ALBANY COMMITTEE TO JAY. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 3 (1782-1793) [1891]
Edition used:
The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, ed. Henry P. Johnston, A.M. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890-93). Vol. 3 (1782-1793).
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ALBANY COMMITTEE TO JAY.
Sir:
A Committee of the Citizens of Albany in behalf of themselves and constituents beg leave to pay their respects to you, in your passage thro’ this City on your tour of official duty.
With the dignified feelings of independent republicans, we experience real pleasure in acknowledging our obligations to you, for the various services you have rendered this your native State, as well as the States in union, in which you have upon all occasions united exalted abilities with stern integrity.
In thus voluntarily expressing our esteem for your person and character, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we speak the sentiments of a respectable majority of our fellow citizens throughout the State, as at the late Election, it is well known, and generally acknowledged that a majority of many hundred votes would have appeared in your favour for Chief Magistrate, had not a majority of the Committee of Canvassers, by an unwarrantable stretch of power, rejected the votes of several whole Counties, in direct violation of law, justice, precedent, and the most essential principles of our consititution—their object, as it most glaringly appears, being to secure an administration favourable to their views, in opposition to the voice of a majority of the people.
We feel, Sir, for the delicate situation in which you are placed, on this important question; painful must it be to you to see the principles of our State Constitution, which you have had a material agency in framing, so shamefully perverted and abused, and to find yourself the object in which that Constitution, and the laws and liberties of the State have received so daring a stab.
We can only add, that as free and independant citizens, we know no authority but what is derived from the voice of a majority of the people, and a just and uniform interpretation of their constitution and laws; that we shall wait with a firm and cool deliberation for Legislative interposition to afford or procure redress. On this we place the fullest dependance, and could it possibly happen, that we meet with disappointment, the people must then proceed to determine, whether a Chief Magistrate is to be elected by their voice, or by a Committee, the majority of whom were selected and named by a party; and those who may be the cause, must then be answerable for the consequences that may follow.
Be assured, Sir, of our best wishes for your public and private welfare.
By order of the Committee.
Abraham Ten Broeck,
Chairman.
Albany, 2d July, 1792.
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