ALONZO B. CORNELL
pp. 25-30

Few counties of the same relative importance in population, have, during their civil history, exerted greater influence in the public counsels and administration of the State of New York than Tompkins county. Its domain was first reclaimed from aboriginal control by settlers under the leadership of the distinguished State engineer and surveyor, General Simeon De Will, who had selected it as his future home on account of its romantic scenery and its natural strategic location, affording the most advantageous point of union between the Susquehanna River and Lake Ontario.

Under such auspices men of education, energy, and enterprise were induced to come from the older counties bordering the Hudson River, and from other States, to cast their fortunes into the early development of the county. They established and maintained a superior system of local education, and, as a natural result, their descendants have proved to be worthy representatives of an honored ancestry. One of the most conspicuous of the native sons of Tompkins county is Alonzo B. Cornell, the twenty-fifth governor of the State of New York, who was born at Ithaca, January 22, 1832.

Governor Cornell was the oldest son of the eminent philanthropist, the Honorable Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, who was associated with Professor S. F. B. Morse in the original development of the Magnetic Telegraph in America. Educated at the Ithaca Academy until the age of fourteen, when he became a telegraph operator, young Cornell entered upon the activities and responsibilities of a business career, in which he soon became conspicuous for success and rapid promotion, and early attained an enviable position in the telegraphic profession.

After more than twenty years of active experience in all of the various grades of telegraph service, from that of operator to general superintendent, Governor Cornell was in 1868 elected a director of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and has been re-elected to that position at twenty-five successive annual elections by the stockholders of that great corporation. For more than twenty years he has been a member of the Executive Committee and for the past twelve years chairman of the Law Committee. From 1870 to 1877 he was the senior vice-president, and during the year 1875 was designated by the directors as acting president, and discharged the onerous duties of that position during the prolonged absence of President Orton in Europe. Mr. Cornell was an early promoter of and for many years controlled the management of the Gold & Stock Telegraph Company, the American District Telegraph Company, and the American Railway Electric Light Company.

Having in 1861 acquired by purchase the line of steamboats on Cayuga Lake, Mr. Cornell assumed the personal management of that valuable property. He instituted many improvements to the great satisfaction of the traveling public. Under his liberal and intelligent direction the prosperity of the enterprise rapidly increased until he parted with its control by sale at a largely advanced price. Mr. Cornell was for several years an officer of the Tompkins County Bank at Ithaca, and in 1864 he united with several personal friends in organizing the First National Bank of Ithaca. He was the first cashier and subsequently vice-president, and for more than twenty-five years was one of the directors of that successful financial institution. He has been a trustee of the Cornell Library at Ithaca from its first organization, and for the past twenty years has been the president of its Board of Trustees. He has been a trustee of Cornell University from its foundation in 1865, and has given much valuable service to the administration and development of that great institution of learning.

While pursing a life of ceaseless activity in business affairs, Mr. Cornell found time to devote much attention to political interests. He became affiliated with the Republican party upon its original formation, and has ever since exerted an important influence in its counsels both local and general.. He was elected chairman of the Tompkins County Republican Committee in 1858, and served in that capacity until 1866, when he became a member of the New York Republican State Committee, of which he was elected chairman in 1870, and served continuously until he was nominated for governor of New York in 1879. He rendered valuable service to his party in affecting its reorganization in 1870-71, and his management of the Republican campaign in 1872, which resulted in the triumphant re-election of President Grant, won for him eminent repute as a sagacious and effective political organizer. The results of that exciting and important canvass were largely credited to the wise and vigorous measures undertaken and sustained under his inspiration and leadership. His services were generously acknowledged by many of the leading Republicans of the United States, who united in tendering him a magnificent souvenir testimonial which is one of his most valued possessions. He was one of the New York State delegates-at-large to the Republican National Conventions of 1876 and 1880, and was also a member of the National Republican Executive Committee from 1876 to 1880, and he has been a member of the Union League Club of New York since 1867.

As the supervisor of his native town of Ithaca in 1864 and '65, Mr. Cornell began official life and discharged the onerous duties incident to the closing years of the civil war in such manner as to command the grateful appreciation of his constituents of all political predilections. In 1868 he was selected by the Legislature as one of the first Board of New Capitol Commissioners, and the same year he was nominated for the office of lieutenant-governor by the Republican State Convention, but the Republican ticket of that year was defeated by the outrageous naturalization frauds perpetrated by Tammany politicians in New York and adjacent counties.

