On the 16th November, that splendid orator and great and good man, Thomas Addis Emmet, while engaged as counsel in the trial of an important cause, died instantly, in a fit of apoplexy. Public meetings were held in NewYork and other places by the members of the bar, and by the adopted citizens of this country, and resolutions were passed expressive of their respect for his merits, and their grief for his death.

Never was applause more richly merited.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

FROM JANUARY 1, 1828, TO JANUARY 1, 1829.

THE events which occured during the year which now opens upon us, and the political results which were developed before its termination, render it one of the most important eras in the history of parties in this state and

nation.

The legislature convened on the 1st of January, and Erastus Root was again chosen speaker of the assembly. His election was not opposed. Francis Seger was elected clerk in lieu of Montgomery Livingston, who, in accordance with a previous understanding between him and Seger, had declined a re-election. Mr. Seger had for several years previous served as deputy clerk of the house, and in consequence of being crippled in one of his arms, and his obliging and assiduous attention in the discharge of his official duties, was rather a favorite with the members. It was with some difficulty that Mr. Livingston for two successive years had persuaded Mr. S. not to come in competition with him.

This assembly contained more men of talents than for several years before had appeared in that body.

Benjamin F. Butler, one of the revisers, was returned a member of the assembly from the city and county of Albany. There is no doubt a majority of the electors in November, 1827, were opposed to Gen. Jackson and his party. But I presume many of the electors voted for Mr. Butler who were against Jackson, because it was known that the Revised Statutes would be acted upon by the assembly then to be chosen, and that the services of Mr. B. would be highly beneficial to the public upon that

occasion. I was myself warmly opposed to the Jackson party, and yet voted for Mr. Butler for the reason I have stated. Besides Mr. Butler, there was ranged on the Jackson side of the house, Robert Monell of Chenango county; Nathan Dayton of Cortland county, (now circuit judge;) Erastus Root; N. P. Tallmadge, the present United States senator; J. B. Skinner of Genesee, D. F. Sacia of Montgomery county, Samuel S. Cheever of Rensselaer, Saul Alley, A. Shearman, Ogden Hoffman, and Robert Emmet, (son of the great Thomas Addis,) of New-York; N. B. Cowles* of Putnam, and Amasa Dana of Tompkins; all of whom were respectable for talents, standing and character.

On the other side, were the eloquent and talented Elisha Williams from Columbia county with his colleague, Killian Miller; the able, experienced and sagacious Gen. Peter B. Porter; Ezra C. Gross, late a member of congress from Essex county, one of the most promising young men who ever entered the halls of legislation of the state of New-York; Luther Bradish from Franklin, the present learned and accomplished lieutenant-governor, Francis Granger, of whose talents and address I need not speak, and Robert C. Nicholas from Ontario, distinguished as well for possessing a discriminating mind and excellent judgment as for his modest and amiable deportment and unblemished reputation. He was the son of John Nicholas, of whom mention has heretofore been made, and is now a senator from the seventh district.

No material improvement had been made in the representation in the senate. Indeed, that body had sustained a great loss by the resignation of Mr. Colden, and the expiration of the term of service of Mr. Silas Wright, who had been elected a member of congress.

* Perhaps I do wrong to rank Mr. Cowles as a Jackson man. I believe he was disinclined to take much part in the controversy. He was, however, a very effi. cient and useful member of the legislature.

The governor in his annual message, commenced by lamenting the recent development of the bitterness of party spirit, alleging that even the sanctity of the female character had not been regarded by political partizans; evidently alluding to imputations which had lately been made in some of the Adams newspapers against the wife of Gen. Jackson. He again expresses an opinion in favor of an amendment of the United States constitution in such a way, that the choice of electors should be by single districts throughout the United States; and that the president be rendered ineligible for more than one consecutive term. He suggests this as the most effectual means of guarding against excessive party heat and excitement. He complains that the canals had been permitted to be obstructed by ice unnecessarily early in the fall and late in the spring during the last year, and he recommends that the canal commissioners should, by law, be required to keep the canals in a condition fit for navigation, in ordinary seasons, eight months in a year. He recommends very extensive further internal improvements by canals, and strongly intimates that the Chenango canal ought to be made by the state. His remarks in relation to internal improvements, and especially the management, or rather mismanagement, of the Erie and Champlain canals, drew from the canal commissioners, in their annual report, some thing like recrimination and retort. This report was evidently drawn by Colonel Young. He justifies the course taken by the commissioners, in not expending the money of the public to clear the canal of ice for the benefit of individuals. There was between Col. Young and Mr. Clinton a radical difference of opinion, as to the principle by which the state ought to be governed in making internal improvement. Governor Clinton asserted in substance, in his message, that the amount of revenue to be derived from a canal, ought not to control the state in determining

on its construction. Mr. Young held doctrine directly the reverse. The only question with the governer was, will the aggregate wealth of the state be increased by making the canal? Whereas with Col. Young, the main question was, will the investment by the state increase its revenue? In other words, will the state, as a financial corporate body make money by the operation?

The governor takes a rapid view of the productive powers of the soil of the state, and recommends the culture of tobacco and hemp; and he thinks a quantity of these articles might be raised in the northern states equal in value to the cotton exported from the south. He recommends an amendment of the constitution in such manner, as to abolish the circuit system. He thinks the same class of judges who adjudicate on the law of a case, ought to preside on the trial of facts. With some very trifling exceptions, the style and manner of the massage are of the first order. Alas, it was the last time this great man spoke to the legislature and the people of this state.

On the 5th of January, Gen. Pitcher sent a note to the senate, stating that he was confined to his room by illness, and should probably for some time to come be unable to attend and discharge his duty as a presiding officer of the senate. And thereupon Mr. P. R. Livingston was elected president pro tem.

Early in the session, Mr. Wardwell, a respectable Jackson man from Jefferson county, introduced in the assembly the following resolutions, on the subject of the protection which the general government ought, by means of revenue laws, to extend to home manufactures;

"Resolved, That the senators of this state, in the congress of the United States, be and they are hereby instructed, and the representatives of this state are requested, to make every proper exertion to effect such a revision of the tariff, as will afford a sufficient protection to the