37th New York State Legislature

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, amended by the Constitutional Convention of 1801, 32 Senators were elected on general tickets in the four senatorial districts for four-year terms. They were divided into four classes, and every year eight Senate seats came up for election. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually.

In 1797, Albany was declared the State capital, and all subsequent Legislatures have been meeting there ever since. In 1799, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the last Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor.

In 1812, Putnam County was split from Dutchess County, and in 1813 was apportioned 1 seat in the Assembly, taken from Dutchess. In 1813, Warren County was split from Washington County, but both remained together in one Assembly district.

On February 4, 1813, a caucus of 48 Democratic-Republican legislators nominated unanimously Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins for re-election. State Senator John Tayler was nominated for Lieutenant Governor with 32 votes against 16 for the incumbent DeWitt Clinton.

On February 11, 1813, a Federalist caucus, presided over by Egbert Benson, nominated Stephen Van Rensselaer for Governor, and Assemblyman George Huntington for Lieutenant Governor.

At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.^[1]

The State election was held from April 27 to 29, 1813. Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins was re-elected; and State Senator John Tayler was elected Lieutenant Governor; both were Democratic-Republicans.

Jonathan Dayton (Southern D.), Lucas Elmendorf, Samuel G. Verbryck (both Middle D.), James Cochran, Samuel Stewart (both Eastern D.), Henry Bloom, Perley Keyes and Farrand Stranahan (all three Western D.) were elected to the Senate. Cochran and Stewart were Federalists, the other six were Democratic-Republicans.

The Legislature met at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 25, 1814; and adjourned on April 15.

James Emott (Fed.) was elected Speaker with 58 votes against 48 for William Ross (Dem.-Rep.). John F. Bacon (Dem.-Rep.) was elected Clerk of the Senate.

• The Southern District (5 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
• The Middle District (7 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Columbia, Delaware, Rockland, Greene, Sullivan and Putnam counties.
• The Eastern District (8 seats) consisted of Washington, Clinton, Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Essex, Montgomery, Franklin, Schenectady and Warren counties.
• The Western District (12 seats) consisted of Herkimer, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Onondaga, Schoharie, Steuben, Chenango, Oneida, Cayuga, Genesee, Seneca, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Allegany, Broome, Madison, Niagara, Cortland, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

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

• Clerk: John F. Bacon