The 23rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 28 to April 8, 1800, during the fifth year of John Jay's governorship, in Albany.
Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, amended by the re-apportionment of March 4, 1796, Senators were elected on general tickets in the senatorial districts for four-year terms. They were divided into four classes, and every year about one fourth of the Senate seats came up for election. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually.
In 1797, Albany was declared the State capital, and all subsequent Legislatures have been meeting there ever since. In 1799, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the last Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor.
Congressman Jonathan N. Havens (D.-R.) died on October 25, 1799. Assemblyman John Smith (D.-R.) was elected in a special election in December 1799 to fill the vacancy.
In 1799, Cayuga County was split from Onondaga County, and was apportioned one seat in the Assembly, taken from Onondaga. Essex County was split from Clinton County, but remained in a double-county Assembly district.
At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.The Anti-Federalists called themselves "Republicans." However, at the same time, the Federalists called them "Democrats" which was meant to be pejorative. After some time both terms got more and more confused, and sometimes used together as "Democratic Republicans" which later historians have adopted (with a hyphen) to describe the party from the beginning, to avoid confusion with both the later established and still existing Democratic and Republican parties.
Elections The State election was held from April 30 to May 2, 1799. Senators Richard Hatfield (Southern D.), Zina Hitchcock, Ebenezer Russell, Moses Vail (all three Eastern D.) and Vincent Mathews (Western D.) were re-elected. John B. Coles (Southern D.), Isaac Bloom, John Hathorn, John Suffern (all three Middle D.) and Moss Kent (Western D.) were also elected to the Senate.
Sessions The Legislature met on January 28, 1800, at the Old City Hall in Albany; and adjourned on April 8.
Federalist Dirck Ten Broeck was re-elected Speaker without opposition.
The Legislature reduced the salary of the New York State Comptroller from $3,000 to $2,500 whereupon Samuel Jones declined to be re-appointed. On March 12, 1800, the Council of Appointment chose Assemblyman John Vernon Henry to succeed Jones.The History of Political Parties in the State of New-York, from the Ratification of the Federal Constitution to 1840 by Jabez D. Hammond (4th ed., Vol. 1, H. & E. Phinney, Cooperstown, 1846; page 133)
On March 12, 1800, a bill was proposed to divide the State into districts to elect presidential electors by popular ballot. This was rejected by the Federalist majority [vote 55 to 47], and the electors continued to be chosen by joint ballot of the State Legislature.The choice of presidential electors by popular ballot in single districts was eventually enacted in 1825, but happened only once, at the 1828 United States presidential election. In 1829, the mode was changed to popular ballot on general ticket.
On March 19, 1800, U.S. Senator James Watson (Fed.) resigned after his appointment as Naval Officer of the Port of New York. On April 3, 1800, the Legislature elected Gouverneur Morris (Fed.) to fill the vacancy.
State Senate Districts The Southern District (9 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The Middle District (12 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Columbia, Delaware and Rockland counties. The Eastern District (11 seats) consisted of Washington, Clinton, Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga and Essex counties. The Western District (11 seats) consisted of Montgomery, Herkimer, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Onondaga, Schoharie, Steuben, Chenango, Oneida and Cayuga counties.
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.
District Senators Term left Party Notes SouthernSamuel Haight*1 year Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentWilliam Denning*1 year Dem.-Rep.Selah Strong*1 year FederalistEzra L'Hommedieu*2 years Dem.-Rep.DeWitt Clinton*3 years Dem.-Rep.David Gelston*3 years Dem.-Rep.also Surrogate of New York CountyJohn Schenck*3 year Dem.-Rep.John B. Coles4 years FederalistRichard Hatfield*4 years Federalist MiddleRobert Sands*Original owner of Robert Sands Estate in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co.1 year Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentJames Savage*1 year FederalistPeter Silvester*1 year FederalistWilliam Thompson*1 year FederalistJohn Addison*2 years Dem.-Rep.died in 1800The exact date is unclear, but it was early enough to fill the vacancy at the State election in April 1800Peter Cantine Jr.*2 years FederalistJames G. Graham*2 years Dem.-Rep.Ebenezer Foote*3 years Federalistalso Delaware County ClerkAmbrose Spencer*3 years Dem.-Rep.also Assistant Attorney General (3rd D.)Isaac Bloom4 years Dem.-Rep.John Hathorn4 years Dem.-Rep.John Suffern4 years Dem.-Rep. EasternLeonard Bronck*1 year FederalistJames Gordon*1 year Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentEbenezer Clark*2 years FederalistAnthony Ten Eyck*2 years Federalist Jacobus Van Schoonhoven*2 years FederalistAbraham Van Vechten*2 years Federalistalso Recorder of the City of AlbanyLeonard Gansevoort*3 years FederalistJohn Sanders*3 years FederalistZina Hitchcock*4 years FederalistEbenezer Russell*4 years FederalistMoses Vail*4 years Federalist WesternJacob Morris*1 year FederalistJedediah Sanger*1 year Federalistalso First Judge of the Oneida County CourtThomas Morris*2 years Federalistelected in April 1800 to the 7th United States CongressMichael Myers*2 years FederalistSeth Phelps*2 years FederalistWilliam Beekman*3 years FederalistJohn Frey*3 years FederalistFrederick Gettman*3 years FederalistThomas R. Gold*3 years Federalistalso Assistant Attorney General (7th D.); elected to the Council of AppointmentVincent Mathews*4 years FederalistMoss Kent4 years Federalist