Upon the accession of General Grant to the presidency in 1869, he appointed Mr. Cornell to the important position of surveyor of customs for the port of New York. He soon discovered the existence of an extensive conspiracy between customs officials and dishonest importers to defraud the government of its revenue, and was soon brought into active conflict with the conspirators. The penalties resulting from his energetic enforcement of the revenue laws were quite unprecedented in the entire history of the nation. In 1870 President Grant nominated Mr. Cornell for assistant treasurer of the United States at New York, but he promptly declined the appointment, preferring to continue the important work of customs reform which he had so successfully begun and carried forward. He continued to discharge the duties of surveyor with marked success until December, 1872, when he tendered his resignation to the secretary of the treasury to accept a seat in the New York Legislature.

At the annual election in 1872 Mr. Cornell was elected Member of the New York State Assembly from the Eleventh Assembly District of New York city, and upon the organization of that body he was chosen speaker by acclamation in the Republican caucus of ninety-six members. This unusual distinction was conferred upon him despite the fact that he had never before been a member of a legislative body, while nearly a dozen members of long experience had been earnestly supported by their friends as competitors for the position. It was considered a well merited tribute to his efficient services in the great campaign just closed, and he achieved still higher honor by the marked success of his service as speaker of the Assembly. Few men have won equal repute as residing officers even after many years; experience.

Declining a proffered re-election to the Assembly in 1873, Mr. Cornell resumed active duty as vice-president of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and devoted himself to the service of that corporation until February, 1877, when he was again called into the federal service by President Grant, by whom he was appointed naval officer of customs for the port of New York. After the accession of Mr. Hayes as president, he called upon Mr. Cornell to resign the chairmanship of the New York Republican State Committee, as the condition of remaining naval officer. This he regarded as an invasion of his civil rights, and declined to comply with the president's request, whereupon a successor was nominated, who was rejected by the Senate by a very decided majority, thus vindicating Mr. Cornell's position of independence from presidential dictation.

Shortly after the adjournment of Congress in 1878, Mr. Hayes suspended the collector and naval officer of New York for alleged interference in political affairs, and appointed successors, who were finally confirmed after a heated controversy in the Senate. That this action was not approved by the great body of Republicans was singularly demonstrated by the fact that at the subsequent elections Mr. Cornell was elected governor of New York, and Mr. Arthur was chosen vice-president of the United States.

The Republican nomination for governor of New York in 1879 was earnestly canvassed by the fiends of several strong candidates, but Mr. Cornell proved to be sufficiently the favorite to command a majority vote of the delegates in convention, and was therefore nominated on the first ballot. The political campaign was vigorously contested and resulted in the election of Mr. Cornell to the governorship by a majority of more than forty thousand over Governor Lucius Robinson, who was the Democratic candidate nominated for re-election.

Inaugurated governor January 1, 1880, Governor Cornell urged upon the Legislature the importance of reformation in the State revenue laws, and under his administration laws were projected and enacted which have very largely increased the revenues of the State. He recommended the eligibility of women as school officers and approved a bill providing that women should both vote at school meetings and render public service as school officers. He brought the State Prisons up to a self-supporting basis and conducted them upon thorough business principles, free form all political influence or dictation. He abstained from the abuse of the pardoning power, which had often been a discredit of preceding administrations. His appointments to office were noted for fitness for duty required, and it is gratifying to record that no scandal ever resulted from any appointment made by him in the conduct of the executive office.

The most prominent characteristic of Governor Cornell's administration was the study and independent exercise of the veto power. Friends and foes admitted the resolute and impartial hand with which he protected the public interest from spoliation; special legislation sought for selfish private interest was firmly resisted and improvident appropriations were ruthlessly vetoed. The National Guard was reduced in numbers by disbanding inefficient organizations and the remainder compactly organized into a strong and effective body. A State camp of instruction was established, and under the influence of the new regime the citizen soldiery of New York has become noted for the superiority of its appearance and discipline.

The scandalous condition of many of the county jails and poor-houses was vividly portrayed by Governor Cornell in his successive annual messages to the Legislature and the deplorable situation of helpless debtors imprisoned in the New York county jail for trifling amounts of indebtedness was vigorously denounced by his trenchant pen. Under pressure of his urgent recommendation the Legislature created the State Railway commission which has rendered effective service in the regulation and elevation of the important public interests under its jurisdiction.

