76th New York State Legislature


The 76th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met in Albany from January 4 to July 21, 1853, during the first year of Horatio Seymour's governorship.

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, with the whole Senate being renewed biennially. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties. One hundred and twenty-eight Assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts to a one-year term, with 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.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Whig Party.

Elections

The New York state election of 1852 was held on November 2. Horatio Seymour was elected governor, defeating the incumbent Washington Hunt. Lt. Gov. Sanford E. Church was re-elected. The other two statewide elective offices up for election were also carried by the Democrats.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1853, and adjourned on April 13.
William H. Ludlow was elected Speaker with 85 votes against 39 for Jeremiah Ellsworth. John S. Nafew was elected Clerk of the Assembly with 86 votes against 40 for the incumbent Richard U. Sherman.
On January 19, William McMurray was elected President pro tempore of the Senate.
On April 13, Governor Horatio Seymour called a special session of the Legislature, to conclude the unfinished business of the regular session.
On April 14, the Legislature met for a special session; and adjourned on April 15.
On May 24, the Legislature met for another special session; and adjourned on July 21.
On July 1, Russell Smith was elected Speaker pro tempore, to preside over the Assembly during the absence of Speaker Ludlow.
On July 8, the Assembly impeached Canal Commissioner John C. Mather.
On July 21, near the end of the session, Edwin D. Morgan was elected President pro tempore of the Senate.
On July 27, the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments, met at Albany, for the first time in State history. Assemblymen Marshall B. Champlain, Arphaxed Loomis, John McBurney, Solomon B. Noble, Orlando Hastings, Walter L. Sessions and Daniel P. Wood appeared as the Managers to prosecute the impeachment. Congressman Rufus W. Peckham appeared for the Defense. After organizing, the Court adjourned.
On August 16, the Impeachment Court met for the trial, which lasted until Mather was acquitted on September 16.

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
1stJames E. Cooley*Democrat
2ndJohn Vanderbilt*Democrat
3rdWilliam McMurray*Democraton January 19, elected President pro tempore
4thObadiah Newcomb*Whig
5thJames W. Beekman*Whig
6thEdwin D. Morgan*Whigon July 21, elected President pro tempore
7thAbraham B. Conger*Democrat
8thJohn H. Otis*Democrat
9thNathaniel Jones*Democrat
10thGeorge T. Pierce*Democrat
11thAzor Taber*Whig
12thWilliam H. Van Schoonhoven*Whig
13thDan S. Wright*Whig
14thEli W. Rogers*Democrat
15thHenry B. Smith*Democrat
16thSimeon Snow*Democrat
17thHenry E. Bartlett*Democrat
18thHarmon Bennett*Democrat
19thBenjamin N. Huntington*Whig
20thJames Platt*Whig
21stAshley Davenport*Democrat
22ndJames Munroe*Whig
23rdNathan Bristol*Democrat
24thWilliam Beach*Whig
25thJosiah B. Williams*Whig
26thFrancis R. E. Cornell*Democrat
27thMicajah W. Kirby*Democrat
28thAlonzo S. Upham*Whig
29thMyron H. Clark*Whig
30thJohn A. McElwain*Whigalso Treasurer of Wyoming Co.
31stGeorge R. Babcock*Whig
32ndElisha Ward*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.

Employees