Employees Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker
State Assembly Districts
Albany County (9 seats) Cayuga County (1 seat) Chenango County (2 seats) Clinton and Essex counties (1 seat) Columbia County (6 seats) Delaware County (2 seats) Dutchess County (10 seats) Herkimer County (3 seats) Kings County (1 seat) Montgomery County) (6 seats) The City and County of New York (13 seats) Oneida County (3 seats) Onondaga County (1 seat) Ontario and Steuben counties (2 seats) Orange County (5 seats) Otsego County (4 seats) Queens County (4 seats) Rensselaer County (6 seats) Richmond County (1 seat) Rockland County (1 seat) Saratoga County (5 seats) Schoharie County (1 seat) Suffolk County (4 seats) Tioga County (1 seat) Ulster County (5 seats) Washington County (6 seats) Westchester County (5 seats)
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
County Assemblymen Party Notes AlbanyJames Bill*Philip Conine Jr.Johann Jost Dietz* FederalistPrince Doty* FederalistJohn Vernon Henry Federalistfrom March 12, 1800, also New York State ComptrollerFrancis Nicoll FederalistJoseph Shurtleff* FederalistDirck Ten Broeck* Federalistre-elected SpeakerJacob WinneCayugaSilas Halsey Dem.-Rep.previously a member from Onondaga Co. ChenangoPeter B. GarnseyNathaniel King*Clinton and EssexWilliam Gilliland ColumbiaEzekiel Gilbert FederalistRobert T. Livingston FederalistCharles McKinstry* FederalistJohn Noyes FederalistAnson Pratt FederalistJacob R. Van Rensselaer Federalist DelawarePatrick LambSluman Wattles DutchessAbraham Adriance* Dem.-Rep.William Barker Dem.-Rep.William Emott Dem.-Rep./Fed.Joseph C. Field Dem.-Rep.Robert Johnston* Dem.-Rep.Ebenezer Mott* Dem.-Rep./Fed.Isaac Sherwood Dem.-Rep.William Taber* Dem.-Rep.Samuel Towner Dem.-Rep.John Van Benthuysen* Dem.-Rep. HerkimerThomas Manly FederalistJohn Mills FederalistJohn Meyer FederalistKingsJacob Sharpe Jr. Montgomery John Herkimer Dem.-Rep.Cornelius Humfrey Dem.-Rep.Archibald McIntyre* Dem.-Rep.Frederick SammonsJacob Snell* Dem.-Rep.Simon Veeder* Dem.-Rep. New YorkJohn Bogert FederalistNicholas Evertson FederalistJohn Oothout FederalistAnthony Post FederalistCaleb S. Riggs FederalistRobert Rutgers FederalistJacob Sherred FederalistAnthony Steenback FederalistEbenezer Stevens FederalistSamuel Stillwell FederalistBernardus Swartwout Jr. FederalistWilliam B. Woolsey Federalistvacant OneidaJohn HallDavid Ostrom* FederalistNathan SmithOnondaga Ebenezer Butler Jr. Ontario and SteubenNathaniel NortonCharles Williamson* Orange John Blake Jr.* Dem.-Rep.Robert R. BurnetJames Burt* Dem.-Rep.Andrew McCord Dem.-Rep.Seth Marvin OtsegoJedediah Peck* Dem.-Rep.Robert Roseboom Dem.-Rep.Jacob Ten BroeckRensselaer Williams QueensIsaac Denton Dem.-Rep.Jonah Hallett Dem.-Rep.Abraham Monfoort Dem.-Rep.John I. Skidmore* Dem.-Rep. RensselaerJacob A. Fort* FederalistDaniel Gray* FederalistJames McKown FederalistJosiah Masters Dem.-Rep.John W. Schermerhorn*George Tibbits FederalistRichmondJohn P. RyerssRocklandSamuel G. Verbryck SaratogaDaniel BullSamuel Clark*Adam Comstock* Dem.-Rep.James Warren*Edward A. WatrousSchoharieStorm A. Becker Federalist SuffolkNicoll Floyd* Dem.-Rep.Jared Landon* Dem.-Rep.John Smith* Dem.-Rep.elected in December 1799 to the 6th United States Congress and took his seat on February 27, 1800, vacating his seat in the AssemblySilas Wood FederalistTiogaSamuel Tinkham Federalist UlsterCharles W. BroadheadJohannes BruynMoses CantineJohn C. DeWittMartin G. Schuneman* Dem.-Rep. WashingtonBenjamin ColvinMicajah PettitIsaac Sargent Dem.-Rep.Edward Savage* Dem.-Rep.David Thomas Dem.-Rep.elected in April 1800 to the 7th United States CongressJohn Thurman Federalist WestchesterGeorge CombAbijah Gilbert Dem.-Rep.Nathan Rockwell FederalistAbel Smith* Dem.-Rep.Charles Teed* Federalist
Employees Clerk: James Van Ingen Sergeant-at-Arms: Ephraim Hunt Doorkeeper: Peter Hansen
Notes
Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108f for Senate districts; pg. 117 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 173 for assemblymen] Election result Assembly, Columbia Co. at project "A New Nation Votes", compiled by Phil Lampi, hosted by Tufts University Digital Library Election result Assembly, Dutchess Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Onondaga Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Queens Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Rensselaer Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Schoharie Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Partial election result Senate, Southern D. at project "A New Nation Votes" [gives only votes from New York City] Partial election result Senate, Middle D. at project "A New Nation Votes" [gives only votes from Columbia and Dutchess counties] Partial election result Senate, Western D. at project "A New Nation Votes" [gives only votes from Onondaga and Schoharie counties]