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University Library 1993.From Utica Morning Herald, May 15,18P5.
GOVEENOE CLINTON’S POETEAIT
Presented to the Historical Society in
Hue Form—A Loan toj kthe New Cen-
tury Club. .
An original portrait of Governor De-
witt 'Clinton is mow fihe property of the
Oneidia historical society. Pending the
erection of the proposed home for the
society, the portrait will remain in the
oare of J. E. H. Kelley of Bagg’s hotel,
and will be himg beside tlhe portraits of
Governor Seymour and Roscoe Conkliing.
The meeting of the society at which the
presentation took place was (held yester-
day afternoon at four o'clock in the of-
fice of General Charles W. Darling in
the Arcade building. In tlhe absence of
President Hutchinson, Vice President
White took the chiair. The list of bound
volumes and pamphlets which have been
don'ated to the isociety_was read by the
librarian, Dr. M. GVL Bagg. Among these
books are several rare historical me-
moirs and reports.
The presentation of Governor Clinton’s
portrait then took place. J. E. H. Kel-
ley of Bagg’s (hotel made the presenta-
tion speech. R. L. Guiteau of Trenton
was to present the portrait, but was un-
able to be present. In turning the pic-
ture over to the society, Mr. Kelley read
the following accompanying record,
which 'is in a separate frame:
“An original portrait of Governor De-
witt Clinton, who was one of the ear-
liest and most distinguished advocates
and commissioners of the Erie canal.
He was a member of the state senate
and a candidate for the presidency of
the United States. He was born in Lit-
tle Britain, Orange county, of this state,
in 1769; he died in 1828, in ,the fourth
term of his office as governor. He was
noted for his integrity, learning and
ability as a statesman. He caused the
portrait to be painted by an 'artist,
(whose name is unknown,) and present-
ed it to Judge Francis Adrian Vander-
kemp of Trenton, N. Y., as a token of
bis friendship. It descended to bis
daughter, Miss Bertha Vanderkemp, by
whom it was bequeathed to Dr. Luther
Guiteau, an eminent physician of Tren-
ton, who died June 13, 1885. His widow,
Mrs. Sarah G. Guiteau, presents it to
the Oneida historical society, at Utica,
for its preservation.”
Trenton, N. Y., May, 1886.
The portrait is an excellent work of
art, and was undoubtedly painted by an
artist of no little merit. On the back
is this inscription: “Born 1769. Died
Feb. 11, 1828. Presented to Dr. L. Gui-
teau by Miss Vanderkemp, who died
Jan. 31, 1860.”
The portrait was acepted on behalf
of the society by the corresponding sec-
retary, General Charles W. Darling. He
said:
It i3 certainly very gratifying to the officers
and members of this society to be assured, in
such a substantial manner, that their efforts
are appreciated iby the community at large, and
especially by a friend, who has now passed to
another sphere of usefulness, and whose pame
will be remembered, and whose memory honored,
by every member of this society.
It is also gratifying ?to have in our choice col-
lection of dstinguished men the admirable por-
trait of an American statesman who held, at
different intervals of time, so many prominent
offices in the great state of New York.
Going back to the memorable day which came
in the history of New York city when the Dutch
government forever passed away, when Nicolls
changed the form of municipal government,
abolished the use of the seal of New Amster-
dam, and substituted the seal of the Duke of
York, then, on June 14, 1665, the magistrates
took the oath of office and the new government
began. Truly it is said that the mayors under
the English rule were only of local fame, but
after the revolution they rose in reputation,
and. prominent among them as a leader 'was
Dewit't Clinton. When the name of King’s
college, New York, was changed to that of
Columbia, young Dewitt Clinton was the first
student who entered under its new name, and,
having obtained a finished education, he be-
came a warm advocate for education among the
poor, as well as among the rich. When, in
1805, a free school was established for the edu-
cation of poor children, the act to incorporate
the society having it in charge included Dewitt
CLinton, and constituted him a member of the
first board of trustees. When funds were needed
to prosecute the work, he subscribed the sum
of $200, and, as a result of such liberality, a
teacher was appointed, and a school room rented.
When Mayor Livingston resigned his office, in
1803, Dewitt Clinton was appointed as his suc-
cessor, altbo two years previous to this time he!
had been chosen a senator of the United States.
