This fascinating study of New York politics in the early 19th century traces the origins and development of the 'spoils system', a political practice in which elected officials reward their supporters with government appointments and favors. McBain focuses on the career of DeWitt Clinton, a prominent politician and architect of the Erie Canal, who was both a beneficiary and a victim of this system. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.