New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-23
3soLitfral lnistorp.-XI.
..-sa far TIE rrih.ns-Ex EpvIw WILKINS.


Prepared for The Trbane-Ey EDWIN wILtAMs.
co.esIAL POLITICS OF NEw.yogy AND sEw-;EsssY
NEw-YosK, as we have already mentioned, was
settled by the Dutch early in the seventeenth cen
.urv. II is stated tina. in 1912 they had erected
Cor, on Manhattan Island. This was only re-
doubt built near the corner of Broadway and Tx
change place a warehouse was alse built a.
Albany in 1914, but these establishments were
merely of military and Commercial! character
Nothing more important was done until the incor
noration of the Dutch West Indie Company in
1921, by the States General of the United Neither
lands To this company were granted the rights
Of trade and jurisdiction to and over the territories
claimed by the Dutch in North America, founded
on the rights of discovery, extending from the
yiver Connecticut On the East to the river Dela-
ware on the South, and indeed including the ooun-
try west of the latter river, which now constitutes
the State of that name The claim of The Hol-
lapders to any part Of this country had never been
acknowledged by the English, who claimed the
whole Atlantic coast, on the old principle OF prior
discovery by Cabot
In 1923 the first ship of the Dutch West India
Company arrived in The Hudson river The name
of New Netherlands was given to the territory,
and while in possession of the Dutch the colony
was under the management OF Governor or d.
rector General and Council who held their
places under the authority of the Company above
named. All legislative, executive and Judicial
powers were vested in the Governor and his Coun-
Gil. They had the sole management and direction
Of the affairs of the colony Peter Minnit was the
trst and Peter Stsyvesant the last of the Govern
ors appointed by the Dutch Company, whose pos
session of the colony lasted about forty years
In l64l, the Governor and Council permitted
certain Englishmen to establish themselves on
Long Island, and under this permission several
towns on the Island were settled and the inhab-
,snts vested with the privilege of electing their
own magistrates. The manner in which the Gov
ernor and Council exercised their unlimited pow
e,s. however, gave dissatisfaction to the inhebl-
,an,s, and many of them were not unwilling to
surrender the Colony the British when 1t was
demanded in 1864. by Col. Nichols IL the name
of the King Of England. The Dutch Governor
uyyesaat, was disposed to resist but the people
were not inclined to support him. f''tAtn
In March, 1864, the King of England had grant
ed the territory claimed BY the Dutch to bis bro
,her the Duke of York, and an armed force was
ssnt TO demand surrender of the colony above
stated. and the name of New-York (in honor Of
the Duke) wa. given 10 the country as we'll as to
the CITY of New Ams,erdsm.f The surrender Of
the celsny to Nichols on terms favorable to
The inhabitants, who were promised protection III
their persons and property and all other privileges
with his Majesys subjects. In this, however,
they were disappointed until 1881 being deprived
Of all share in the Government unui that time, al
though they solicited to be represented in an AS
senSl, as in the other English colonies. All the
powers of Government and Count, until 1858
were vested in q Governor and Council when the
Crown, at last compelled to yield to the solicits-
lions of the people, sent over a new Governos
(Dongan) with instructions TO call an Assembly. to
consist of his council and the representatives OF
she freeholders In October of that year an as
senlby was called and the people OF New-York,
for the FIRST time, had share in the government
of the COLONY The Council consisted of ten per-
so,s appointed BY the Duke of York and the
House of Representatives was eighteen in number.
They held two sessions and passed some important
laws but the arbitrary measures of James IL.
while Duke Of York aRd afterwards as King
caused general discomfort among the people,
James, in 1886. abolished the Representative
Government and restricted the liberty of the
press. An insurrectieu took place in 1859,
Fron ae Collections Of TIE NeaYork historical Society
The earliest indication OF permanent, settlement within
The present limits OF New York has been generally traced
by historical writers 10 the alleges erection fort near
Albany, II I6l4 such settlement was indeed made but
there 10 have been regarding il as prar 10
all others What their Establishment were before the huld
ing of the forts is not stated by o. the Dutch writers
authority enables torn eorreci idea OF the Stale NJ
thing, on Manhattan Island 1878 or fonr wears ,sr m.
dcovery of the river We refer accounts q, the
pedon OF Captain Samuel Argall against the French Col
ou:s,s of Acadia who be returning made
ns,,ng visit 10 The Dutch on Manaas,a's Isle.
By this account II indsputa6ly appears that 1915 four
wears only after the discovery OF the river by Hudson few
bonses had been erected ManhataR asd the germ OF
the present city N NeHYofk. Alarmed by the threats
their Engish visitors year the Dutch Merchants
Immediate measures 10 protect her trade by building fort,
bo,h a, tina, ace and 90 Castle lasd Albany, in l6
or 1915 few wears later, 1875 the sizes OF the forts
pear to have been changed Fort Artsteraam was then
erected ground known the Battery en The
Southern extremity Manhattan Island and ort oT1nce
hail, the sin land within the limits OF me preseht
city OF Albany.
By the treaty Breds In 1861 the Dutch eedea their
colony OF New Netherlands the English in exchange Tor
the colony Of Surnam which bad been conquered by se