He resigned his seat in the senate for the rea-
son that be considered the office of mayor of
New York as more important. As mayor of
New York he made his mark in the history of
the city and the state, and every great en-
terprise connected with the public welfare
brought his name to the front.
It is a well known fact in history that the
(state election of April, 1811, was notable for the
open revolt of 'the Tammany society against
'the regular candidate of its party for lieutenant
governor—Dewitt Clinton. The Tammany peo-
ple accused him of being too aristocratic, and
they therefore nomin&ted Colonel Marinus Wil-
let for lieutenant governor in opposition to Mr.
Clinton. The great talents of Clinton and his
eminent services, however, secured for him
enough votes thro’out the state to secure his
election. His previous services in the legisla-
ture probably helped to gain him many friends,
in this election, from the rural districts. When
the first public school building in New York
Was erected, in 1808, the principal feature of the
dedicatory exercises was the address deliveredby Mr. Clinton. In 1810 the project of a grand
canal, to connect the great lakes of the interior
with the tide-waiter, found its great advocate in-
Dewitt Clinton, whose memorial, signed by
many prominent men, gave a fresh impetus
to the movement, which resulted in the comple-
tion of the- Brie canal in the fall of 1825. The
first canal boat which went thro the canal had
on board Dewitt Clinton, -who was accompanied
by other well known men, and the name of
that boat was the “Seneca Chief.” When the
boat arrived in New York from Buffalo a com-
mittee of the corporation of the city came on
board to tender Governor Clinton the congratu-
lations of the authorities on Ms arrival in New
York waters from those of Lake Erie. Medals
were issued to the rnosit zealous champions of
the enterprise, one of which was given by the
city to Colonel -Stone, and another to Archi-
bald Robertson, the grandfather of Mrs. Charles
W. Darling. Other medals* of a similar charac-
ter were distributed, but where they all went it
as quite difficult now to ascertain.
In Colonel Stone’s narrative1 of the celebration
it is stated that the naval and land processions
alt the opening of the Erie canal were projected
and carried out on a magnificent scale. The
grand fleet in the waiters of New York bay on
Nov. 4, 1825, presented a most imposing ap-
pearance, and his excellency Dewitit Clinton
performed the ceremony of commingling the
waters of the lake with the ocean, by pouring
a keg of those of Lake Erie into the Atlantic.
On the evening of Nov. 7 the festivities of the
City were concluded by a ball in the Lafayette
amphitheater on Laurens street, where a thou-
sand faces radiant with intelligence and beauty
were looking joy and congratulation to each
other. The supper room was decorated with
mirrors, emblems and brilliant lights, and upon
the table floated, in its proper element, a minia-
ture canal boat, made entirely of maple-sugar,
and presented to Governor Clinton by Colonel
Hinman of Utica.
The first man to advocate the normal system
of teaching in the state of New York was Gover-
nor Dewitt Clinton, who, in his message of
1825, recommended to the legislature, says
General James Grant Wilson, the education of
conpetent teachers, and in this work he was
ably assisted by General John A. Dix and John
C. Spencer. Between the years 18’7 and
1828, when he died, he was repeatedly elected
governor of this state, and- his record is second
to none as a noble, high minded chief executive.
The vice president made a few re-
marks in addition to those of General
Darling and the society directed the
librarian to send a special letter of
thanks to Mr. Guiteau.
After the presentation of Governor
Clinton’s portrait the society discussed
business. George D. Dimon spoke of the
progress the building committee is mak-
ing towards the erection of a building
for the society. It is expected that con-
tracts will soon be let and that the cor-
ner. stone will be laid during the sum-
mer. The building will be erected on
the society’s plot of ground known as
the Kinney triangle.
On recommendation of the committee
on new members the following were
elected: Corresponding members, Henry
Cody of Schoharie and Rufus A. Grider
of Canajoharie; active member, Charles
G. Irish of Utica.
It was decided, after some debate, to
put $2,000 insurance on the books and
relics. A request from the New Cen-
tury club for the loan of several relics
for its forthcoming loan exhibition was
granted, and Dr. Bagg and General Dar-
ling were appointed a committee to ar-
range the loan. After a discussion of
some minor matters the meeting was ad-
journed subject to the call of the -chair.
There will be no more regular meetings
before next fall.