a distinct political party, acted with the Jackson party. Messrs. Maynard, Mather, Boughton, and Hayden were anti-masons. It thus appears that but four of the eight senatorial districts elected Jackson senators.

CHAPTER XXXV.

FROM JANUARY 1, 1829, TO JANUARY 1, 1830.

On the first day of the meeting of the legislature, Mr. Jordan resigned his seat in the senate. The reason he assigned for resigning, was that his private affairs and professional business demanded the whole of his time and attention. He said, "The important business of the extra session, and the hope of being able to remain in the unremitted discharge of his official duty until the revision of the laws was completed, alone controlled his judgment in not taking that step in time to have the vacancy filled at the last election." It is, however, very probable that the election to which he referred having resulted in such a manner as to leave his party in a hopeless minority in the state and nation, had also some effect in inducing in his mind a determination to quit the political field. Mr. Jordan was a talented and useful member of the senate; but while his withdrawal from public life was a loss to that body, the increase of his professional business which followed, rendered that withdrawal beneficial to himself. The senate received a great accession of talent by the election of Mr. Maynard as one of its members. Amiable and benevolent in private life, courteous in debate, and possessing talents of the highest order, he soon acquired, considering him in a small political minority, a high and commanding influence in the legislature.

There was a falling off of talent in the assembly. Gen. Root was not re-elected; he was not, I believe, a candidate for a re-election. The leading democratic members returned were A. C. Paige, from Schenectady; Abijah Mann, jun. from Herkimer; J. B. Skinner, from Gen

Dutchess county.

esee, (elected as an anti-mason,) and Stoddard Judd, from Several of the western counties were represented by anti-masons; and among the most prominent of them were Millard Filmore, from Erie; Philo C. Fuller of Livingston, and Robert C. Nicholas of Ontario. Mr. Granger having been a candidate for lieutenant governor, was of course not returned. Of the Adams party proper, Luther Bradish, of Franklin; E. C. Gross, of Essex, and Chandler Starr, of Albany, were among the most distinguished of that political sect in the assembly.

Peter Robinson, from Broome county, a discreet man, but of very ordinary capacity, was elected speaker. His nomination for that office was probably caused by means of the Chenango and other lateral canal influence.

Mr. Van Buren's message, like other of the annual executive messages since the year 1818, except those of Gov. Yates, was too long.

In his exordium, he very handsomely compliments Mr. Clinton, and speaks in the most respectful terms of his talents and services. He occupies too much time in getting at the real object of an executive communication; and as every one knew the brilliant political prospects that had then evidently opened upon him, he talks so much about his "humble efforts," and "the humblest instrument," &c., and indeed humbles himself so gracefully, that the public could hardly avoid charging him with an affectation of humility which he did not feel.

He speaks of the numerous applications which had been made to him to recommend to the legislature various canals and other internal improvements to be made at the public expense. With respect to these applications, he proposes the following as the proper rule to regulate the action of the legislature. The state ought to apply such portion of its means (including a judicious use of its credit) as could be spared from other necessary objects to

works of internal improvement; and he mentions several projected canals, but he is silent on the question whether all or any of them ought to be made. Now, it strikes me, that at a time when the public mind had been, to say the least, over excited by the ardent and enthusiastic representations of Mr. Clinton; when all men were dazzled and bewildered by the splendid revenue which was anticipated from the Erie canal, if Mr. Van Buren then thought, that that was the moment for the state to pause in its expenditures, and pay off its debt before it assumed any additional responsibilities; and that after its debt should be paid, then to apply its surplus revenue to the making further improvements, he ought to have said so in plain terms. Instead of this, he advised the legislature to apply such portion of the means of the state as could be spared from other necessary objects, to works of internal improvements, &c. Now, this was non-committalism in its very spirit. It was an authority for making the Chenango canal, and it was an authority against it. The Delphic Oracle never spoke more enigmatically.

On the subject of banking and the currency, the governor's views were exceeding able and judicious, and they were communicated with great clearness. He said,

"Of the forty banks now in operation in this state, the charters of thirty-one expire within one, two, three and four years, but chiefly within two and three years. From the best information that can be derived from the returns made by the banks whose charters are about to expire, their collective capital actually paid in, amounts to fifteen millions of dollars; and the debts due to them, to more than thirty millions. The debts due from these institutions to the community, including their stockholders, may be safely estimated at about the same amount."

He suggests evils that would result from compelling these institutions to wind up their concerns by a refusal to

re-charter such of them as had conducted in conformity with the spirit of their charter; he points out the inconvenience which would accrue from permitting so many of these applications to remain long before the legislature undecided; and he recommends a final disposition of the subject as early as possible. He states that a plan had been communicated to him, which, if substantially adopted, might, in his judgment, materially improve the banking system in the state. "The limits of this communication," said the governor, "will not allow me to do justice to its details, or to the argument by which it is supported. It proposes to make all the banks responsible for any loss the public may sustain by the failure of any one or more of them. It suggests provisions by which that result may be reached, as far as it respects the banks whose charters are about to expire, and be ultimately made universal, or nearly so."

Heretofore the sales at auction of all imported goods had been restricted to officers appointed by the state government. This gave a complete monopoly of the auction business to those officers. Mr. Van Buren had the spirit and independence to recommend the abolition of this monopoly, and to throw open to free competition the auction business to all persons who would give the proper security for the faithful and punctual payment of the duties to the state.

He points out the evil of mingling in the same election the choice of state and national officers, and recommends that they be chosen on different days. The reasons he assigns for this recommendation are, in my judgment, very cogent; and it is, I think, to be regretted that it has not to this day been adopted. He advises the repeal of the district system, and the choice of presidential electors by general ticket.