The establishment of the New York State Board of Health, which was accomplished pursuant to enactment of law in the first year of Governor Cornell's administration, has proved to be one of the most important and beneficent steps in the progress of the State toward a better and higher civilization. By this simple instrumentality the majesty and power of the people are rendered available for the prompt and effective remedy of local evils which the neglect of ignorant and inefficient town officials too often permitted to become dangerous to the public health. Thus disease and death have been driven from many an humble cottage by the strong arm of the State.

For more than thirty years there had been continued agitation for the repeal of the usury law, which had generally resulted in a drawn battle in the Legislature. In his annual message in 1882, Governor Cornell recommended a form of modification of the usury law which commanded the approval of public sentiment so entirely that the law was amended in conformity with his suggestion by the unanimous action of both Houses of the Legislature. The result of this modification of the old law has been extremely favorable to borrowers, and has done more to equalize the importance of New York with London, as a monetary center, than any other event in our history.

Contrary to the general custom of his predecessors in the executive office, Governor Cornell confined his annual messages to the discussion of State affairs only, carefully avoiding any reference to federal politics. He took this course in the belief that all of his influence was due to the people of the State who had entrusted him with their great commission, and that it was his duty to devote himself exclusively to their service, leaving federal affairs to be cared for by the representatives in either branch of Congress, who had been especially selected for that purpose.

An occasion of unusual political excitement throughout the State of New York occurred in the second year of Governor Cornell's administration, in consequence of political differences between the president of the United States and the two senators representing this State, which resulted in their resignations. This action precipitated an angry controversy, under which the Republican majority in both branches of the Legislature was divided into bitter partisan factions. This unhappy condition continued two months and thus prolonged the legislative session of 1881 beyond all precedent. It is not surprising that this remarkable experience resulted in the return, at the ensuing election, of a Legislature of opposite political complexion in both houses.

Despite the natural embarrassments proceeding from the disturbed condition of Republican politics, Governor Cornell's administration had given such satisfaction to the people that he was strongly supported by them for re-nomination at the Republican State Convention called to select a candidate as his successor. His re-nomination was, however, bitterly opposed by active friends of the federal administration and a coterie of disappointed politicians who had failed to secure satisfactory recognition from the governor during his official term. It is an undisputed fact that a decided majority of delegates to the Saratoga Convention of 1882 were elected in favor of his re-nomination, but the minority faction, led by unscrupulous men, were enabled by various discreditable means, including both bribery and forgery, to so manipulate the State Committee as to secure control of the temporary organization of the convention adverse to the governor's friends. Using this point of advantage they arbitrarily unseated nearly forty regularly elected delegates and thrust into their places bogus contestants, thus fraudulently reversing the true complexion of the convention as originally elected.

By such forbidden and abhorrent means, the deliberately expressed choice of a large majority of the true hearted Republicans throughout the State was ignored, and the re-nomination of Governor Cornell, which had been so confidently expected, was defeated by a small majority and the rival candidate was formally nominated.

These extraordinary proceedings of the State Convention aroused the deepest indignation among Republicans throughout the State to such an extent that the successful candidate, although of eminent personal respectability, was repudiated at the election by a majority of 192,000, and the Republican party was plunged into an abyss of degradation from which it required years of patient labor to redeem it.

Retiring from the gubernatorial office at the age of fifty, Governor Cornell resumed his residence in the city of New York and devoted himself to business pursuits, having extensive interests in various electrical, railway and insurance corporation.

In his domestic life Governor Cornell has been peculiarly fortunate. He was married November 9, 1852, to Elen Augusta, daughter of Deacon George Covert, of Ithaca. Four boys resulted from this union, of whom one died in infancy and one met with accidental death at the age of eight, while two have grown to mature life and are happily married. Mrs. Cornell was a lady of superior accomplishments, and her home was always the seat of cordial and refined hospitality. As a residing genius of the Executive Mansion at Albany Mrs. Cornell will long be remembered as one of the most charming and agreeable ladies known to public life. After a long and painful illness she was called to her rest May 11, 1893, lamented by a wide and devoted circle of friends. The following year the governor was again married to a younger sister of his first wife.