93rd New York State Legislature

93rd New York State Legislature
← 92nd 94th →
The Old State Capitol (1879)
Overview
Legislative body	New York State Legislature
Jurisdiction	New York, United States
Term	January 1 – December 31, 1870
Senate
Members	32
President	Lt. Gov. Allen C. Beach (D)
Temporary President	Henry C. Murphy (D), from January 17
Party control	Democratic (18-14)
Assembly
Members	128
Speaker	William Hitchman (D)
Party control	Democratic (73-55)
Sessions
1st January 4 – April 26, 1870

The 93rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to April 26, 1870, during the second year of John T. Hoffman's governorship, in Albany.

Background[]

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators and 128 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties, except New York County (five districts) and Kings County (two districts). The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards,^[1] forming a contiguous area, all within the same county.

According to the Constitution of 1846, twenty years after its elaboration the electorate was asked if they wanted a Constitutional Convention to be held, which was answered at the New York state election, 1866, in the affirmative. On April 23, 1867, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention were elected, resulting in a Republican majority. On June 4, the Constitutional Convention met at Albany; adjourned on September 23; and met again on November 12. On February 28, 1868, the Constitutional Convention adjourned sine die. How to put the proposed amendments before the electorate was then debated throughout the 91st and the 92nd Legislature.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

Elections[]

The New York state election, 1869 was held on November 3. All nine statewide elective offices up for election were carried by the Democrats. All amendments proposed by the Constitutional Convention, except the re-organization of the judicial system, were rejected by the voters. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Democrats 331,000 and Republicans 310,000.

Sessions[]

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1870; and adjourned on April 26.

William Hitchman (D) was again elected Speaker with 72 votes against 51 for James W. Husted (R).

On January 17, Henry C. Murphy (D) was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate.

On February 10, the Legislature re-elected (D) as a Metropolitan Police Commissioner, for a term of eight years beginning on March 1, 1870.

State Senate[]

Districts[]

Members[]

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.

Party affiliations follow the vote for Senate Clerk and Police Commissioner.

Employees[]

• Clerk:
• Sergeant-at-Arms: George Graham
• Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Abraham J. Meyers
• Doorkeeper: Alexander H. Waterman
• Assistant Doorkeeper: W. W. McKinney
• Assistant Doorkeeper: John Drew
• Assistant Doorkeeper: Orson Root
• Assistant Doorkeeper: Cornelius V. Simpkins
• Stenographer: Andrew Devine, from February 10

State Assembly[]

Assemblymen[]

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.

Party affiliations follow the vote for Speaker.

Employees[]

• Clerk: Cornelius W. Armstrong
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Jeriah G. Rhoads
• Doorkeeper: James C. Pierce
• First Assistant Doorkeeper: M. W. Wall
• Second Assistant Doorkeeper: Hugh Ryan
• Stenographer: George Wakeman

Notes[]

Sources[]

• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1870; see pg. 439 for Senate districts; pg. 444 for senators; pg. 450–463 for Assembly districts; pg. 512f for assemblymen)
• Journal of the Senate (93rd Session) (1870)
• Journal of the Assembly (93rd Session) (1870; Vol. I)
• Life Sketches of Executive Officers, and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York, Vol. III by H. H. Boone & Theodore P. Cook (1870)