80th New York State Legislature

The 80th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to April 18, 1857, during the first year of John A. King's governorship, in Albany.

Background
Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators were elected in single-seat senatorial districts for a two-year term, the whole Senate being renewed biennially. The senatorial districts (except those in New York City) were made up of entire counties. 128 Assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually.

The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all in the same county. The City and County of New York was divided into four senatorial districts, and 16 Assembly districts.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Know Nothing movement ran in the election as the "American Party."

Elections
The New York state election, 1856 was held on November 4. Republicans John A. King and Henry R. Selden were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The other three statewide elective offices were also carried by the Republicans. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote on Governor was: Republican 265,000; Democratic 198,000; and American 130,000.

Sessions
The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1857; and adjourned on April 18.

DeWitt C. Littlejohn (R) was again elected Speaker with 79 votes against 35 for David R. Floyd-Jones (D), and 7 for Joseph B. Varnum Jr. (A). William Richardson (R) was elected Clerk of the Assembly with 78 votes against 37 for John S. Nafew (D) and 7 for G. M. Stevens (A).

On January 24, Mark Spencer (D) was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate.

On February 3, the Legislature elected Preston King (R) to succeed Hamilton Fish as U.S. Senator from New York for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1857.

On April 7, the Legislature elected Henry H. Van Dyck (R) to succeed Victor M. Rice as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

On April 13, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate districts, and the Assembly seats per county. Cayuga, Dutchess, Genesee, Greene, Montgomery, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Schoharie and Tompkins counties lost one seat each; New York, Oswego, Queens, Ulster and Westchester counties gained one seat each; Kings County gained four seats; and the new Schuyler County was apportioned one seat.

On April 15, the Legislature passed "An Act to establish a Metropolitan Police District, and to provide for the government thereof." This act re-organized, and unified, the police forces in New York City, Staten Island, Kings County and Westchester County. The Metropolitan Police was headed by a Board consisting of five Commissioners (appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate) and the Mayors of New York City and Brooklyn. At first, Mayor Fernando Wood did not recognize the Metropoplitan Police, and refused to disband the Municipal Police. The struggle led to the New York City Police Riot, but after the New York Court of Appeals upheld the Legislature's police law, Mayor Wood quietly agreed to abide by it.

Districts

 * 1st District: Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties
 * 2nd District: Kings County
 * 3rd District: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th wards of New York City
 * 4th District: 7th, 10th, 13th and 17th wards of New York City
 * 5th District: 8th, 9th and 14th wards of New York City
 * 6th District: 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd wards of New York City
 * 7th District: Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties
 * 8th District: Columbia and Dutchess counties
 * 9th District: Orange and Sullivan counties
 * 10th District: Greene and Ulster counties
 * 11th District: Albany and Schenectady counties
 * 12th District: Rensselaer County
 * 13th District: Saratoga and Washington counties
 * 14th District: Clinton, Essex and Warren counties
 * 15th District: Franklin and St. Lawrence counties
 * 16th District: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer and Montgomery counties
 * 17th District: Delaware and Schoharie counties
 * 18th District: Chenango and Otsego counties
 * 19th District: Oneida County
 * 20th District: Madison and Oswego counties
 * 21st District: Jefferson and Lewis counties
 * 22nd District: Onondaga County
 * 23rd District: Broome, Cortland and Tioga counties
 * 24th District: Cayuga and Wayne counties
 * 25th District: Seneca, Tompkins and Yates counties
 * 26th District: Chemung and Steuben counties
 * 27th District: Monroe County
 * 28th District: Genesee, Niagara and Orleans counties
 * 29th District: Livingston and Ontario counties
 * 30th District: Allegany and Wyoming counties
 * 31st District: Erie County
 * 32nd District: Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties

Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.

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

Party affiliations follow the vote on U.S. Senator and Regent of the University.

Employees

 * Clerk: Samuel P. Allen
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Samuel R. Tuell
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: George W. Bedell
 * Doorkeeper: William Coppernall
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: Henry W. Shipman
 * Second Assistant Doorkeeper: Victor M. Dearborn

Assemblymen
The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature. Richard U. Sherman, the Clerk of the Assembly during the previous Session, was elected a member.

Party affiliations follow the vote for Speaker.

Employees

 * Clerk: William Richardson
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Norman P. Hitchcock
 * Doorkeeper: Nathan Newhafer
 * First Assistant Doorkeeper: Patrick Farrell
 * Second Assistant Doorkeeper: John Lewis