The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-31
View York,s Centennial.

yesterday. On the 30th of July, l777, one
hundred years ago. New York first fairly
started on her career as State government
In that beautiful city on the Hudson George
Clinton was on that day inaugurated as the
first Governor of the State, and there the
Council OF Safety, through its president
Pierre Van Cortlandt, laid It's functions
at the feet of the constitutional Ex-
ecutive, and notified General Wash
ington that to that high officer would
thereafter be directed future acquisitions.
At the moment Of the inauguration British
ships were anchored in New York Bay; the
city Of New York was in the hands OF Brit
ish troops; Burgoynes army was making
vigorous and apparently irresistible strides
toward the accomplishment of his strategic
movement to cut the revolutionary States in
two, and at the head Of the Mohawk the
yell Of the savage Indian mingled with
the shouts of the no less relentless
English foe. George Clinton. himself
native OF the sturdy county OF Ulster.
had como reluctantly from the field
of battle to assume his civil duties. Amid
these trials and dangers New York COM
menced her constitutional career under
fully organized State government. A hun
dred years have passed since then, and how
different was the scene presented yesterday
at Kingston at the commemoration OF the
event Soldiers were there. not in the war
worn clothing of the Revolutionary army,
but bright with well polished steel and brill
liant fncings. A council Of safety was pres
ent, but it was composed Of respect
able Kingston and Rondout policemen,
whose duty it was to look after
the acrobats, tumblers, ''Gambrinus
wagons and fanciful affairs of every de-
scription," which our special report informs
us made the peaceful Hudson River city
rival of Donnybrook Fair. The sharp,
crisp letters and addresses Of Pierre Van
Cortlandt and other statesmen Of the old
time were wanting, but in their place the
people of Ulster county and their
visitors hung upon the glowing SEN
fences and rounded periods of
Sharpe and Depew. And if the
travel-stained, soldierly figure of George
Clinton, could not be seen entering the
town, after journey of fatigue and peril
from Washington's army to the Hudson the
eyes of the spectators were at least rejoiced
by the arrival of Pullman drawing room
car on an express train, from which emerged
the form Of another military hero, Briga-
der General James w. Hustled, whose ap-
pearance in full uniform was, according to
our special correspondence, something
New York may well be proud Of her posi-
ton and her history as she looks back over
the century that has elapsed since the birth
of the Republic Her title Of Empire State
is one not claimed presumptuously, but
gained by merit and borne by right In the
colonial days, when the INSCRIPTIONS efforts
of the home government to make an annual
revenue as we'll as pension Office out OF its
American possessions awakened in loyal
people spirit of Indignation, New York
was the first to give voice and form
to the resistance from which eventu-
ally sprang the independence of the
States. For a hundred years, under
British rule, the colony of New York had
good government, and had
never ceased to struggle toI her colonial
rights. The attempt to establish the
of the Church of England,
which came with English ascendancy, was
successfully resisted. The question of sub
sides was first agitated in New York, and
for long years, with few intervals Of yield
ing, the Assembly firmly maintained the
right to control the expenditure Of
moneys raised for the public use. This
gave rise to perpetual contests between
the Governor and the Assembly. The
Assembly was frequently dissolved, but
q stronger one was almost certain to
take its place, and the answer to
threats was more liberal legislation, calcu-
lated and designed to abridge the influence
of tie Grown. Long before more general
abuses were attempted the effort was made
to coerce New York into subserviency to the
orders of the home government, and many
important acts-notably the Triennial Elec-
ton act, which had been passed by the Colo
NAL Assembly-were rejected by the King
Sir George Clinton, the youngest son of the
Earl of Lincoln, became Governor of New
York, and at his instigation coercive
measures were attempted. The Assembly
were informed that they must recede from
oil encroachments and especially must
cease to claim any supervision over the
supplies they granted. But they remained
firm, and in New York might even then
have sprung up the tree of revolution and
independence, whose roots had first taken
firm hold in her soil, had not the war
broken out between England and France,
which ended in the virtual destruction Of
French power on this continent.
After the war England, unmindful OF the
devotion of the colonsts during It's con-
tinuance, commenced yet moro fragrant and
general assaults on the rights Of the colo
MES, and historical events followed which