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

oates was then made out and from this, after the
correction or what SIuyveSant considered an lnfOr
mailty the new magistrates were selected and con-
nrmed by the Director and Council TWO years later
New Amsterdam obtained what she had SO long de-
slreda scnOut or her own, In the person OF Peter
TOnneman. lately Of Breuckelen. VINO returned from
Holland with q commission from the Amsterdam
Directors, and August 8. 1850, took his oatn OF
ONCE and his seat IN the City Hall, IN place OF De
Sille, the Company's schouLh fiscal, whom Stuyve-
SAINT mad persisted In retaining In the onice.
The First English Charter.
on SEPTEMBER 8, 1864 New Amsterdam surren-
dered to the English when Colonel Richard NIcos
was proclaimed Governor by the burgomasters, and
the name OF the city, which then had population
OF 1.50o was changed to New York. BY the SIX.
teenth article OF capitulatlon, In which document
the city was designated ''the town Of Manhattan"
it was stipulated that the civil magistrates should,
at their own option, remain unchanged till the
customary time OF new elections when new ones
should be chosen by themselves such new magls.
uaes to take the oath OF allegiance the King OF
England previous to entering upon their Office In
compliance with this on the I'd Of the following Feb
ruary upon the expiration OF their term OF office,
the burgomasters and schepens named their sue
Cessors Us tney naa zone under Inc patcn govern
men, were confirmed by Governor Nicolls who
drew up an oath, which was taken by them.
TIE "NICoLLS CHARrER'-1665.
AS our readers are aware, the province OF New
YORK was granted BY royal patent OF Charles II.
to his brother, the Duke OF York, wno the death
OF the former IN 1865, became sovereign under the
title or James III. in obedience to the nslructlOns
formabe TO the custom or England" Nicolls, alter
waiting nine months alter the capltuatlOn, so that
June IL, 1865, Issued Q proclamation, IN which ne
revoked 'the form and cere nOny OF government OF
MS MaJesty's town OF New YORK, Under the name OF
administered by persons who should be known by
s'the name and style OF Mayor, Aldermen and
Sheriff." by separate instrument OF the same
date he ordained that "Lhe inhaoitants OF New
YORK, New Harlem, with all other OF HIS Maestys
subjects. inhabitants upon this island, commonly
called and known by the name OF Manhattan's
mated and established as one body .poltlc and
corporate under the government or Mayor Alder
men and sheriff." lie at the same time appointed
as the first Mayor Captain Thomas Willett, OF
Plymouth, an Engshman who was highly esteemed
by the Dutch; as Aldermen, Thomas DeavalI, Oloff
stevenson Van Cortlandt Johannes Van Brugh,
Cornelis Van Ruyven AMI John Lawrence. and as
Sheriff, Allard Anthony These officers were to
OF whom the Mayor or mis- Deputy was always 10 be
FULL AUTHORITY TO GOVERN THE CITY
according TO the general laws land such peculiar
laws as are or shall be thought convenient and ne
cessary." or the new Corporation three were Eng.
l1shmen ana four Dutchmcn-One or the latter OF
whom mad been prominent IN the late government
ana now assumed the new title OF Sheriff Tor tnat
OF schout which position he had previously held.
Still much dissatisfaction was exhibited at the
change, especially as under the new charter the
ing their successors who were appointed by the
Governor without any restraint. Little change was
OF the English tongue for the Dutch and the intro.
duction or trial ny jury, as provided by new
legal code. though suilors nan the option OF having
their causes settled IN the summary manner to
which they had been accustomed, so That for half
century the forms peculiar 10 Dutch Jurisprudence
were recognized III the Mayors Court OF the CRY OF
New York. The new charter was q more SPECIFIC
grant OF powers than had hitherto been vested In
the town magistrates. In 1870 James sent the men,
Ders seven gowns, to be worn on state occasions
and o silver mace, to be carried by q mace-bearer
at the head OF their PROFESSIONS At the same time
A
livery was at this time worn by the bcadles and
otner subordinate officers OF TIE city. Its color
blue, tipped with orange.
The Dutch Charters of New Orange.
In 1878, England and Holland being again at war,
CommodOres Evertsen and Benches appeared before
New York, with q Dutch fleet, when, owing to the
pusllanimity OF the English commander, the city
became an easy conquest on August O. and Tell once
more under the dominion or the Dutch. The
province was at once renamed New Netherlands,
and Captain Anthony Come appointed Governor,
and the name OF the city changed to
that OF New Orange" in compliment to the
Prince OF Orange, then Stakeholder, while It's
magistrates were released from their oaths to the
Eng lish government. At the request OF the naval
commanders six barghers were appointed TO confer
with them respecting the restoration Of the old
municipal government who were directed to con.
woke the Commonalty ana nominate persons Irom
the wealthest Inhabitants and those only OF the
Reformed Christian religion" out OF whom the
Council might select the magistrates for the city.
and from these scnout, three ourgomasters and
i've sehcpens were appointed to serve las regents Of
this city for the term Of one current year."
BENCHES AND EvERrsEN's CnARTER-1673.
trates bore date August IT, aud was signed by the
two commodores, the new Governor and two other
restored the civic government to It's previous char
acter as "practised IN the cities OF our Fatherand,
mlnistered to all good inhabitants without respect
or regard to persons" The new magistrates were
cg ~ se a 70
OF the Netherlands, and to make sucn
orders as snail DE deemed necessary; and the
inhabitants were strictly ordered TO respect and
honor the regents lin tner respective qualities as
all loyal and faithful SUBJECTS are bound TO do" The
new magistrates were sworn to administer good
law and justice" promote the welfare OF che city,
maintain the upright and true Christian religion
synod OF Dordrecnt, and TO uphold the supremacy
OF the States General and the Prince Of Orange.
CoLvE's CHARTER, 1914.
A more definite charter, however, was. executed
on January IA, 1874, by Governor General Colve.
This Instrument, which consisted OF fifteen pro
shall take care that the Reformed Christian relRion
be maintained "without suffering any other sect5
snail have powers IA ali matters pertaining TO the
policy. security and peace OF the city tnas tne
schout snail be present and preside snEsrn q.
or some one appointed Dy him presldes,
when lie shall rank next below the youngest
burgomaster; that all civil cases exceeding nifty
beavers" In amount an appeal may be nad 70 the
Governor and Councils tnas In criminal cases the civic
magistrates have power 10 Judge and sentence even
TO death included but tnat sne sanction OF the Gov.
ernor and Council be required Tor the lnnlction Oh
corporal punishment IL also regulated the order
OF procedure az the meetings OF the body, OF which
the Durgomaaters SHALL In turn. be president ior
SIX months, except the current year. when, three
being appointed, the presidential term OF each shall
be only months IL further ordained that In all
Judiciary cases the schout after making nus com
| paint should leave the bench and absent himself
| during the decision; empowered the city govern
ment 20 enact with the Governors approval, Ger
| tain statutes and ordinances; directed thas the
same and all judgments should be strictly enforced
permitted the government to elect and confirm al
Inferior officers except secretary, and directed thai