
1
.
B ut the senate w as not at that t ime regarde d as a place o f
great d i st i nct i on and l arge i n fl uence I t w as very much
overshado w ed by t h e impo rtance o f the l o w er house
R es ignat i ons o f members t o accept vari ous state o ffi ces
A nd Cl i nton soon came
w ere b y no means uncommo n
to real i z e that both hi s personal i nterest and that o f h i s
party poi nte d to h i s return to New York as t h e l ea d er and
o rgani zer o f t h e fo rces w h i c h part y contenti ons w ere scat
t er i ng rath er than d ra w i ng togethe r I n A ugust 1 8 0 3
E d w ard Li vi ngsto n resigne d t h e o ffi ce o f mayo r o f Ne w
.
2
'
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,
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l
2
I n g e rs o l l , R eco l lec t io n s , 45 0
A d a m s H is t o ry
,
of
th e
.
Un it ed
S t a t es
,
i
,
2 66
.
I
1
D E W I TT
52
CLI N T ON
S YS TE M
A ND TH E S P OI LS
[ 1 52
Yo rk ow i ng to a co ns i derabl e d e falcati on i n h i s accounts
as d i stri ct at to rney o f t h e Uni ted S tates
The opportun
i ty fo r Cl i nton s resto rat i o n to t h e pa rt y i n New Yo rk was
at hand A lmo st i mme d i ately the C l int o n ians began to
clamo r fo r h i s appo i ntment to the vacancy
Tun i s Wo rt
man w ro te to Governo r Cl i nton :
1
2
.
’
.
3
.
I h ave t h e p l e a sure o f as s uring yo ur E xc e l l e n cy t h at amo ng
t h e Re p u bl i c ans h ere t h ere e x i st s a p er f e c t unif ormit y o f
o p inio n T h ere is b ut o n e voic e amon g t h o s e t h at c an b e c o n
s id e re d a s f a i t h f u l to o u r cause
From t h e i n ter cour s e I h ave
h a d w i t h t h em I c an venture t o s t a te w it h p er f e c t c o n f d e n ce
t h at i t is t h ei r g e n er al w i s h t h at M D ew i tt C l i n to n s h ou l d
b e app oin te d to t h at o ffi ce an d t h at t h e y c o n s i de r t h at ap p oi nt
me n t as e s s en ti a l t o t h e p re se rv atio n o f R ep u bl i c an i n tere s t in
4
t h i s p l ac e
.
.
i
,
r
.
,
.
The governo r seems at fi rst no t to have tho ught o f h i m
fo r the appo i ntment O n the th i rd o f S eptember he w rote
aski ng h i s adv i ce on the New Yo rk s i tuati on The fol
lo w i ng arrangement w as spoken o f th e present ma y o r t o
be governo r o f New O rl eans th e ch i e f j ust i ce to be mayo r
M r K ent to be chi e f j ust ice M r S pencer a j udge an d M r
Wood w o rth the atto rney general H e feared the a rrange
ment woul d be perni ci ous \ Vo u l d D e w i tt Cl i nton express
”
h i s Opi n i on o n the del i cate
i nterest i ng S ubj ect ?
S ome speculati on has been i ndulged i n as to the moti ves
.
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,
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’
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5
C l i n t o n t o Ed w ar d L i i n g s t o n A u g u s t 2 9 1 803 ; G e o rg e
C l i n t o n P u blic P apers x x v ii 7 1 62
H u n t L if e o f E d w a rd L i v ing s t o n 1 0 1 1 02
J o h n B r o o m e a n d o t h e r m e m be r s o f t h e as s m b ly f r o m N e w Yo r k t o
G eo rg e C l i n t n S e p t e m be r 6 1 803 ; W i l l i a m Ed g a r t o t h e C o u n c i l S e p
t e m be r 9 1 803 ; G eo rg e C l i n t o n P u blic P ape rs xx v i i 7 1 7 2 7 1 74
xx v i i
T W rt m a n t o G e o rg e C l i n t o n S e p t e m be r 1 0 1 8 03 ; ibid
l
G e o rg e
v
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,
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,
3
e
o
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7 1 75
5
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o
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G
.
Cl i n t o n
to
D ew
.
Cl i n to n
,
Se p t e m b e r 3
,
1801
; ibid
.
,
xx ii
v
,
7 1 68
.
