88th New York State Legislature

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.

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. 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."

Elections
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.

Sessions
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.

Districts

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

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

Employees

 * 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

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

Party affiliations follow the vote for Speaker.

Employees

 * 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