H.G. — ‘Perpetual Motion Burleigh’

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about the 19th century politics of Henry G. Burleigh of Ticonderoga and Whitehall.

U.S. Rep. Henry G. Burleigh, R-Whitehall, was heading out for a trip to Washington on one occasion when his wife lectured him, “Now Mr. Burleigh, I have only two things to ask of you. I want you to give up swearing and wear a dress coat on proper occasions.”

Burleigh, perhaps not sincerely, based on his reputation for strong language and casual dress, replied, “I would do anything, my dear, to please you,” a New York Sun columnist wrote.

The Morning Star of Glens Falls republished the Sun column on Jan. 11, 1886, with an editor’s note: “As has been heretofore remarked, Congressman Burleigh, of Whitehall, comes in for more than his share of newspaper notoriety.”

Burleigh, a businessman with interests in iron ore, transportation, banking and more, represented Washington and Rensselaer counties for two terms in Congress, from March 4,1883 to March 3, 1887.

He was a state Assemblyman in 1876, and Ticonderoga town supervisor in 1864 and 1865.

The congressman was known in Washington as “Perpetual Motion Burleigh.”

“He is a perfect type of tireless Yankee with a steel spring inside of him. He has a slim body, without a spare ounce of flesh on it, a small head, close-trimmed beard, thin face, and aquiline nose,” the columnist wrote. “He never keeps his seat in the House for more than five consecutive minutes, yet he always votes, and his bills go through like greased lightening.”

Burleigh was wise in the ways of politics.

“One day last winter he couldn’t get acting Speaker Joe Blackburn to give him the floor to railroad through the Troy public building bill; so he waited till Blackburn was out for luncheon, got a Minnesota congressman who had the floor to let him have it, and, before anyone could say ‘Jack Robinson,’ the bill was passed.”

Burleigh then telegraphed about 100 Troy businessmen and directed each one to wire U.S. Sen. Warner Miller, R-N.Y., about the urgency of the legislation.

The bill passed the Senate the next day.

Burleigh was a political boss, who routinely attended the opening day of the state Legislature in Albany to control, from behind the scenes, the annual election of Assembly Speaker.

“The (congressional) holiday is a great thing for Perpetual Motion Burleigh, the flying Yankee representative from this Whitehall district,” the columnist wrote. “If Congress did not adjourn at that time there is no telling what might happen in the state of New York.”

At the 1884 Republican National Convention, Burleigh rounded up support and campaign contributions for President Chester Arthur, who lost the nomination to James Blaine.

“Long after midnight one night a newspaper man tapped gently at Burleigh’s door at the Grand Pacific (Hotel in Chicago),” the columnist wrote.

“‘Who’s there?’ shouted Burleigh in bed. ‘A New York businessman,’ was the reply.”

“‘All right. Just shove your check under the door and go to bed. It’s time all honest men were abed. I am, myself.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.

Click here to read a previous post about Burleigh and newspaper reporters.