In 1818, he was appointed by Governor DeWitt Clinton to the Erie Canal Commission to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joseph Ellicott. Though Clinton selected Hart based on his proven ability, he failed to take into account Hart's longstanding and vociferous opposition to the Federalist Party. As a result, the Bucktails in the New York State Legislature were able to win the support of enough Federalists to deny Hart confirmation to the board, electing instead Henry Seymour as his replacement and allowing the Bucktails to capture a key part of the governor's political power base.John Niven, Martin Van Buren: The Romantic Age of American Politics (new York: Oxford University Press, 1983), p. 74.
