THE TOWN OF SCARSDALE. 237 



enemy, there are sufficient grounds of belief that one great object of his 

 campaign was to penetrate with his northern army by the waters of Lake 

 Champlain and the Hudson; and by a simultaneous attack with his mar- 

 itime forces on New York, to form a junction which would sever the 

 communication of the States. The exigency of the time, while it sub- 

 jected the Executive to great resposibility, admitted of no delay. To 

 defeat his arrogant design, and save the State from inroad, it was neces- 

 sary immediately to exercise full powers and more ample resources than 

 had been placed in his hands by the Legislature. He proceeded, there- 

 fore, to make such dispositions as were deemed indispensable to secure 

 the exposed points against menaced invasion. To effect these objects 

 he found it necessary to transcend the authority and means vested in 

 him by law, perfectly satisfied that the Legislature would approve and 

 sanction what he had done. 



In October of this year, Governor Tompkins was appointed by the 

 President to the command of the third military district. He acquitted 

 himself of the command with great ability, and on the disbanding of the 

 troops he received from every quarter letters of compliment and grati- 

 tude and this was the only recompense for his services, in this command, 

 which he ever obtained. 



During the Fall of this year the general government was desirous of 

 fitting out an expedition to dislodge the enemy from Castine in the 

 Province of Maine. They had applied to the Governor of Massa- 

 chusetts to raise the necessary funds for this purpose, but without effect. 

 In this dilemma the situation of the general government was hinted to 

 Governor Tompkins, who, with his individual credit and upon his own 

 responsibilities, immediately raised the money, $300,000 — which he 

 placed at the orders of General Dearborn, then commanding in Massa- 

 chusetts. This noble act of patriotism speaks for itself, and comment 

 would be superfluous." 



" He contributed (remarks the Hon. G. Rathbun) more than any one 

 man in the Union to the success of our arms in repelling the invaders of 

 our soil. Mr. Tompkins disbursed for the United States very nearly 

 two millions of dollars. This sum was charged to him. Further, he 

 borrowed for the use of the general government more than one million, 

 three hundred thousand dollars ; some of it partly upon the credit of the 

 Government, and some of it upon his own responsibility." 6 



"In looking over his military correspondence, it is surprising to see 

 how watchful he was to foster a delicate and punctilious regard to the 



a Herring's Nat. Portrait Gallery, vol. ii. 



b Extracts from speech of Bon. G. Rathbun of New York, in favor of an appropriation for 

 the heirs of D. D. Tompkins, delivered in the House of Representatives, Fe b. 4, 1847. 



