72nd New York State Legislature


The 72nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 2 to April 11, 1849, during the first year of Hamilton Fish's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators were elected in single-seat senatorial districts for a two-year term, the whole Senate being renewed biennially. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties. 128 Assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually. The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all in the same county. The City and County of New York was divided into four senatorial districts, and 16 Assembly districts.
State Senator Allen Ayrault resigned on June 2, 1848, leaving a vacancy in the 29th District.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Democratic Party was split into two factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers." The Barnburners walked out of the 1848 Democratic state convention and formed with a small faction of anti-slavery Whigs and a part of the Liberty Party the Free Soil Party. The uncompromising radical abolitionists ran their own tickets as the Liberty Party.

Elections

The New York state election, 1848 was held on November 7.
Whigs Hamilton Fish and George W. Patterson were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and the other two statewide elective offices were also carried by the Whigs.
State Comptroller Millard Fillmore was elected United States Vice President.
106 Whigs, 15 Free Soilers and 7 Hunkers were elected to the State Assembly. One Whig was elected to fill the vacancy in the State Senate.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 2, 1849; and adjourned on April 11.
Amos K. Hadley was re-elected Speaker with 101 votes against 13 for Frederick P. Bellinger and 6 for Charles C. Noble.
On January 31, State Comptroller Millard Fillmore sent a letter to the Legislature, resigning the office, to take effect on February 20.
On February 6, the Legislature elected William H. Seward to succeed John A. Dix as U.S. Senator, for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1849.
On February 17, the Legislature elected Washington Hunt to succeed Millard Fillmore as State Comptroller on February 20.
On April 11, Samuel J. Wilkin was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.

State Senate

Districts

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.
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stJohn G. Floyd*Democrat/Barnburner
2ndDavid A. Bokee*Whigon November 7, 1848, elected to the 31st U.S. Congress
3rdWilliam Hall*Whig
4thJohn L. Lawrence*Whig
5thSamuel Frost*Whig
6thWilliam Samuel Johnson*Whig
7thSaxton Smith*Democrat/Barnburner
8thAlexander J. Coffin*Whig
9thSamuel J. Wilkin*Whigon April 11, 1849, elected President pro tempore
10thPlatt Adams*Democrat/Hunker
11thValentine Treadwell*Whig
12thAlbert R. Fox*Whig
13thJames M. Cook*Whig
14thJames S. Whallon*Democrat/Barnburner
15thJohn Fine*Democrat/Barnburner
16thThomas Burch*Whig
17thJohn M. Betts*Democrat/Barnburner
18thDavid H. Little*Whig
19thThomas E. Clark*Whig
20thThomas H. Bond*Whig
21stJohn W. Tamblin*Democrat/Hunker
22ndGeorge Geddes*Whig
23rdSamuel H. P. Hall*Whig
24thWilliam J. Cornwell*Whig
25thTimothy S. Williams*Whigdied on March 11, 1849
26thWilliam M. Hawley*Democrat/Barnburner
27thJerome Fuller*Whig
28thA. Hyde Cole*Whig
29thCharles ColtWhigelected to fill vacancy, in place of Allen Ayrault
30thJohn W. Brownson*Whig
31stJohn T. Bush*Whig
32ndFrederick S. Martin*Whig

Employees

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
Party affiliations follow the vote on Speaker, U.S. Senator and USNY Regent.

Employees