1
DEWI
54
TT
CLI N T ON A ND TH E SP O I L S
S Y S TE M
[ 1 54
R eco rd e r [Jo h n B P re vost ] B L i vin gst o n J B room e
Mr
O s goo d— T h e y h ave a l l w a ive d t he i r p r etens i o ns i n m y f avo r
I e nc l o se y ou B L s le tt e r to m e— a n d y ou will l e a rn f ro m
ot h e r s o u r ce s t h e oup in io n s o f t h e o t h e r s
Yo u wi ll o f cou r se be g l ad to kn o w my views
s ent i m ent s
o n t h e o cc a s i on — D el i caey w ou l d h ave f orb i d t h i s c o m m u n ic a
t i on h ad it n o t b e en fo r y ou r f rie nd ly t o m e flatter i n g en
— I s h a l l s e a k to
r
u
i
i
e
s
h
n
a n d o r to
i
t
h
s
i
ri
t
y
c
o
u
w
t
e
ce
q
p
y
w h i c h y ou are ent i t l e d f ro m me
m
i
m
e r ly at
o
i
g
f
a
i
ly
to
h
c
h
I
te
n
I h ave a yo un g
r
n
a
d
w
w
g
c are
t ac h e d a n d w h i c h re qu i r e m y co nstant a t ten d a n ce
A n absen c e o f s i x m ont h s i s in su p p o nt able — I cann o t t h e r e
f o r e t h in k o f r et ain in g m y p r e sent s i tuat i on be y ond t h e ne x t
s e ss i on— A d d to t h i s t h at a l t h o m y p ro p ert y i s l a rge y et
I h ave a l r ea d y sac r i fi ce d too m uc h t o p ub lic cons i d e r at i ons
t h at t h e e x p en c e o f t h ree estab l i s h m ents one h ere [ Ne w to w n ]
—o n e in Wash i n gt o n a n d o n e in Ne w Y o r k i s m ore t h an I
T h at m y absen c e so l on g f r o m t h e S t ate i s
c an w e l l a ff o r d
a serio us i n j ur y to t he r e p ub l i can caus e—t h at it (h as a f
fo r de d
i n t ri g uin g men a n o p p ortun i t y
w i l l a ff or d bu s y
to f u r t h er t he i r p e rn i c i o us p ro j ec ts
t h at m y r es i d ence in
co n
N Y w ou l d gi v e m e an o p p o r tu n i t y o f d etect i n g
t r o l lin g t h ese cons p i r ac i es I n t h e c on fi d ence o f f r i en d s h i p
I m ay su r e ly me nt i on t h ese c i r cum st an c es w it h out van i t y
c h a r ac te r t he r e can be n o
a n d a l so t h at i n p o i nt o f c a p ao it y
—
so l id obj ect i o n I am a l so a re s i d ent part o f t h e y e ar an d am
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w i s h o f t h e r e publ i c ans o f t h e S ou t h e r n D ist nict
Ob j ect i on s m ay h o w e ve r be e x h i b i te d to t he measu r e a n d
so m e o f t h e m o f so m e f orce
—
m
a
I t m ay be s a i d t h at o ffic es g o into p a r t i cu l r f a i l i es To
t h i s i t m ay be r e pl ie d t h at a s i t r e s p ects y ou r s t h e o b j ect i on
i s o f n o w e i g h t— Th at not o n e o f t h e m h o l d s an o ffi c e in t h e
S tat e o r G en l Gov t by appo int m e nt o r t h at i s st r i ctl y s p ea ki n g
a l uc r at i ve o n e T o t h e o bse rvat i on t h at m y p o l i t i ca l d est i na
t i on i s al r e a d y m a rk e d o u t b y t h e gov t t h at I ou g h t to se r ve
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T H E NE W
YO RK
PA
TR O N /16 15
1
55
t h e a ll o tt ed t i m e i t m ay be a nswere d t h at t h e g ov t m ay
w h en t h e y p le as e a l te r t h at d es tinat i on
To obj e ct i o n s a ri s i n g f r o m d el ic ac y o n y ou r account i t m a
y
be re p l i e d t h at an a pp o i nt m ent s p rin gi n g f r o m t h e a l m o st
unan im o us w i s h o f t h e p art y in t h e C i ty w h o l e D i st rict c an
neve r be c h ar g e d w i t h f avor it i s m — bu t t h at t h e event w ou l d
in a ll p r obab i l i t y t a k e p l ace i f yo u we r e n o t t h e c hief Ma gi s
—
t r ate an d t h at y ou r e l evat i o n ou g h t not to i n j ure y ou r f ri en d s
You t h can be n o s o l i d a rg u m e nt a g a i nst t h e m e asu r e — A
S enator o f t h e U S i s su r ely fit to be May o r o f N Y — I t
ma y be a d d e d t h at t h e l at te r s i tuat i on f r o m i ts i n fluenc e o n t h e
ne xt P r es i d ent i a l Ele ct i on i s a m on g t h e m o st i m p o r tant p os i
t i ons i n t h e U S tates
o ut
,
,
"
.
