The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-20
New YOrk's Declaration Of Indepen-
dence, April 20, l777.
FIRST CONSTITUTION ADOPTED.
The Empire Commonwealth Part in the Rev.
OluliOn-Deslruction Of Kingston.
THE INTENDED CELEBRATION.

Ulster county. the representatives OF the people, In
convention. declared the State OF New York absoved
from all allegiance to the Crown OF Grea, Britain and
on the same day tho constitution they had framed
promulgated and went into effect The free govern
mcnt formed has reached its one hundredlh annivcr
sary and preparations IN progress celebrate tho
centennial OF the independence Of tho Empire Com
monweath. In accordance with historical propriety
the services will tako place at Kingston, and large
number Of the most distin gushed men OF the Repub
lie have been invited aud expected to DO present
tho occasion. Tho circumstances that led to the
posir for nearly year Of tho formal sep
aratioE OF New York from the mother country are
gwen below; and tho State has been charged with
rcmissness duty, and that sho did not furnish
her quota Of troops during tho Revolutionary
struggle, gancs ut her condition during the war win
DO sufficient TO show how entirely unjust Is the i'm
putaon. Awaiting themselves OF the prevailing spirit
OF disafcction, tho British officers conducted tho
military operations against the revolted colonies d.
rcctcd their whole power against tins State in the
campaign of l77G-7T, tho prominent object being
cut oil New England from the support OF the Southern
provinces Al this time fully oncthrd OF tho popula-
lion OF New York was loyal. being comp posed OF per-
born In England and Scotland: another onc-thrd
either butchered driven away from the country
by tho savages, and the remaining wore waging
ceas!ng warfare in defence OF their rcsdcs and their
and in the harbor largo hcot; but part OF
the infant contedcracy were many campaigns per-
formed, many battles fought, 50 many dwellings
burned or so much suffering and loss lie as In the
interior OF New York.
NEW YORK STRUGGLE LIBERTY.
II Is not alone however, that in the patriotic and
scll-sacrcng course OF this State, while the Tor
independence was In progress. that her history is
eminon,y worthy Of preservation. As carly as octo
bcr 1854 citizens dened power OF the govern
ment and demanded voice In tho administration
OF public affairs, and never ceased 10 lead tho opp0si
ton TO the Crown until the hnal separation OF the
colonies IRON Great Britain In acqutta Of Peter
Zenger in 1745 New York established maintained
the FIRST press and through that powerful psru
ment contributed toward the OF the Amcri.
can Revolution than did any other colony prior
battle at Concord. In August $780, in her protection
Of tho OF the Samson and In July, 176I, In the
release OF tho four 6shcrmen sho declared her hostility
tho imprcssment OF and tho right OF search
many years bolorc Rhode Island any other colony
followed her example. In October, 1884, she mp
pointed tho first committee Of correspondence, six
years before Massachusetts and nine years
before Virginia took any steps to act in
a ike manner whilo all other colonies quailcd be-
fore the Parliament 1884, admitting the supremacy
OF that body and tho duty Of tho provinces yied
obedience act Of Parliament, though erroneous,
until repesed,n Now York alone declared that shc
would consider violation Of her rights and privileges
by Parliament act OF tyranny; that she would
and abhor the Power which might infict IL, and thai.
soon US she became abo, would throw Il or or
perhaps try TO obtain better forms from other
Power" Whom the Stamp net enacted in 1893 sho
led the column OF oppostion merchants organized
the non.importaton agreement and among tho iailh-
full they tho most faithful in tho execution It's
the rights Of Americans flowed from tho veins OF
her Inhabitants on the Golden Hill, In this city,
January Is, ITO, two months before tho IN
King street, Boston, and over i've years before tho
affair at Lexington. New York Also we'll rs Boston
and Annapolis. had tea party, aud she as well as they
seasoned tho OF her harbor with tho taxed
modify which tho cupidy OF the East India Company
aud the insoence o tho government had attempted
thrust into her midst-dfering from Boston only in
doing fearlossly IN broad daylight aud without dis
guise what the Inter had done with the objectionable
tea in the darkness OF night and In tho guise
commenced, New YORK did not hesitate 10
tako PLACE IN the YER, very =, front ont rank OF tho
tons hostile 10 that position by ovcrthrowing tho
Kings authority, and by establishing In It's stead
committee OF hundred Of her citizens long before
Rry similar stop was taken IN any other part OF the
country. The brave ana fearless actions OF the Lib-
crly Boys" which gave unnstakabe evidence OF the
spirit that nctuatcd the PATRIOTS served most vaua
bic purpose and In many hard fought field aitcrward
these same men laid their in defence OF
che rights OF their country This briei and mperfcct
record shows how well and fully New York performed
her par. 10 the Revolution, ana may BE- considered
OF the circumstances attending the adoption OF the first
constitution Of tho state
Tmg STATE DECLARED INDEPENDENT.
The national Declaration OF Independence was ap-
proved ny tho Now YORK Provincial Congress- then Ia
session White Plains tho 9th July, i77t ana
ON the ensuing day that body formally assumed tho
title Of 1.-The Convention OF tho Representatives, OF the
mendaon Of tho continental Congress measures were
taken Tor the formation OF state constitution
committee was appointed Tor the purpose, and u
anaad
but the appearance OF an English nect and army
Staten Island and their subsequent operations
PEELED change OF time and place. convention
NJ length held IN Kingston, u town the Hudson,
originally settled by tho Dutch aud noted Tor tho patri
otic sentiments oil Its inhabitants. IL assembled In
April, III, and on tho 10Th oi that month
tho hrst constitution OF New York was adopted aud
went into effect IL embraced the outlines oil popu
lar government; defined tho powers duties vi the
executive, legislative, judicial and military depart
ments; prescribed the mode OF elections ana secured
To the cilzcns their natural and inaenablc rights IL
the hrst American constitution that gave the
choice Of Governor 10 the people Tho instrument
drawn up by John jay. one OF the members OF the
committee previously appointed perform the task.
The preamble set forth that the many tyraunical
usurpatons OF the King and ent OF
Great Britain tho rights and liberties OF tho people
OF the American colonies had reduced them the
ccssity OF introducing government by congresses
and committees as Temporary cxpcdcnts 10 exist
longer than the grievances Of tho pco-
pic should remain without redress: that Tho
Provisional Congress OF The Colony OF New York
tue 3lst OF May, l577 resolved that instituted
while tho authority o thc Crown Of Great Britain
sted IN full force Tor the purpose OF opposing Tho
pations ot the English Parliament, and intended
to expire reconciitaton with Great Britain, which
was then apprchended would soon take place, but Is
now considered us remote and uncertain. ~ These
ccs, connection with the Declaration OF
Independence ny continental Congress. tho
members OF tho Convention TO declare the state
tree and released from all allegiance the King OF
Grcat Britain any other monarch foreign Power.
II was provided that the Governor was 10 DO elected
for a term Of three years; the Senate 10 consist or
twenty our ireeholders to be chosen for four years
onciourh OF Tho numbcr 10 out Of Office every year.
In m .fx.xu
returned annually After the voting TO be by
ballot and provision made Tor taxing census OF
lor and Justices oil the supreme Court consti-
tule a council Tor the revision OF oil bills about TO DO
passed mo laws with power TO Veto All grunts OF
land made by George Ill or persons acting under
his authority after October L. 1715 declared u
AM vo,d but nothing IN tho constitution 10 be
construed aoct any grants OF land within the state
any charter made prior 10 that The Governor