Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

The Trenton Federalist, in noticing the late election in New-York, furnishes the following very just remarks:—On Tuesday last the general election for state officers commenced in the state of N. York, and closed on Thursday evening. This has perhaps been the warmest contest ever experienced in that state. Three years since the democratick party in New-York divided on the question of governor, and ran two candidates, col. Burr, and the present governor Lewis. The latter had been in office but a very short time, before some of his warmest supporters manifested dissatisfaction at his conduct, he having refused to join them in some of their most tyrannical and persecuting measures. They soon raised an opposition to his administration, and commenced an open war of slander and detraction, in their newspapers, against governor Lewis and his friends; which was met by the latter with spirit and determination. The contest waxed warmer and warmer between the two parties thus arrayed, and judge Tompkins was finally brought forward as the opposing candidate to governor Lewis. The federal party set up no candidate for the office of governor, but confined themselves to attempts in several districts where there was a prospect of success, to increase their men in the legislature. In the city of New-York, where a great exertion was made by this party, we learn that the assembly ticket has failed—they obtained, however, a majority for their senator, as none but freeholders vote for this branch of the legislature, but he too will probably be lost, as other parts of the district will give his opponent strong support.

Governor Lewis must have received a pretty general support from the federal party in the city of New York, as he beat his opponent 129 votes—none but freeholders vote for governor. It appears quite uncertain whether the moderate or riotous party of the democrats will succeed in carrying their candidate for governor, though it is most probable that the former will succeed. The party called Clintonian, headed by De Wit Clinton, a man of great intrigue—extremely tyrannical and persecuting, and which comprises most of the foreigners of the lowest order in the state, is arrayed against the present government of New York—No men in office, unless they are lost to all sense of honour and independence, can retain the confidence or approbation of such a set of malcontents as are here classed together. They will rest easy under no government that is justly and mildly administered; and should they now succeed in carrying in Judge Tompkins, as they did three years since in electing Judge Lewis, unless he prostitutes his character to their views, however abominable and wicked, they will desert him at a moment, and seek another man more fitted to disorganize the institutions of civil society, and corrupt the morals of the people—their element is commotion—in the peaceful region of a well ordered state of society, they are nothing but themselves.