Incumbent Governor Morgan Lewis ran for a second consecutive term in office but was defeated by Daniel D. Tompkins, who had the support of the influential Clinton family.

During the 1805 legislative session, conflict between the factions arose over Lewis's approval of a charter for the Merchants' National Bank of New York, a challenger to the Clinton- and Republican-owned Manhattan Company.

The Livingston family also dominated state appointments under Lewis, and dissatisfaction with their administration manifested near te end of the legislative session.

A counter-meeting of Lewis supporters from all factions was held at Martling's Long Room in New York on February 24, denouncing Clinton's efforts to unseat the Governor.

[4] During the 1806 legislative session, Lewis came under political fire for granting reprieve in the case of Stephen Arnold, a death row convict scheduled to be executed for killing a child, and his role in approving the Merchants' Bank charter.

De Witt Clinton, who had engineered his own election to the Council of Appointment, led inquests into the role of bribery in the Merchants' Bank case.