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

ceeding November.
Other English Charters.
Major Edmund Andros the newly appointed Gov
ernor OF the province at once restored 10 1t ana to
the CITY the name OF New YORK, and directed that
the municipal form OF government introduced by
Governor Richard Nicols should be re-esrablished
THE ANDRos CHARTER-le7A
The Governor issued q proclamation having the
eject OF charter, IN which he declared that "all
former grants, privileges or concessions, and all
estates under His Royal Highness" before the late
Dutch government were thereby confirmed. AT the
same time ne commissioned Matthias Nicolls
whom he had reappointed Secretary OF the Province,
to be Mayor; Jonn Lawrence to be Deputy Mayor
and William Dervall. Frederick Phillipse, GABRIEL
Mlnvielle and Jonn Winder to he Aldermen TO hold
once until next october, while Thomas Gibbs was
their successors by Proclamation. and IN Virtue Of
the DUKES letters patent-a new patent having
been granted to HIM by Charles H. after the restora-
tl0n OF the province 10 the English. No further
change In the form Of the municipal government OF
the city occurred until Andros was succeeded BY
Colonel Thomas Dougan who arrived August rs.
1883, and undertook the government, and shortly
afterwards was taken one OF the
MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE HISTORY OF THB
CHARTERS.
One Of the special instructions given to HIM was
that he should consider and report the advantages
OF granting TO the city OF New York '.lmmuntles
and privileges" beyond what other parts OF the
yember the Mayor and Aldermen petitioned
Dougan that the "ancieng customs. privileges and
Nicos In 1865 should be confirmed by charter
from the Duke OF York, with certain additions, In
Guiding the division Of the corporation Into SIX
other officers by the ireemen in each ward; the
local government Of the city to be entrusted TO
@ Sheriff. Coroner anS ro saS
the Corporation appoint their own Treasurer;
and that whatever else was necessary for the well
as similar c 5rVeaes % a as u 3he 70
OF England. Though the Governor and Council OBJ.
Jeced TO some oil these proposed additional articles,
after 1ull explanations they were agreed TO in al
most every particular. On the Gath OF the same
month the existing metropolitan officers were reap
John West, Its actual clerk, be "Cerk OF the CITY
OF New York, and Jonn Tudor. q lawyer, to DE She
rn." The Corporation then asked that 1t might
choose its own Clelk and have other privileges.
DOugan replied that the Clerks nomination must be
referred to the Duke; but he once granted to the
Corporation the ferry, dock ana market, and prom
tsed grant OF land.
The Governor also exhibited laudaDle wish that
the city should enjoy the substance OF its desired
tension OF privileges as early as posslbe he, there
the Dukes pleasure could be further Snown com con-
sequently, on December s.. the Mayor and
signed Nicholas Bayard to be Alderman for the
South ward John lnlans Tor the DOCK ward, Will
Io the No warns or ae Vest
ward and William Cox for the Out ward. few
DAYS later James Graham, one OF the late Alder.
hand Of the Mayor" The citizens being empowered
Councilman In each ward on the 18th Of October in
the following year, being the usual time, new
the six wards, while the Governor made grateful
concession to the old Dutch feeling by allowing
seven persons to be named TO him. from whom ne
chose Gabrlel Mlnvielle to be the new Mayor
THE DOUGAN CHARTER-1686.
The application or the civic magistrates was re.
IL w Anrfl
1885, that the complete charter was granted, In con-
sequence OF the CORPORATION again expressing the
leges and granting to them all the vacant land IN and
about the city. Bayard, VINO was then
Recorder Graham, being also Attorney ' General a
OF the province, draft OF the desired patent was
agreed 70 give DOngan faOO, ana Secretary spragg
f20, as their official fees. The engrossed CHARTER
having oeen READ anu allowed IN council was &C.
be sealed with the old Provincial SEAL BY this
instrument me ancient municipal rights and PRIV
frmed, and other franchises or an important char
acter were granted TO the city, and 1t still forms
basis OF our municipal government The cnarter
comprise the entlre island Of Manhattan, extend.
ing 10 the low water mark OF the bays and rivers
surrounding IT, The Governor retained the ap-
polntment OF the Mayor, Recorder, Sherin, Coroner
High Constable, Town Clerk and CLERK OF tile Mar.
ket IN his own hands, leaving the Aldermen, AS
slstant3 and petty constables to be chosen by the
people at the annual election on st. Michaels Day
IL constituted the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and
Assistants for the time being and their successors
one body corporate and polltic In deed, fact and
name; empowered them to make and repair roads,
DC; to hold lands, tenements, franchises, &C.,
within and without the city, provided same aid
make laws to remain IN force for three months and
no longer, unless confirmed by the Governor But
should be confirmed by James himself who was
now the sovereign, and accordingly In January,
1851, authorized Mayor Bayard and Recorder Gra-
ham 10 procure the same James short reign, how
ever, was too troubled for him to attend TO such
matters. In fact, such confirmation appears to
have been unnecessary, as 1t is held that the King
was legally bound by Dongans act. In the third
year Of the operation OF tins charter an election OF
thy Of note. After the reinforcement Of James and
before the authority OF William and Mary was es-
tabished in New York, Lelsler, whose power was
dominant IN the city, ordered tnat on Mchaelmas
day. 1882 the usual day OF election in addition to the
Aldermen and Common Council, the Mayor, CLERK
stead OF being appointed by the Governor and Coun
Gil, as was required by the Charter Tnis might be
said to have been
FIRST CHOICE or MAYOR BY THE PEOPLE,
II 1t had not been that the election restricted to
protestant freehoders," and that, consequently,
none bat seventy or eighty persons voted, SO that
the election cannot be said to have been popular
ANY doubt that might have arisen Of the validity
OF the charter from the effect OF the revolution
removed by an act OF the Assembly OF New YORK,
passed in April 1891 similar IN nature to one passed
all charters, patents and grants executed under the
seal OF the province, and authorized oy the FORMER
kings Of England, unto the respective corporations
or bodies poltlc, &C.. are, and forever shall be-
deemed effectual charters, patents and grants,
authentic In the law against tneir maesties, their
heirs and successors forever, and were thereby
ratifed and confirmed. The aid OF the Legislature
was also often found necessary Tor the proper en-
forcement OF the powers OF the Corporation, which
nave their source In the charter
THE QUEEN ANNE cHARTER-170s.
The Corporation OF the city having petiti0ned for
confirmation oi their right to the "od ferry" be-
tween the city and Long Island, and for some va.
cant laud adjacent thereto, cnarter was granted
April 10. 1905 IN the reign or Queen Anne py GOV.
gave the Corporation and license to establish
and maintain this and other ferries between those
points This charter treated exclusively Of this
matter
THE MONrG0MERIB CHARTER-l730.
The last and most important OF the charters
granted by the British Governors was that when
Governor Montgomerie granted IN 1850. IL Is, IN
fact he cha rfn foundations of which the