The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-01
a ID. I 9 3 9
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EoW is Is COnStiUted---The D0ngan and
Montgomery Charters The Amend
ed Charter Of I857---Duties of
the Different officers Of the
Cerp0ratiOn---Names
and OccupatiOnOf
the OlliCiais,.

the 0fc1iB Of tDe munlCIRui
u the mrs. Tuesday in December, under COG proVons
re amended Charter of 1851 Eia be naugurated Iney
sompise the Cor ois, nine members of the Board OF
Adc men, .no entire OF Councimen two Governors
~ ,e Almshouse and half the Board of Education. AT
eas time sketch Of these different Offices, the time and
Of her creation, and the spec'nc duties OF
"a, ncurnben,B cannot ial 70 prove interesting to
readers We therefore give sOccnct account OF them
below rexng each The names and occupations OF the
several officials.
TIE CORPORATION AND THE CHARTERS.
she Corporation OF this city is known BY the title Of
"The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonaty Of the City of
View York; The original charters creating this corpora
ton are known as The Dongan and Montgomery charters
I fbe Dongon charter granted in the year 166s and
dsring the reign King James tho Second, by Thomas
DoDgan Lieutenant Governor and Vice Admiral Of New
York and its dependencies. Subsequently, during the
egn Of George Second this instrument declared
invalid in consequence OF nlornaly, by which the
tharter was granted the of Dongan instead Of
a, of King and the 18th of January 1870,
shafter was granted which, however preserved the
t4 poraton the rights and privileges secured by the
kongan charter The charter of 1880 has been cali.
I'd the Montgomery charter because John Montgomery
was then "Captam General and Governor in Chief Of the
psovnces OF New York and New Jersey.' On the 18th
OF October 1882, act passed confirming 10 the city
Of New York rights aud privileges under the Monto
merry charter.
Commenting upon the two charters, Chancellor Kent
nys-
The charter of Governor D0ngan in 1885, is recited
barge IN the charter of 1850 IL s an interesting docu-
Fn-Lt inasmuch the grants which il makes, and the
rights privileges which it recognises ana confirms
intended be included in the latter chare subject
such alterations eDargements and additions rs the
contains The recital contained IN the rst section
Of It. Governor Dongans charter speaks o New York as
being then city and body corporate possessing
ands rights and franchises we'll by prescription
by charters and grants not only from the English,
vince under their jurisdiction The recital found
@ on historical M isss 0f Of Fobraacy 1857 by Ss
putch government. But it was a very limited
.ns grant The most striking part of il was the
diyon of the inhabitants great and small citizens"
The former included the members OF the government and
>fhoir descendants in the male line, ministers OF The
Sspel &c the latter, all who resided within the city
during q year and SIX weeks, and kept their fro and
gbs The original Of this charter is on file in the Secre
ary's Office and copy inserted at large in the journal
OF tho City Convention Of June, 1929 Col Nico the first
kpvsh Governor Of New York, also granted IN 1866
chatter Of Incorporation the inhabitants, under the
administration oi Mayor Aldermen aud Sheriff The
mitch Of ncorpo alton was that o schout, urSu
masters and schephens OF the CITY OF New Am arfa ~
The charter Dongan appears TO be quite Singular when
We CONSIDER that the date of it, under the arbltrnry
sway the Second, there was general attack on
part Of the Crown OF all chartered rights ard prvi
kges Throughout the kings domInions While Govo.--
Dongan granting liberal charters to New York
and Albany and free constitution the PROVINCE his
master was waging upon the New England charters
This marked partay may be imputed in part to the per-
sona character and influence Of the Governor, who
man of integrity and moderation, and in part to the
partiaty of the king for province Of which, as
Duke of York, he the proprietary. Indeed, the
clv privileges of the town Of Manhattan as New York
was then called-were essentially confirmed in the very
\ liberal articles Of capituation granted TO the Dutch by
Colonel Ncol the first surrender OF the colony 10 the
/ Enxlsh in 1864 The charter mentioned among other
rixs and property which this ancient city then possess
ed the City Hall two market houses aud whsrvcs and
bocks with their appuren cemetery, aud set
led and established ferry from the city TO Long Island.
Tho charter of 1890 above referred TO- is the foundation
arou which the city governed That charter has
been amended four times since it was granted namely:
On the 7th of April $780, the % Of April s49; the 18th
Of April 1868 (hen Board Of Councilnen first sub
putued for Assistant dermen); and finally the 18th
tf April 1857 by the last republican legislature and
shus amended in full force Two elections for city
Ancers have been held under tthst Of December 1857
and the recent election of December 1858 BY the amend
ID charter the election day fixed for the first Tuesday
cember every year. The in which the different
mces Of the city government and their ncumbents arc
Jected by il will be from the slboned sketch OF
De duties and regulations of the departments Of the Cor
poraon which have classified under their several
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