89th New York State Legislature
← 88th 90th →
The Old State Capitol (1879)
Overview
Legislative body	New York State Legislature
Jurisdiction	New York, United States
Term	January 1 – December 31, 1866
Senate
Members	32
President	Lt. Gov. Thomas G. Alvord (R)
Temporary President	Charles J. Folger (R), from February 6
Party control	Republican (27-5)
Assembly
Members	128
Speaker	Lyman Tremain (R)
Party control	Republican (90-38)
Sessions
1st January 2 – April 20, 1866 2nd (Senate only) June 12 – 15, 1866 3rd (Senate only) August 28 – 31, 1866

The 89th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 2 to April 20, 1866, during the second year of Reuben E. Fenton'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 (four districts) and Kings County (two districts). The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all within the same county.

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

Elections

The 1865 New York state election was held on November 7. All ten statewide elective offices up for election were carried by the Republicans. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Republicans 301,000 and Democrats 273,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 2, 1866; and adjourned on April 20.

Lyman Tremain (R) was elected Speaker with 88 votes against 33 for Smith M. Weed (D).

On January 29, DeWitt C. Littlejohn (R) was elected Speaker pro tempore of the Assembly.

On February 6, Charles J. Folger (R) was re-elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.

On February 16, the Legislature elected Benjamin F. Manierre (R) to succeed William McMurray (D) on March 1 as a Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

On April 16, the Legislature re-apportioned the Assembly seats per county. Allegany, Chenango, Herkimer, Jefferson, Livingston, Steuben and Suffolk counties lost one seat each; Erie County gained one seat, Kings County gained two seats; and New York County gained four seats.^[1]

On April 25, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate districts.^[2]

The State Senate met for a special session on June 12; adjourned on June 15; met again on August 28; and adjourned again on August 31. This session was called to hold the trial of George W. Smith, Judge of the Oneida County Court. The trial continued during the next session, and Smith was removed from office on January 25, 1867.

State Senate

State Assembly

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; and pg. 504f for assemblymen)
• Journal of the Senate (89th Session) (1866)
• Journal of the Assembly (89th Session) (1866; Vol. I)
• Journal of the Assembly (89th Session) (1866; Vol. II)
• Journal of Proceedings of the Senate in the Matter of George W. Smith, Judge of Oneida County, in Relation to Charges Submitted to the Senate by the Governor (1867)