,
,
,
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1
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.
D e w i tt Cl i nto n s a rguments i n h i s own be h al f were
su ffici ently co nv i nci ng to t h e governo r an d t h e counci l
The appo i ntment was made h e resi gned h i s seat i n t h e
senate and i n th e fal l o f 1 8 0 3 returned to resume h i s lead
e rs h ip o f the republ i can forces i n New Y o r k
I n the s ummer o f the y ea r p reced i ng C l i nton s retu r n
“
James Cheetham the v i olent ed ito r o f the A merican C i ti z en
”
an d Watch Tower h ad begun th e first O pen attack upon
’
.
,
.
’
,
,
,
the character and career o f V i ce P res i dent Bu rr
It was
the signal on both s i des fo r a furi ous fusi l l ade o f rec rim
in at ing pamphlets an d scandalo us press a rti cles wh i ch dur
i ng t h e next few years o nl y i ncreased t h e i ntens i t y o f i ts
fi re and eventua l l y accompl i s h ed the downfa l l o f the ob j ect
o f its attack O f the v i olent personal i ti es t h at were th row n
i nto th i s wa r fare o f man y words ; o f the reputat i ons t h at
we re sought to be b l asted ; o f the l i es and d eee pt io ns and
ch i caneri es ; o f the i nt imac y o f D e w i tt C l i nton s co nnec
2
-
.
.
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l
D e W it t
Cli nto n t o
C l i n t o n P u bl ic P ap ers
,
2
View
A
1 802
;
of
,
G e o r ge C li n t o n
xx v i i 7 1 80
.
S e p t e m be r
11
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1 8 03
;
G eo r ge
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t lze P o l it ic a l Co n d u c t
an n o u n c e d
,
of
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in t h e A l ba ny R egis t e r
,
a ro n
J u ly
B
9
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p u bl i s h e d
u rr ,
1 8 02
.
in
J u ly
,
1
56
DE WI TT C LI N TON
A ND
THE S P O IL S S Y S TE M
[ 1 56
t i on w i th C heetham ; o f the frequent reco urse to the d uell
i ng grounds across the ri ver begi nn i ng w i th the m urder
o f H am i lton s youth ful son and endi ng w i th the contest
whi ch cost the father h i s l i fe ; o f D e w i tt C l i nto n s passage
o f arms w i th Joh n S w art wout ; o f all these th i ngs l i ttle
need be sai d fo r they are bes i de the p urpose I t i s per
haps wo rth y o f reco rd onl y that i n the m i dst o f th i s chaos
o f parti es i n New Yo rk accusati ons o f d i scri m i nat i on i n the
d i stributi on o f the pat ronage pla y ed no small part A nd
i t seems patent that as i de from the p uri t y o r baseness o f
Cl i nto n s moti ves t h e d i spo s i t i on wh i ch he made o f the o ffices
w i thi n hi s control i n 1 8 0 1 gave r i se to a sp i r it o f acri moni ous
gri evance wh i ch was largel y responsible fo r t h e subsequent
embro i lment o f p o lit ic s w i th i n t h e state
’
’
,
.
.
’
.
