The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01


to consider certain propositions he would make to
them. The people met but netted at the treat
ment OF the twelve men In the previous year. they
determined TO leave the responsibility to the d.
rector subject to their APPROVAL but their scrupies
being overcome they eventually (September l3)
elected Eight Men" to confer with the
Director. The first act Of this second board
OF popular Representatives was to purge their pody
OF one OF It's members who had been guilty OF an
Objectionable act, ana select substitute after
which they agreed to supply men and means, a.
far as they were able to prosecute the war against
the River Indians, at the same time preserving
peace with the Long Island tribes, wao were to be
encouraged to bring In ''some heads OF the murder
ers;'' they also ordained that call taverning and
all other irregularittes should be forbidden, and
prescribed weeks preaching instead but the
order was not carried into execution. The peril to
the colonists was so great that the eight men took
upon themselves to petition both the Dutch West
Indian Company In the Netherlands and the States
Genera-"the Fathers OF Fatherland''-to send
them aid. This the first time that the coonists
spoke directly to the home government. with which
step several Directors. under existing clrcum-
stances, did not thik it wise TO interfere. Though
it had been at first decided that they should meet
weekly, Keft only called these egh: men together,
and sought their aid when he IN difficulties
consequently the West India Company, being Dank-
rupt, and hOstIliLies continuing, we IND him on
June Is In the next year converting them for the
first time 10 more than six months, and proposing
TO them TO raise O revenue by an excise
duty on wine, beer, brandy and beavers. to
which they objected the ground that the levy
ing or taxes was sovereign right which he, merely
an Official had no authority to assume. For this
opinion he sharply reprimanded the representatives
Of the people, ana three days later issued proca-
mat on imposing the duties. falsely stating that 1t
was done 'by the advice OF the eight men," This
resulted In the brewers refusing to pay the excise
and party spirit dividing, ana from this time for
ward existing IN the Commonalty-the eight men
representing the democratic sentiment OF the
majority or the people, while the parasites OF ar
bitrary powers took part with the Director General
After this Kieft exhibited such cupable inactivity
In defending the colonists against the attacks OF the
savages that the eight men determined boldly to
demand his recall and TO insist upon the intr6duc-
ton into New Netherlands OF the
MUNICIPAL SYSTEM OF THE FATHERLAND,
and they memoriaized the West India Company to
that effect. This led after consideration to the
recall OF Kieft and to Peter Stuyvcsant being
appointed Director General OF the Netherlands ana
''redresser generaln OF all abuses. But 1t was not
until May, l647, tnat Peter arrived In the colony
when his coming was "hke u peacocks
with great state and pomp." In the inquiry
which had disturbed the peace Of the colony Kieft
being formally complained OF by Meyn and kuyter,
two OF the eight men, accused them with having
been Instrumental In causing the war with the In
dams with rebellion and with being the authors OF
the memorial demanding his recall, which he de.
clared TO be "calumnIous and scandaous." Stuy-
vesant "cnose the side OF kieit and, after trial
OF the prejudged CASE both were found guilty when
Stuyvesant wished elyn to be put to death ana his
property conscateu, and kuyler 10 be subject TO an
''arDitfary correctOn' ana nne but the majority
oil the Council-whicn was no increased iu num-
bers-mOdihed this severe punishment, and sen.
fenced the former to seven and the latter to three
the Fatherand, "llKe Criminals" In the ship which
was to have carried kielt there, but she was navI.
wrecked on the coast OF Wales, when, as If 1t were
dlspensation OF retributive justice, k1eft was
drowned and his two victims were saved, and re-
turned from the fatherland where their sentences
were annulled, TO Amsterdam, where Kuyter alter
wards became scnepen and schOut aud was muir
dered by the Indians shortly after his appointment
to the latter office.
THE '.NINE CHOSEN MEN,"
Stuyvesant had scarcely settled down before he
promulgated police regulations for the government
ana rapiGitv that PROMISED to WORK tnorough re.
formation" he found 'the finances in q very low
condition. while Fort Amsterdam sadly needed re.
pairs ana seemed totally inadequate TO repel
hostile attack or Indians, which was anticipated.
taned the paciple Of a Saton only Sy AS
assistance was imperative, and was thought best to
let prerogative yield to popular rights the Director
be neld at which the inhabitants OF Manhattan,
Breuckeen, Amersiort anu Pavonia were to choose
eighteen or the ''most notable, reasonable, honest
and respectable persons from among themselves,
from whom 'as Is customary In the Fatherland"
the Director and Council were to select nine men TO
advise and assist when called upon, 'as IN their
tribunes" Oh all matters pertaining TO the welfare
OF the province large. This election having been
held. the Council OF September rs. l647. issued
proclamation (which may be regarded as
CHARTER OF POPULAR RIGHTS,
and which declared that nothing was more desirable
than that New Netherlands, and principally New
nne an re cp pao d orSsr sce noee
population, prosperity aad neutral harmony" &c.
The powers ana duties OF these nine men, which
yva rain he6n wQra ans rdad
yet these men were to form an important element
In the provincial administration, and thus popular
nuence That mad been possessed by the twelve men,
or The eight men whom the new Board superseded.
VI the eighteen men elected by the COmmOnalty,
three were selected by the Council from the mer-
chants, three from the citizens, three from the
farmers. One OF their duties being the 'preserva-
lion OF the pure Reformed religion" they were not
To assist at any private convenliceS or meetings."
anu they we're to meet only when convened I'm
legitimate manner" when, alter consulting to-
gcther upon the propositions or the Director aud
General Council, lhey might then bring forward
their advice" The Director, as one or the Council
might at any time. attend and preside over the
meetings. Three OF the nine men, Ia rotation, were
To have seats IN the Council once In each
week. .'on the usual Court day. to whom,
as arbitrators, civil cases must be referred;
but al appeal from tneir award might be
made u the Colonial Council, on payment OF ono
pound Flemish. The plumbers oil nine chosen men'
was TO continue until lawfully repealed, but six
were to leave their seats Annually, aud twelve rom
among the "Iu0st notable cltzenS' To be again
nominated, and, with tue nine assembled commu-
nicated to the Council, without the latter ''being
required cali in future the whole Commonalty
together SO In the first election alone was the
voice or what Stuyvesant called
THE 'wAyERlNG MULTITUDE"
allowed to be expressed for the nine men were to
select their own successors. In the first change
seven OF the old Board were retained and only Two
members admitted The nine men soon expressed
their willingness that taxes should be levied for the
completion Of the church, the reorganization OF the
pubic school, aud precautionary measures taken
Tor the prevention OF fires; out they souty resisted
providing money for the repairs OF the fort, which
the company was bound 10y It's charter to sustain
| out OF the revenue 1t collected. Early In l649
a conflict occurred between Stuyvesant and the
nlne men relative to the latter sending delegate
10 Holland TO sue for redress OF grievances. The
director forbade the calling or u pubic meeting,
anu tnen, In retaliation for house to house can
vass oy the popular representatives, seized their