Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually.

State Senator John Broome had been elected lieutenant governor, leaving a vacancy in the Southern District.

In 1802, St. Lawrence had been formed from parts of Clinton, Herkimer and Montgomery counties, but had not been sufficiently organized to hold separate elections.

The Democratic-Republican majority of the 27th Legislature had not only refused to grant a charter, but actually ordered the Merchant's Bank to shut down by May 1805.

During the next session, the bank bribed enough legislators to have the charter approved, although the Democratic-Republican leaders advocated strongly against it.