Jul 26

Jul 26 Gaylord Griswold Amends The Constitution

Gaylord Griswold wrote the first draft of the 12th Amendment.

Gaylord Griswold

Gaylord Griswold was born into the wealthy Griswold Family of Connecticut.

Coming of age just as the Revolutionary War ended, Gaylord studied at Yale and began practicing as a lawyer.

He quickly determined to try his hand as an attorney on the frontier. Griswold moved to Herkimer, NY, a town whose population was rapidly growing due to the relocation of hostile Native American Nations in the aftermath of the war.

Congressman

Gaylord was soon sent to the State Assembly, not yet having turned 30.

By 1803, he was elected as a Federalist to the US House of Representatives.

At the time, DeWitt Clinton wrote to President Thomas Jefferson about all the incoming NY Congressmen and described Gaylord as “bitter and weak,” though this most likely refers to his skills as a politician and not necessarily his personal character.

12th Amendment

By the time Griswold arrived in Washington, it was widely realized that a change to the election of President and Vice President had to be made.

It was bad enough having John Adams and Jefferson hold the positions while in different political parties, but when Jefferson and Aaron Burr found conflict within the same party an amendment was all but certain.

Gaylord took up the cause and his pen, drafting what would soon become known as the 12th Amendment. After its ratification, this work created presidential tickets, essentially taking the Vice Presidential candidate out of the running for President.

Federalist

After just two years in Washington, Gaylord returned to New York to continue his law career.

During this time, he issued a letter to New York Federalists promoting the idea that the party support the former Democratic-Republican VP Aaron Burr for Governor.

Seeing as his opponent, Morgan Lewis, was also a Democratic-Republican, Griswold thought this would be the best way to keep the Federalist Party alive in his State.

Unfortunately, this letter was later published which further hurt the Federalists and all but ended Gaylord’s career in national politics.

Even more unfortunately, he died suddenly in 1809 at just 41 years old.

Here are some other Founders from NEW YORK:

John Jay’s Controversial Gubernatorial Campaign

Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins Drinks Himself to Death

George Clinton Governs New York

Want to read an interesting take on the 12th Amendment?

‘1803’ is a work by Robert Butler that suggests the 12th Amendment’s main goal was to suppress the rise of political parties.

If you’d like a copy you can get one through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).