88th New York State Legislature

88th New York State Legislature
← 87th 89th →
The Old State Capitol (1879)
Overview
Legislative body	New York State Legislature
Jurisdiction	New York, United States
Term	January 1 – December 31, 1865
Senate
Members	32
President	Lt. Gov. Thomas G. Alvord (R)
Temporary President	Charles J. Folger (R), from March 9
Party control	Republican (21-11)
Assembly
Members	128
Speaker	George G. Hoskins (R)
Party control	Republican (76-52)
Sessions
1st January 3 – April 28, 1865

The 88th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 3 to April 28, 1865, during the first year of Reuben E. Fenton's governorship, in Albany.

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. The Democrats split over the civil war issue. The "War Democrats" and the Republicans formed a coalition known as the "Republican Union," and supported President Abraham Lincoln and the Union Army's war effort; the rump Democratic Party opposed the war, favoring a compromise with the South, and became known as "Peace Democrats" or "Copperheads."

The New York state election, 1864 was held on November 8. All four statewide elective offices up for election were carried by the Republican Union. Congressman Reuben E. Fenton and Speaker Thomas G. Alvord defeated the incumbent Gov. Horatio Seymour and Lt. David R. Floyd-Jones. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Republican Union 369,000 and Democrats 361,000.

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1865; and adjourned on April 28.

George G. Hoskins (R) was elected Speaker with 72 votes against 50 for Abram B. Weaver (D).

On March 9, Charles J. Folger (R) was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate.

On April 4, the Legislature re-elected Victor M. Rice (R) as Superintendent of Public Instruction.

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

• Clerk: James Terwilliger
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Azel B. Hull
• Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Sanders Wilson
• Doorkeeper: Lawrence Van Duzen
• First Assistant Doorkeeper: Casper Walter
• Second Assistant Doorkeeper: Edmund Traver
• Third Assistant Doorkeeper: Anson W. Johnson

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

Party affiliations follow the vote for Speaker.

• Clerk: Joseph B. Cushman
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles E. Young
• Doorkeeper: Henry A. Rogers
• First Assistant Doorkeeper: Richard S. Stout
• Second Assistant Doorkeeper: Alexander Frier

• 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. 443 for senators; pg. 450–463 for Assembly districts; and pg. 501ff for assemblymen)
• Journal of the Assembly (88th Session) (1865)
• Documents of the Senate (87th Session) (1864; No. 104: "Report of the Committee on Privileges and Elections in the Matter of the Contested Election in the Ninth Senatorial District")