18th New York State Legislature

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, the state senators were elected on general tickets in the senatorial districts, and were then divided into four classes. Six senators each drew lots for a term of 1, 2, 3 or 4 years and, beginning at the election in April 1778, every year six Senate seats came up for election to a four-year term. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually.

In March 1786, the legislature enacted that future legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. No general meeting place was determined, leaving it to each Legislature to name the place where to reconvene, and if no place could be agreed upon, the legislature should meet again where it adjourned.

On February 7, 1791, the legislature re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, according to the figures of the 1790 United States census.

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

Elections

The State election was held from April 29 to May 1, 1794. Senators Matthew Clarkson (Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.), John Frey and Stephen Van Rensselaer (both Western D.) were re-elected. Assemblymen Richard Hatfield (Southern D.) and John D. Coe (Middle D.) were also elected to the Senate.

Sessions

The legislature met first in Poughkeepsie on January 6; and adjourned on January 14, 1795. The legislature met again at Federal Hall in New York City on January 20; and adjourned on April 9.

William North was elected Speaker with 33 votes to 28 for James Watson, the Speaker of the previous Assembly, both were Federalists. The average vote for the members of the Council of Appointment was 36 to 29, showing a Federalist majority of 7.

On January 27, the Legislature re-elected Federalist Rufus King to the U.S. Senate.

State Senate

Districts

• The Southern District (8 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
• The Middle District (6 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties.
• The Eastern District (5 seats) consisted of Washington, Clinton, Columbia and Rensselaer counties.
• The Western District (5 seats) consisted of Albany, Montgomery, Herkimer, Ontario, Otsego, Saratoga, Tioga and Onondaga 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. Richard Hatfield and John D. Coe changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

Employees

• Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker

State Assembly

Districts

• The City and County of Albany (7 seats)
• Columbia County (6 seats)
• Dutchess County (7 seats)
• Herkimer and Onondaga counties (1 seat)
• Kings County (1 seat)
• Montgomery County (4 seats)
• The City and County of New York (7 seats)
• Ontario County (1 seat)
• Orange County (3 seats)
• Otsego County (1 seat)
• Queens County (3 seats)
• Rensselaer County (5 seats)
• Richmond County (1 seat)
• Saratoga County (4 seats)
• Suffolk County (4 seats)
• Tioga County (1 seat)
• Ulster County (5 seats)
• Washington and Clinton counties (4 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. David Pye changed from the Senate to the Assembly.

Employees

• Clerk: Oliver L. Ker
• Doorkeeper: Richard Ten Eyck

Notes

Sources

• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 115 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 168f for assemblymen]
• Election result Assembly, Dutchess Co. at project "A New Nation Votes", compiled by Phil Lampi, hosted by Tufts University Digital Library
• Election result Assembly, Rensselaer Co. at project "A New Nation Votes"
• Election result Assembly, Ulster Co. at project "A New Nation Votes"
• Election result Assembly, Westchester Co. at project "A New Nation Votes"

References

1. The Anti-Federalists called themselves "Republicans." However, at the same time, the Federalists called them "Democrats" which was meant to be pejorative. After some time both terms got more and more confused, and sometimes used together as "Democratic Republicans" which later historians have adopted (with a hyphen) to describe the party from the beginning, to avoid confusion with both the later established and still existing [[Democratic Party (United States). Democratic]] and [[Republican Party (United States). Republican]] parties.
2. Cooperstown]], 1846; pages 87f)
3. John Livingston, fifth son of [[Robert Livingston (1708–1790)]], 3rd Lord of the Manor
4. John Williams was re-elected in April 1794 to the State Senate for a four-year term beginning on July 1, 1794; and elected to the [[4th United States Congress]] in December 1794 for a two-year term beginning on March 4, 1795. Although the Legislature had pronounced the incompatibility of holding both seats concurrently, Williams could remain in the Senate until the end of this session of the State Legislature because it ended about eight months before Congress actually met on December 7, 1795. A special election was held in April 1795 to fill the remainder of Williams's term in the State Senate, and was won by [[Ambrose Spencer]].
5. It is unclear why this person is named "Radcliff", the ''Civil List'' of 1858 lists "Radclift" and he signed himself as such, see signature at his article on Wikipedia.
6. Jonathan N. Havens was re-elected in April 1794 to the State Assembly for a one-year term beginning on July 1, 1794; and elected to the [[4th United States Congress]] in December 1794 for a two-year term beginning on March 4, 1795. Although the Legislature had pronounced the incompatibility of holding both seats concurrently, Havens could remain in the Assembly until the end of this session of the State Legislature because it ended about eight months before Congress actually met on December 7, 1795.