He was graduated from Union
College with the highest honours, studied law with Ambrose Spencer,
and slowly pushed himself into the front rank of practitioners at the
Albany bar. In 1844, while absent in the West, the Anti-Renters
nominated him, without his knowledge, for the Assembly, and, with the
help of the Whigs, elected him. He had in no wise identified himself
with active politics or with anti-rent associations; but the people
honoured him for his integrity as well as for his fearless support of
the principle of individual rights. In the Assembly he demonstrated
the wisdom of their choice, evidencing distinguished ability and
political tact. In 1845 the same people returned him to the Assembly.
Then, in the following year, they sent him to the constitutional
convention; and, some months later, to the State Senate. Beneath his
plain courtesy was great firmness. He could not be otherwise than the
constant friend of everything which made for the emancipation and
elevation of the individual. His advocacy of an elective judiciary,
the union of law and equity, and the simplification of pleadings and
practice in the courts, showed that there were few stronger or clearer
intellects in the constitutional convention. With good reason,
therefore, the constituency that sent him there favoured him for
governor.

But John Young shone as the popular man of the hour. Young was a
middle-of-the-road Whig, whose candidacy grew out of his recent
legislative record. He had forced the passage of the bill calling a
constitutional convention, and had secured the canal appropriation
which the Governor deemed it wise to veto. In the Assembly of 1845 and
1846, he became his party's choice for speaker; and, though not a man
of refinement or scholarly attainments, or one, perhaps, whose wisdom
and prudence could safely be relied upon under the stress of great
responsibilities, he was just then the chief figure of the State and
of great influence with the people--especially with the Anti-Renters
and their sympathisers, whose strife and turbulence in Columbia and
Delaware counties had been summarily suppressed by Governor Wright.
The older leaders of his party thought him somewhat of a demagogue;
Thurlow Weed left the convention in disgust when he discovered that a
pre-arranged transfer of the Harris votes would nominate him. But,
with the avowed friendship of Ira Harris, Young was stronger at this
time than Weed, and on the third ballot he re