I t i s d i fficul t to t race w i th certai nty the evo l uti on o f
pol i ci es i n the d i stributi on o f governm ental patronage The
mot i ves o f th o se who made the d i stri buti on a re not alwa y s
apparent Th e facts are mo re o r less el us i ve an d all o f
them a re perhaps neve r obta i nable There i s constant dan
ge r under such ci rcumstances o f y i eld i ng to the temptati on
to gene ral i z e f rom a few specific i nst ances Yet v i ewed
as a w h o l e t h e h i sto r y o f t h e earl y pat ronage bot h i n the
nati onal government and i n New Yo rk p resents a certai n
c onsi stenc y o f devel opment From the y ear 1 7 77 when
N ew Yo rk was t rans formed from col on y to state down to
th e c l ose o f h is long term as governor G eo rge C l i nton was
face to face w i t h cond iti ons ver y s i mi la r to those wh i ch
W a s h ingto n encountered d uri ng the fi rst y ears o f h i s a d
m i n i st rat i on There were no po l i t i cal pa rt i es and all t h e
o ffi ces were fi l led w it h men o f thei r own appo i ntment
P ol it i cal consi d erati ons there fo re pla y ed no pa rt i n th e
c h o ice o f cand i d ates and the q uest i on o f removal from
o ffice d id not a r i se I f t h e att it u d e o f cand i dates toward
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,
1
58
D E M/ I T T
C LI N TON
A ND TH E
S P O IL S S Y S T E M
[ 1 58
found that be fo re t h e cl ose o f the few years o f thei r power
a l most t h e whole number o f the appo i nt ive o ffices had been
occupi ed b y t h em
I t was there fo re largely a new si tuati on wh i ch the re
publ i cans faced i n 1 8 0 1 whe n the first change o f part i es i n
the nat i on pl aced them i n powe r A l l o f the o ffices were i n
the hands o f their pol iti cal opponents to th e tota l excl usi on
The general pol i cy w h ich they pursued
o f the i r own part y
was to m ake room fo r the excl ude d republi cans by re m o v
i ng federal i st o ffice holders unt i l an approxi mat e propo rt i on
I n its method th i s
o f o ffi ces shoul d be hel d b y each part y
pol i c y appeared mo re v i o lent than t h at adopted b y th e feder
a l is t s ; i n i ts res ults i t was perhaps mi l der
H o w D e w i tt Cl i nton carri ed o u t th i s scheme o f d is t rib u
t ion i n New Y o rk h as been exam i ned i n detai l I n s u m
m a riz ing i t i s su ffici ent to rei terate t hat wh i le the system
wh i ch b e i nst i tuted was more ra d i cal th an an y t h i ng wh i ch
preceded i t y et i t fel l far s h o rt o f a total d i sm i ssal o f the
federal i sts i n o ffice and was at l east pa rt i all y j ust i fi ed b y
t h e excl us i ve pol i cy wh i ch had been pursued by the ret ir
i ng federal i sts
.
,
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,
,
.
BI BLI O G R A PH Y
MA
SO U R C E S :
NU SC RI PT
C i v i l Fi l e s
pp o i n t m e n t N e w Yo r k St at e L i br a r y
T h es e p ap e r s are fo r t h e m o s t p ar t app l i cat i o n s and p e titi o n s t o t h e
g o v e r n o r an d t h e c o u n c i l fo r app o i n t m e n t t o o ff i c e M an y o f t h e m
are e n d o r s e d w i th t h e d at e o f fi l i n g
T h e r e are al s o am o n g t h e m
n u m e r o u s l e t t e r s c o n t a i n i n g ac c u s a ti o n s a g a i n s t o ffic e h o l d e r s a n d
o t h e r s d e f end i n g t h em
a s w e l l as m a n y o d d m e m o r a n d a e v i d e n t l y
fo r u s e w i th i n t h e c o u n c i l
T h e p ap e r s are as y e t u n m o u n t e d
of
t he
Co u n c i l
of
A
,
.
.
.
-
,
.
M i nu t e s
of
the
dow n t o
I
pp o i n t m e n t Vo l u m e i 1 7 7 7 1 78 3
T h e r e m ai n i n g thi r t e e n v o l u m e s o f t h e
Co u n c i l
Y o r k S t at e L i b r ar y
of
.
