23S HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



relative rank of the officers of the militia, so as preclude any cause of 

 jealousy or complaint. The officers were appointed by the council of 

 appointment, which in the winter of 17 13-14, was, together with one 

 branch of the Legislature, opposed to the administration of the general 

 government, and to the prosecution of the war ; and it is evident from his 

 correspondence at this period that attempts were constantly made to 

 create discontents, by the recommending of persons for promotion over 

 the heads of those who were entitled to it by their previous military 

 rank. And turning back to his private correspondence from 1808 to 

 181 1, we are struck with the continual annoyance experienced by him 

 from the intrigues and slanders of political opponents, and at the same 

 time with the indefatigable industry and noble frankness with which he 

 counteracted and exposed them. In the Fall of 1814, Mr. Monroe hav- 

 ing just been appointed Secretary of War, President Madison requested 

 permission to name Governor Tompkins to the Senate as his successor. 

 This oiler, of what is considered the highest office in the gift of the 

 President of the United States, was declined. In the spring of 18 15, 

 after peace had been proclaimed, he resigned the command of the third 

 military district ; and the President addressed to him a letter of thanks, 

 for his " patriotic action and able support given to the Government 

 during the war." 



; ' In February, 181 7, having received official information of his elec- 

 tion to the office of Vice President of the United States, he surrendered 

 that of chief Magistrate of the State of New York." He was also 

 Chancellor of the University; and in June, 1820, was elected grand 

 master cf masons in the State of New York. In 1821, he was chosen 

 a delegate for the county of Richmond to the convention for framing a 

 new constitution for the State ; and he was afterwards appointed presi- 

 dent of this body. This was the last public situation which he held."** 



" Years having rolled away (remarks Mr. John W. Edmunds) sir.ee he 

 played so prominent and active a part on the stage, and the party 

 rancor with which he was sometimes beset having been long since buried 

 in the grave of the past, ample justice may now without offence be done 

 to him — who was, in every sense cf the word, 



" A statesman lofty and a patriot pure." 



The task, however, of doing full justice to his memory belongs to an 

 abler pen; but no one is too feeble to admire the elevated patriotism which 

 induced him, at a most trying crisis, to forego the honor intended for 

 him by the President — to sacrifice his own health and the comfort of his 



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