8Z I w h en t h e
S ec r e t ar y
of
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-
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c o unc
S t a t e , A l ba n y ,
il
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w as ab o l s h e d , are
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A ft e r
in t h e
1 79 3 t h e
o
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ffic e
m i l i t ar y
Ne w
se
ri es
of
the
and t h e
i i l m i n u t e s w e r e r e c o r d e d in s e p ar at e v o l u m e s T h e p e r i o d c o v e r e d
by t h e p r e s e n t s t ud y th e r e fo r e is e m b r ac ed in v o l u m e s 1 n i i i i v
T h e s e m i nu t e s c o n t ai n fo r t h e m o s t p ar t o n l y r ec o r d s o f
an d v i
I n r a r e i n s t an c es r e c o r d is m ad e o f
app o i n t m e n t s a n d r e m o v a l s
O n ly t h e m i li t ar y m i n u t e s
o th e r p r o c e e d i n g s w i t h i n t h e c o u n c i l
h av e b ee n p u b l i s h e d
P ubl i c P ap e r s o f G eo r g e C li n t o n N e w Yo r k S t at e L i br ar y T h e s e
p ap e r s are m o u n t e d c al e n d ar e d a n d p ar t i ally i n d e x e d A bo u t
t w e n t y v o l u m e s h av e be e n p u bl i s h e d in t h e W ar o f t h e R e v o l u ti o n
Vo l u m e s
S e r i e s c o n s i s ti n g o f e i g h t p r i n t e d v o l u m e s w it h o u t i n d e x
xx i i t o xx v i i i c o n t ai n h e r e an d t h e r e m at e r i al fo r t h e s t ud y o f t h e
h i s t o r y o f p at r o n a g e in N e w Yo r k d o w n t o 1 80 3
c v
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,
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.
D e w i tt C l i n t o n
P ap e r s t w e n t y f o u r v o l u m e s L i b r a r y o f C o l u m b i a
T h e s e p ap e r s are m o u n t e d bu t n o t c al e n d ar e d T h e
U n i v e r s it y
i n c lu d i n g 1 80 1 c o n t ai n
v o l u m e s c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d p r i o r t o an d
o n l y o c c as i o n al r e fe r e n c e s t o t h e su bj ec t o f a pp o i n t m e nt s
-
,
,
.
.
.
The
C o rr es p o n d e n c e o f T h o m as J e ff e r s o n L i b r a r y o f C o n g r e s s
m o s t i m p o r t an t o f th e s e p ap e r s are t o be f o u n d in t h e p r i n t ed c o l
’
l ec t i o n s o f J e ff e r s o n s w r i ti n g s A fe w o f t h e u n p r i n t e d l e tt e r s ,
h o w ev e r , are o f i n t e r e s t in c o n n e c ti o n w i th t h e h i s t o r y o f Ne w
.
,
.
Yo r k
159
a
]
pp o i n t m e n t s
.
1 59
B I B LI O GRA P H Y
1 60
[ I 60
P R I NT E D S O U R C ES :
NeW
Ex e cu t i v e
G az e tt e
A l ban y
Sp ap e rs :
J o u r n al
of
the
A l ban y R e gi s t e r
,
S e n at e ,
i
W as h i n gt o n
.
G o v e r n o r s M e s s a g es i A l bany
Ell i o t D eba t e s i i
P h i l a d e l p h i a 1 88 1
N e w Y o r k A s s e m b l y an d S e n a t e J o u r n a l s
J o u r n a l o f t h e N e w Yo r k S t a t e C o n v e n t i o n
N e w Yo r k
’
.
,
,
.
,
.
1 82 5
,
1 82 8
,
.
.
.
,
.
b a ny
1 82 1
,
L aw s
of
Po o r e
,
,
1 82 1
the
A
l
n n al s
n na s o f
.
1 82 1
,
1 82 1 .
,
a nd
of
A l oa ny
A
.
N e w Yo r k
l ban y
1 88 8 .
,
New Yo r k C i t y fo r 1 7 86
Co n g r e s s
Fe d e r al i s t Fo r d
of
ii
Co n s t it u t io n s ,
.
,
W
i gt o n
as h n
—
1 85 9
1 85 0
A l ban y ,
1 8 78
.
.
1 8 89
N e w Yo r k
.
,
.
r ep r i n t
,
a bo u
,
t
1 88 6
.
.
it i o n Ne w Yo r k 1 8 9 8
W r i ti n g s o f W a s h i n gt o n S p ar k s an d Fo r d e d i t i o n s
B o s t o n 1 8 33
1 8 39 ; N e w Yo r k
1 8 8 9 -1 8 9 3
H am i l t o n s W o r k s L o d g e e d i t i o n
N e w Y o r k 1 88 5 -1 886
A d a m s L if e a n d W o rk s o f Jo /zn A a a m s
P h i l ad e l p h i a 1 8 7 1
J e ff e r s o n s W r i ti n g s Fo r d e d i ti o n N e w Yo r k 1 8 9 2 —1 89 9
J e ff e r s o n P ap e r s M a s s ac h u s e tt s H i s t o r i c al So c i e t y C o ll ec ti o n s l x i
B o s t o n 1 9 00
N e w Yo r k 1 9 00—1 9 06
W r i t i n g s o f M ad i s o n H u n t e d i t i o n
M ad i s o n P ap e r s G i l p i n e d i ti o n
N e w Yo r k 1 841
C o rr e s p o n d e n c e an d P u bl i c P ap e r s o f J o h n Jay J o h n s t o n e d i ti o n
N e w Yo r k 1 8 9 0 -1 8 9 3
P h i lad e l p h i a 1 8 79
W r iti n g s o f A l b e r t G al lati n A d am s e d i t i o n
R i c h m o n d 1 8 00
C a ll e n d e r T/ze P ro spec t B ef o re Us
N e w Yo r k
W o o d H is t o ry o f t h e A d m in is t ra t io n o f Jo /zn A d a m s
The
.
.
n na ls o f
C i v i l L i s t , S t at e
A
,
.
C/za rt er s
,
R ep r i n t , A l
.
N e w Yo r k S t a t e C o n v e n t i o n 1 8 2 1
A l ba n y
a n d D e ba t e s o f t h e N e w Y o r k S t at e C o n v e n ti o n
of
N e w Yo r k
M u n s e ll A
1 80 1
.
P r o c eed i n gs
P r o c eed i n g s
A l ban y
of
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ed
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1 8 02
N e w Yo r k
C h e e t h am
,
1 8 02
,
Vie w
R ep ly t o A
A
B
a rr
.
t h e P o l it ica l Co n d u c t
N e w Yo r k
r is t id e s .
A
,
a ro n
of
A
of
a ro n
B u rr
E x a m in a t io n
n
N e w Yo r k
,
1 8 02
1 8 04
.
,
in t o t /ze C /za rg e s
ag a in s t
.
E x po s it io n o f t /1e C l in t o n ia n Fac t io n N e w ar k 1 802
“
Hu n t
O ffic e S e e k i n g d u r i n g W a s h i n gt o n s A d am s s a n d Je tf e r
iii
s o n s A d m i n i s t r ati o n s ;
A m erica n H is t o r ica l R e v ie w i i i
Ne w Yo r k 1 89 5 —1 8 9 8
R h o d e I s l a nd H i s t o r i c al S o c i e t y P u b l i c ati o n s v i i i
P r o v i d e n c e 1 9 00
W
ood
,
A
.
.
r i s ti d e s ( Van N e s s )
A
,
.
W arr e n ( C h e e th am ) A
A
.
,
.
,
Fa l l
,
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.
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’
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,
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,
.
V I T A
the autho r O f th i s d i sse rtat i on
w as bo rn J uly 2 0 1 8 8 0 i n T o ront o Canada H e res i ded
from 1 8 8 2 to 1 9 04 i n R ichmond V i rgi n ia H e was Co l
l eg iat e S chola r i n R i chmond Col lege 1 8 9 6-1 9 0 1
H e re
c e iv ed the degree of B ac helor O f A rts from R i ch m ond Co l
l ege i n June 1 9 00 and the M aster O f A rts i n 1 9 0 1 H e
o ccup i ed the A ssi stant P ri nci pal sh ip O f the R ichmond H igh
S cho ol from 1 9 0 1 to 1 9 04 and t ravelled abroad i n the sum
mer o f 1 9 0 2 H e attended the U ni vers i ty o f Ch i cago i n the
s um mer O f 1 9 04 H e was P res i dent s S cholar i n C o ns t it u
Col umb i a U n ivers ity 1 9 04-0 5 1 9 0 5 -0 6 won
t io nal L aw
th e T O pp an Pr i z e i n Const ituti onal L aw 1 9 0 5 and was
H o no rary Fel l ow i n Co nsti tuti onal L aw Columbi a U n i
vers i ty 1 9 0 6-0 7 H e rec e iv ed t h e degree O f M a st er o f
A rts from Col umb i a U n ivers ity i n June 1 9 0 5 H e was
l ecturer i n Ameri can Co nsti t utio nal H i story i n the V i rgi ni a
S ummer S chool 1 9 0 3 and was appoi nt ed L ecturer i n Amer i
c an Const it ut i onal H i sto ry in th e I nter -St ate No rm al and
S o ci ologi cal Congress O f the Jamestown Expos iti on 1 9 0 7
H e i s the autho r O f T h e E l em en ts o f E ng lis h Gra m m a r
p ubl i sh ed by S i lver B urdett and C ompan y
H OW A
M CBA
L EE
RD
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I N,
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1 63